Starwood Capital to buy most of Golden Tulip hotels

PARIS, July 7 (Reuters) - U.S. investment company Starwood Capital Group Global LP said it was buying around 240 of the 260 hotels run by loss-making hotel operator Golden Tulip for an undisclosed amount.

Golden Tulip Hospitality Group, which went into voluntary receivership earlier this year, had at one time been discussing a possible merger with Apollo Hotels & Resorts.

Hotels are struggling as recession-hit customers cut back on trips and companies slash travel costs.

Starwood Capital itself is currently examining the possible sale of its prestigious Paris-based Hotel de Crillon to JJW Hotels & Resorts, a Saudi Arabian-backed company.

Golden Tulip competes with Intercontinental Hotels (IHG.L), Accor (ACCP.PA) and Marriott International (MAR.N), among others. (Reporting by Sudip Kar-Gupta; Editing by David Cowell)