Sheraton Hotels & Resorts, a brand of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, is planning to establish eight new hotels in China by the end of this year and another 18 within the next five years.

Sheraton accounts for half of Starwood’s portfolio in China.

Starwood opened its 60th property and Sheraton’s 30th hotel, Sheraton Zhongshan Hotel, in China this month and will open Sheraton Guangzhou Hotel in Guangzhou, southern China’s largest metropolis, later this year.

Sheraton Shanghai Hong Kou Hotel, the brand’s third hotel in Shanghai, will open in 2010. In 2011 its second property, Sheraton Beijing Dongcheng Hotel, will open.