jimmychang
May 1, 06, 12:59 pm
Starwood Hotels & Resorts (ticker: HOT, exchange: New York Stock Exchange (.N)) News Release - 5/1/2006
Tampa's Wyndham Harbour Island Reflagged as a Westin; Westin Harbour Island is the First of Seven Wyndham to Westin Conversions
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 1, 2006--Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) and Columbia Sussex announces the conversion of the Wyndham Harbour Island in Tampa, Florida to Starwood's upper-upscale Westin brand. Developer and operator of more than 95 hotels and casinos around the world, Columbia Sussex will soon be flying the Westin flag on six additional Wyndham properties in key urban and resort destinations representing a major avenue of growth for the Westin brand. Columbia Sussex will continue to manage The Westin Harbour Island and it is licensed as a Westin under a long-term franchise agreement.
"We are delighted to expand our association with Columbia Sussex," said Sue Brush, senior vice president for Westin Hotels & Resorts. "They are a dynamic presence in the world of hospitality, and their sensitivity to outstanding guest experiences is perfectly in sync with Westin's philosophy of renewing and enriching the mind, body and spirit at all customer touch-points."
"We are excited to include the Westin Harbour Island in our growing family of Westin properties,'' said William Yung, president of Columbia Sussex. "This conversion will allow us to leverage our extensive experience in developing resorts with the same unparalleled attention to detail bestowed upon our other developments, including our current Westin portfolio of The Westin Casuarina Las Vegas Hotel, Casino & Spa and The Westin Casuarina Resort & Spa Grand Cayman.
While the private island setting and lush tropical landscape that surround Westin Harbour Island offer a true Florida getaway experience, the property is just minutes from downtown Tampa, the Convention Center and Tampa International Airport. The 12-story hotel with its panoramic harbor views has 299 guestrooms, including 19 suites, all featuring the deep-down comfort of The Heavenly Bed(R) and the invigorating spa-like experience of The Heavenly Bath(R). Westin's commitment to personal renewal continues at the state-of-the-art WestinWORKOUT(R) Powered by Reebok and at the year-round heated pool, the perfect setting for carefree relaxation.
Guests have access to the hotel's business center and each room features high-speed data ports. Westin Harbour Island offers more than 17,000 square feet of meeting space, with 13 venues accommodating 10 to 800 guests. The freshest seasonal ingredients inspire the menu at 725 South, and three additional restaurants and lounges will add to the pleasures of every traveler.
Forthcoming Westin conversions scheduled for Fall 2006 include Westin San Diego, Westin New Orleans Canal Place, Westin Chicago Northwest, Westin Washington, DC City Center and Westin Bristol Place Toronto Airport. Additionally, the Westin flag will be flying in St. Maarten, when The Westin St. Maarten Dawn Beach Resort & Spa opens in August 2007.
Columbia Sussex Corporation is a private hotel owner and operator based in Fort Mitchell, Kentucky. The company, 100 percent owned by William J. Yung, is one of the largest privately held hotel companies in the country.
Westin Hotels & Resorts, with 121 hotels and resorts in 31 countries and territories, is owned by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. and was ranked "Highest in Guest Satisfaction Among Upscale Hotels Chains." in the J.D. Power and Associates' 2004 North America Hotel Guest Satisfaction StudySM and voted Best Domestic Hotel Chain by Global Traveler Magazine. Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with approximately 850 properties in more than 95 countries and 145,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. Starwood(R) Hotels is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels and resorts with the following internationally renowned brands: St. Regis(R), The Luxury Collection(R), Sheraton(R), Westin(R), Four Points(R) by Sheraton, W(R), Le Meridien(R) and the recently announced AloftSM. Starwood Hotels also owns Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., one of the premier developers and operators of high quality vacation interval ownership resorts. For more information, please visit www.starwoodhotels.com.
(Note: This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of federal securities regulations. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance or events and involve risks and uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated at the time the forward-looking statements are made. These risks and uncertainties are presented in detail in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Although we believe the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, we can give no assurance that our expectations will be attained or that results and events will not materially differ. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.)
* * JOURNALISTS - PLEASE NOTE: JOIN STARWOOD'S PRESS RELEASE ALERT SERVICE TO RECEIVE STARWOOD COMPANY NEWS AND INFORMATION * *
To become a member, simply access the Starwood website, at: www.starwood.com/press Once you reach the home page, enter your e-mail address, and click "Subscribe".
CONTACT: Media:
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.
