In a move which could trigger off a spate of consolidation in the international hospitality space, Hyatt Hotels Corp. has come in as a suitor for Star wood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc.
Though Starwood is being actively wooed by atleast 3 Chinese groups, the Hyatt bid appears promising to analysts. At approx half the size of Starwood, Hyatt has a budget offering in Hyatt Place, which would complete the portfolio of the combined entity, and also give them a formidable 500 thousand rooms across the globe. Enough to offer serious competition to Marriott and Hilton in terms of size and diversity of portfolio.
Interestingly, both Hyatt and Starwood have also spun off and sold their time share businesses to Miami based Interval Leisure Group, making them more attractive to financial pundits as a merged entity.
