The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company has charted out a major expansion plan until 2016. The Company has announced several development initiatives that will bring total number of properties in its portfolio to 100 hotels and resorts globally by 2016. “The robust pipeline of hotel projects indicates a continued strong demand for Ritz-Carlton products and services. We are optimistic with the company’s continued positive growth,” said Herve Humler, president and chief operations officer. “In Asia and the Middle East, we will be the top-tier luxury hospitality brand by 2016,” he added. In the last 12 months, the Group has opened three properties, including Dorado Beach in Puerto Rico, The Ritz-Carlton, Abu Dhabi, and the brand’s first hotel in Vienna. The last quarter of 2013 will witness the openings of five new Ritz-Carlton hotels including two properties in China. The list includes Ritz-Carlton, Chengdu and The Ritz-Carlton, Tianjin; The Ritz-Carlton, Aruba will add to the Caribbean portfolio; and the luxury brand will foray into Kazakhstan with The Ritz-Carlton Almaty and India with The Ritz-Carlton, Bangalore. The openings in 2014 include Kyoto, Japan; Nanjing, China; Rabat, Morocco; Cairo, Egypt; Manesar, India and Bali, Indonesia. By 2015, The Group anticipates that it will open hotels and resorts in Cabo San Lucas; Oman, Muscat; Bali, Indonesia; Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam; Tunis, Tunisia and Haikou, China. Residences are also slated to open in Montreal, Canada; Herzliya and Almaty, Kazakhstan. Source: Travel Daily