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Aloft Tops TripAdvisor’s Ranking of “Trendiest Hotels”

Dépèche transmise le 25 janvier 2011 par Business Wire

Aloft Tops TripAdvisor’s Ranking of “Trendiest Hotels”

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Soho. West Hollywood. And now Portland Airport.

“We set out to bring style and design at an affordable price and, as a new hotel brand, we are thrilled to be in such great company and to see Aloft becoming a true game-changer in the industry.”

Two Aloft hotels have been ranked among the “Top 10 Trendiest Hotels in the United States” by TripAdvisor® in its 2011 Travelers’ Choice® awards, making Aloft the only hotel brand to have not one, but two properties on the coveted list, and one of few select-service hotels to top the list.

According to the world’s largest travel site, the “hip and friendly” Aloft Portland Airport at Cascade Station (#5) and “modern and convenient” Aloft Nashville-Cool Springs (#9) now belong in the rarefied company of buzz-worthy hotels like Philadelphia’s Hotel Palomar (#2), New York’s Crosby Street Hotel (#4), and The Maxwell (#10) in Seattle. Aloft Portland Airport’s trendiness even resonated across the globe; the hotel was ranked #9 among TripAdvisor’s “Top 10 Trendiest Hotels in the World.”

Now in its ninth year, the annual TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice awards honor the world’s best hotels, earning their distinction from those who know them best – real travelers. Unlike any other hotel awards programs in the world, TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice winners are based on the millions of real and unbiased reviews and opinions about hotels on tripadvisor.com™ and content from across the web.

“It’s extremely rewarding to have two of our properties recognized in TripAdvisor’s Traveler’s Choice Awards and it’s a particularly gratifying vote of confidence because it reflects the voice of our guests,” said Brian McGuinness, Senior Vice President of Specialty Select Brands for Starwood. “We set out to bring style and design at an affordable price and, as a new hotel brand, we are thrilled to be in such great company and to see Aloft becoming a true game-changer in the industry.”

Aloft is the sizzling “style-at-a-steal” brand from Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) that has been shaking up the hospitality industry since its 2008 launch. With more than 50 properties now open worldwide, the brand has enjoyed the fastest ramp-up in hospitality-industry history. Designed to appeal to the savvy, next generation of traveler, Aloft features urban-influenced, modern, open, and vibrant design at an affordable price point. Aloft also buzzes with a social guest experience that includes the dynamic re:mix lounge, a playful place to work or relax, and the destination w xyz bar, with its signature, seasonal cocktails, live performances with up and coming artists and regular sets by star local DJs. The brand has also single-handedly reinvented the staid airport hotel experience and Aloft Portland Airport is the perfect example.

A sister Starwood property, the W Fort Lauderdale, was named the #1 trendiest hotel in the United States by Tripadvisor. Inspired by W Hotels in its design and social atmosphere, Aloft is shaking up the staid select serve segment in much the same way W broke the mold of conformity in upscale lodging a decade ago.

Smart signature features have made Aloft the most successful launch in hospitality industry history. Savvy guests can surf their iPads, work on laptops via complimentary hotel-wide wireless Internet access, shoot a game of pool, or grab a drink with friends in the always-happening re:mix lobby and lounge. The re:charge^SM fitness center and splash, the indoor pool, give travelers options to de-stress and re-energize, while re:fuel, a one stop “grab-and-go” area with an urban cafe feel, offers sweet, savory and healthy food, snacks and beverages 24 hours a day.

Inside guest rooms, urban-influenced design rules. The centerpiece: An ultra-comfortable plush platform bed. Loft-like nine-foot ceilings and oversized windows create a bright, airy environment. Large, stylish bathrooms complement the guest experience with walk-in showers featuring rainfall showerheads and signature bath amenities created by Bliss^® Spa.

About Aloft Hotels

Created to shake up the staid, traditional select service segment of the hotel industry, the Aloft brand delivers style at a steal with urban-influenced, modern, open and vibrant design - and a social guest experience - at an affordable price point. Aloft hotels are geared toward savvy, design-conscious consumers who grew up with the democratization of design. With nearly 50 hotels open globally and 10 more planned in 2011, Aloft can be found everywhere from Harlem to Abu Dhabi, Baltimore, Dallas to Beijing and everywhere in between. For more information, please visit www.alofthotels.com.

Guests at Aloft can earn free nights at any Starwood Hotels & Resorts property – the world’s most sought-after collection of hotels – through the Starwood Preferred Guest program. To learn more, visit www.spg.com.

About Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with 1025 properties in 100 countries and territories with 145,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. Starwood Hotels is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels, resorts and residences with the following internationally renowned brands: St. Regis®, The Luxury Collection®, W®, Westin®, Le Méridien®, Sheraton®, Four Points® by Sheraton, and the recently launched Aloft®, and Element ^SM. 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.

About TripAdvisor

TripAdvisor® is the world’s largest travel site, enabling travelers to plan and have the perfect trip. TripAdvisor offers trusted advice from real travelers and a wide variety of travel choices and planning features (including Flights search, TripAdvisor Mobile and TripAdvisor Trip Friends) with seamless links to booking tools.

TripAdvisor® Media Group, operated by TripAdvisor LLC, attracts more than 50 million unique monthly visitors across 17 popular travel brands. TripAdvisor-branded sites make up the largest travel community in the world, with more than 40 million unique monthly visitors, 20 million members, and over 40 million reviews and opinions. The sites operate in 27 countries worldwide, including China under daodao.com. TripAdvisor also operates TripAdvisor for Business, a dedicated division that provides the tourism industry access to TripAdvisor’s millions of monthly visitors. The division includes Business Listings, which allows hoteliers to connect directly to millions of researching travelers, and Vacation Rentals, which helps property managers and individual home owners list their properties and showcase hotel alternatives.