Starwood Capital Group, a global private investment firm, announced that China Life Insurance Co. Ltd., China's largest life insurance company, has invested with Starwood Capital Group in approximately $2 billion of select-service hotels in the United States.
China Life will serve as both the anchor and leading investor for the portfolio alongside a group of sovereign wealth funds and other investors. The portfolio—spanning locations in 40 states—comprises 280 select-service hotels affiliated with premier global hospitality brands.
"We are honored to have been given the opportunity to serve as stewards of China Life's capital, and thrilled to embark on a partnership that represents a first-of-its-kind relationship for our Firm," said Barry Sternlicht, chairman and CEO of Starwood Capital Group. "With this select-service hotel portfolio, China Life has an efficient vehicle for investing in the United States economy as a whole—as these assets offer access to strong markets, strong cash-on-cash yields, scale and diversification. With our shared values and complementary investment approaches of our two organizations, we look forward to working with China Life on additional opportunities—across a wide range of real estate asset classes—in the years to come."
Over more than two decades, Starwood Capital Group has acquired approximately 2,600 hotels worldwide—from economy to luxury properties—and operated hotel platforms including Groupe du Louvre, TMI Hospitality, InTown Suites and the recently rebranded U.K. portfolio, consisting of three separate hotel companies, together now The Principal Hotel Company. The firm has also created or expanded a number of world-class hotel brands, including W Hotels, St. Regis Hotels, 1 Hotels and Baccarat Hotels & Resorts. Sternlicht founded and served as chairman and CEO of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide and oversaw the company's growth into the largest hotel company in the world. He currently serves as chairman and CEO of Starwood Capital Group affiliate SH Group, a hotel brand management company.
"Throughout many months of collaboration, we have been incredibly impressed by the talent and commitment of the China Life team," said Lanhee Yung, managing director of global capital raising at Starwood Capital Group. "Given the skill and knowledge base of both organizations, we are excited to see the benefits that will accrue as our strategic partnership grows."