Las Vegas Sands announced Starwood would operate its hotels in a casino complex in Macau, China.

Las Vegas Sands Casino operator announced on Thursday a deal with Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide Inc. According to the deal, Starwood would operate two Sands hotels in the huge casino complex now being constructed in Macau, China. The companies hope the deal finalizes by the end of the second quarter of 2006.

Starwood will operate a Sheraton hotel with 1,200 rooms in addition to a smaller Regis hotel in the Cotai area, which expected to be the Eastern Las Vegas Strip. The hotels will be part of a complex owned by Sands that will include a casino in addition to shopping and entertainment centers.

Las Vegas Sands are one of the two casino companies granted licenses in Macau since the 40 years monopoly on gaming had ended in 2002. The Sands Macau casino was opened in May 2004 and it recently announced its plans to collaborate with Shangri-La Asia and Four Seasons in additional hotel projects.