Above: Cozumel

By the Caribbean Journal staff

Starwood Hotels and Resorts is expanding in Cozumel.

The company announced this week that it had signed an agreement with Inmobiliaria Punta Tormentos to open a Sheraton hotel on the island off the Caribbean coast of Mexico.

The property is slated to open in “early 2018,” according to a release.

The property will be Sheraton’s sixth hotel in Mexico and 37th in the wider region.

“Sheraton Cozumel Resort, a terrific addition to the brand’s global resorts portfolio, will serve as a gathering place for travelers in one of Mexico’s most sought-after leisure destinations,” said Jorge Giannattasio, Senior Vice President and Chief of Operations for Starwood Latin America and the Caribbean. “And as the second Starwood property in Cozumel, the resort further strengthens the company’s presence in Mexico, one of the most attractive tourism markets in the Americas.”

The company is slated to open a new Westin-branded resort in Cozumel next year, as well.

The property is set to consist of 120 rooms, along with two pools, a pool bar, three restaurants and a lobby bar.

The Sheraton deal is the company’s fifth in Mexico so far in 2015.

“We are excited to continue our rapid expansion in Mexico, one of our fastest-growing markets in Latin America, and we are well-positioned for further growth across our portfolio of world-class brands,” said Victor Vazquez, Vice President, Acquisitions & Development, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Latin America. “Our global pioneer Sheraton is an icon in Latin America and continues to generate interest from investors and guests alike.”