Set to open in early 2014, the Sheraton Dohuk will be the first of four new hotels to open in Iraq under the company's Sheraton and Aloft brands.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide has signed an agreement with Mase Co LLC, a company managed by Brilliant Role Group, to open a new-build Sheraton hotel in Dohuk, in the Kurdistan Autonomous Region in northern Iraq.

Scheduled to debut early next year, the Sheraton Dohuk Hotel will be the first of four new Starwood hotels to open in Iraq after 20 years, and will be the first internationally-branded hotel in the emerging city of Dohuk.

"We look forward to a long-term partnership with Mase Co as we enter into our first hotel development together with the introduction of the Sheraton brand into Dohuk," said Michael Wale , President, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Europe, Africa and Middle East. "We are proud to be part of the development of this important region in Iraq as we bring a new level of hospitality to the local community and to international travellers."

Zakaria Abdulla , Chairman of Brilliant Role Group said, "We are excited to work with Starwood to bring its world-class Sheraton brand to Dohuk. As Dohuk continues to grow as an emerging city in the Middle East, there will be a strong demand for an international hotel brand such as Sheraton. The signing of Sheraton Dohuk Hotel is in line with our vision to support the development of the Kurdistan region as a key business destination."

Situated in Dohuk on the border of Turkey, the 202-room Sheraton Dohuk Hotel will be ideally located at the top of a hill with stunning views overlooking the entire city and nearby mountains. The hotel will feature an all-day dining venue, a signature restaurant, and four lounges. Sheraton Dohuk Hotel is set to become the choice gathering place for business travellers, offering extensive meeting and event space, including three ballrooms for special events.

The hotel will feature the brand's signature Link@Sheraton® experienced with Microsoft®, Sheraton Club Lounge and Sheraton Fitness® by Core Performance™, designed exclusively for Sheraton guests through its partner Core Performance. All guest rooms will feature the all-white Sheraton Sweet Sleeper® bed, designed to meet AAA's Five Diamond Award® criteria. Guests can also pamper themselves in Sheraton Shine Spa.

Starwood in Iraq

"Sheraton continues to be a first-mover into many new markets around the world, and remains a popular choice for owners and developers in both primary and secondary markets," added Bart Carnahan , Senior Vice President, Acquisitions & Development, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Europe, Africa and Middle East. "As part of our global growth strategy, we seek new frontiers for our brands, and the signing of Sheraton Dohuk Hotel marks a significant milestone as we look for the right expansion opportunities in Iraq and throughout the Middle East."

Sheraton Dohuk will mark Starwood's re-entry into Iraq, which will be followed by the opening of Sheraton Erbil Hotel, Aloft Erbil and Four Points by Sheraton Erbil in the capital of the Kurdistan Autonomous Region in 2015.

Starwood currently operates nearly 50 hotels in the Middle East and continues to strengthen its long-established position as one of the leading luxury hotel operators in the region, with plans to open over 30 hotels in the next few years.