STAMFORD, CT — Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide plans to significantly expand its Element Hotels portfolio in North America, fuelled by what it says is soaring demand for the extended-stay brand.

The hotel company will open another 22 Element hotels across the U.S. and Canada by 2018.  Over the past 12 months, Element has opened new hotels in several cities including Vancouver, Boston and Miami.

“Element Hotels is experiencing unprecedented growth momentum throughout North America, as well as in a number of key global markets, due to the widespread appeal of the brand’s distinct lifestyle positioning,” said Brian McGuinness, Global Brand Leader, Specialty Select Brands for Starwood. “Sustainability is no longer optional; it’s become a requirement among a growing number of travelers worldwide, and Element is the perfect choice with its clean, modern design and eco-conscious programming.”

Demand is also on the rise for dual-branded hotel developments featuring Starwood’s Aloft and Element brands in key metropolitan markets. Across North America, Starwood will open Aloft and Element hotel projects in Syracuse, NY (Aloft 2016, Element 2018); Austin (2017); Dallas (2017); Redmond, WA (2017); and Charleston (2018).

In Canada, the new Element Calgary Airport is scheduled to open this September, with 142 rooms.

More new Element properties coming in the next few years include Element Fort Lauderdale Downtown in December 2017 and Element Philadelphia in January 2018, the first-ever W and Element dual-branded hotel development.

The Element brand is also growing worldwide. Following openings in Amsterdam, London and Jiangsu, China, Element is set to debut in London and Tanzania in 2017, and open two more hotels in China, three in the Middle East and two more in Canada by the end of 2018.