The Westin to open new hotel in The Woodlands

The Westin Hotels & Resorts will open its fifth Greater Houston area hotel in The Woodlands on Waterway Square.

The 302-room luxury hotel is expected to open in the fourth quarter of 2015 and will overlook The Woodlands Waterway, according to The Woodlands Development Company.

The Westin hotel will target both leisure and business travelers, and will feature 15,000 square feet of meeting space, an outdoor pool, workout studio, business center, a 150-seat restaurant, lobby barand a second-level pool deck that connects directly to the fountains at Waterway Square.

"The Westin brand is an ideal fit for The Woodlands and will help meet the accelerating demand for high-caliber lodging in this rapidly developing area," said Allison Reid, senior vice president of North America Development, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide.

Paul Layne, executive vice president of master planned communities for The Howard Hughes Corporation, said The Woodlands has a large demand for signature hotels. The Westin hotel will be located within The Woodlands Town Center—within walking distance to nearby amenities, such as Waterway Square, The Woodlands Mall, Market Street and the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion.

"There is a tremendous demand for signature hotels in The Woodlands, and we are pleased to welcome the renowned Westin brand," Layne said. "The Westin, The Woodlands will be a great place to stay in Waterway Square, a regional destination with multiple water features, shopping, dining and entertainment options for locals and visitors alike."