Ellen Gallo, 914-640-8167
ellen.gallo@starwoodhotels.com
SOURCE: Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.
Tampa's Wyndham Harbour Island Reflagged as a Westin; Westin Harbour Island is the First of Seven Wyndham to Westin Conversions
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 1, 2006--Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) and Columbia Sussex announces the conversion of the Wyndham Harbour Island in Tampa, Florida to Starwood's upper-upscale Westin brand. Developer and operator of more than 95 hotels and casinos around the world, Columbia Sussex will soon be flying the Westin flag on six additional Wyndham properties in key urban and resort destinations representing a major avenue of growth for the Westin brand. Columbia Sussex will continue to manage The Westin Harbour Island and it is licensed as a Westin under a long-term franchise agreement.
"We are delighted to expand our association with Columbia Sussex," said Sue Brush, senior vice president for Westin Hotels & Resorts. "They are a dynamic presence in the world of hospitality, and their sensitivity to outstanding guest experiences is perfectly in sync with Westin's philosophy of renewing and enriching the mind, body and spirit at all customer touch-points."
"We are excited to include the Westin Harbour Island in our growing family of Westin properties,'' said William Yung, president of Columbia Sussex. "This conversion will allow us to leverage our extensive experience in developing resorts with the same unparalleled attention to detail bestowed upon our other developments, including our current Westin portfolio of The Westin Casuarina Las Vegas Hotel, Casino & Spa and The Westin Casuarina Resort & Spa Grand Cayman.
While the private island setting and lush tropical landscape that surround Westin Harbour Island offer a true Florida getaway experience, the property is just minutes from downtown Tampa, the Convention Center and Tampa International Airport. The 12-story hotel with its panoramic harbor views has 299 guestrooms, including 19 suites, all featuring the deep-down comfort of The Heavenly Bed(R) and the invigorating spa-like experience of The Heavenly Bath(R). Westin's commitment to personal renewal continues at the state-of-the-art WestinWORKOUT(R) Powered by Reebok and at the year-round heated pool, the perfect setting for carefree relaxation.
Guests have access to the hotel's business center and each room features high-speed data ports. Westin Harbour Island offers more than 17,000 square feet of meeting space, with 13 venues accommodating 10 to 800 guests. The freshest seasonal ingredients inspire the menu at 725 South, and three additional restaurants and lounges will add to the pleasures of every traveler.
Forthcoming Westin conversions scheduled for Fall 2006 include Westin San Diego, Westin New Orleans Canal Place, Westin Chicago Northwest, Westin Washington, DC City Center and Westin Bristol Place Toronto Airport. Additionally, the Westin flag will be flying in St. Maarten, when The Westin St. Maarten Dawn Beach Resort & Spa opens in August 2007.
Columbia Sussex Corporation is a private hotel owner and operator based in Fort Mitchell, Kentucky. The company, 100 percent owned by William J. Yung, is one of the largest privately held hotel companies in the country.
Westin Hotels & Resorts, with 121 hotels and resorts in 31 countries and territories, is owned by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. and was ranked "Highest in Guest Satisfaction Among Upscale Hotels Chains." in the J.D. Power and Associates' 2004 North America Hotel Guest Satisfaction StudySM and voted Best Domestic Hotel Chain by Global Traveler Magazine. Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with approximately 850 properties in more than 95 countries and 145,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. Starwood(R) Hotels is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels and resorts with the following internationally renowned brands: St. Regis(R), The Luxury Collection(R), Sheraton(R), Westin(R), Four Points(R) by Sheraton, W(R), Le Meridien(R) and the recently announced AloftSM. Starwood Hotels also owns Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., one of the premier developers and operators of high quality vacation interval ownership resorts. For more information, please visit www.starwoodhotels.com.
(Note: This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of federal securities regulations. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance or events and involve risks and uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated at the time the forward-looking statements are made. These risks and uncertainties are presented in detail in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Although we believe the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, we can give no assurance that our expectations will be attained or that results and events will not materially differ. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.)
* * JOURNALISTS - PLEASE NOTE: JOIN STARWOOD'S PRESS RELEASE ALERT SERVICE TO RECEIVE STARWOOD COMPANY NEWS AND INFORMATION * *
To become a member, simply access the Starwood website, at: www.starwood.com/press Once you reach the home page, enter your e-mail address, and click "Subscribe".
CONTACT: Media:
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.
Ellen Gallo, 914-640-8167
ellen.gallo@starwoodhotels.com
SOURCE: Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.