It was reported that Hyatt was in advance talks to purchase Starwood Hotels (SPG). Hyatt ultimately did not complete the sale, Marriott did in 2016.
Hyatt in Final Talks
Heard on CNBC this morning, Hyatt is the latest to signal interest in Starwood Hotels. Just yesterday the Wall Street Journal reported that three Chinese firms had expressed interest in Starwood who has been openly for sale for several months.
Starwood parted with their CEO almost a year ago in February of 2015 and has since discussed the update of their Sheraton brand, the adding of a new Grand Sheraton line and has been flirting with Intercontinental Hotels Group (IHG) and possibly Wyndham.
Personally, I would welcome the acquisition by Hyatt of the Starwood brand that would come in the way of cash and stock as it is not a proposed merger but rather a purchase. One would assume the Gold Passport program would remain in place (this speculation is way too far off), but in an ideal world, it would give both customers a wider net with which to interact with the brand (more locations and price points). Both chains are smaller when compared to behemoths Marriott, IHG, and Hilton all who have several thousand hotels each. Hyatt has just over 500 in the fold and Starwood would add another 1200 properties.
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