Starwood plans to debut its Westin brand in the Dominican Republic in late 2013 at the exclusive resort property, PUNTACANA Resort & Club.

The franchise agreement for The Westin Puntacana Resort was announced today by Starwood's development partner Grupo Puntacana at the Dominican Annual Tourism Exchange (DATE), the 13th annual conference hosted by the Ministry of Tourism. Construction on The Westin Puntacana Resort will begin this summer with an opening scheduled for the winter of 2013.

"The Westin Puntacana Resort is a highly anticipated addition to our growing resorts portfolio, offering travelers a refreshing, island retreat on one of the most popular islands in the Caribbean," said Brian Povinelli, Global Brand Leader for Westin Hotels & Resorts. "The new resort will offer all of the Westin brand's signature programs and amenities, designed to inspire wellbeing and send guests home feeling better than when they arrived."

At The Westin Puntacana Resort, guests will enjoy the full suite of Westin signature amenities in a picturesque beachfront location, minutes away from the Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ) within the picturesque Playa Blanca area of PUNTACANA Resort & Club. The 204-room resort will offer 16 suites, meeting and wedding facilities, an expansive outdoor pool, poolside grill, lobby bar, cigar bar, children's club and walking trails. Additional amenities will include a full-service spa, 24-hour business center and the brand's signature Westin WORKOUT(R) gym experience.

Guests of The Westin Puntacana will have complete access to the first-class amenities available at PUNTACANA Resort & Club, including 3 miles of white sand beaches, 45-holes of championship golf, nine restaurants, a Six Senses Spa, and a 1,500 acre ecological reserve.

"We are delighted to expand our partnership with Starwood Hotels & Resorts to be able to share the PUNTACANA experience with even more travelers as they visit the Dominican Republic," said Alberto Abreu, executive director of hospitality at PUNTACANA Resort & Club. "The Westin Puntacana Resort will allow even more visitors from around the globe to experience the one-of-a-kind beaches, weather, and activities available in our country, and at our resort. We look forward to welcoming more guests into the PUNTACANA family as we move forward with this project."

"The upcoming opening of The Westin Puntacana Resort underscores the strength of the Westin brand as we expand in sought-after destinations across the globe," said Allison Reid, Senior Vice President, North America Development for Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. "Westin boasts brand awareness well ahead of its competitive set and phenomenal international growth, with more than 90% of its new hotels and resorts opening outside of North America."

The Westin Puntacana Resort will be the second Starwood property to open in the Dominican Republic. Last year, Starwood announced plans to partner with GrupoPuntacana to open the Four Points by Sheraton Puntacan Village Hotel in late 2012.