WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., Aug. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- A 70-year-old is the best in
bed, according to a racy advertising campaign that has been promoting one of
the world's leading hotel companies. Westin Hotels & Resorts -- known as the
"best in bed" after the launch of its innovative Heavenly Bed last August --
turns 70 on Sunday. The event is being marked across North America with
birthday celebrations for staff and guests.
"Suddenly, 70 is sexy," says Sue Brush, vice president of marketing for
Westin, the upper-upscale global hotel brand of Starwood Hotels & Resorts
Worldwide, Inc. "Just look at Sean Connery, who has been voted the sexiest
man alive. He's turning 70 on August 25."
Astrologers say a person's future may be tied into the date of his or her
birth and if being born on August 27th is any indication, Westin was destined
for greatness. The hotel chain shares its birthday with MGM film magnate
Samuel Goldwyn (1882), former president Lyndon Baines Johnson (1908) and
Confucius, the world-renowned Chinese philosopher.
Westin was conceived by "strange bedfellows," two hotel competitors who
were having breakfast in the same diner in Yakima, Washington, on August 27,
1930. One summoned up the courage to talk to the other about forming a new
company, Western Hotels. From that initial alliance, Western Hotels evolved
into Western International Hotels with the addition of a property in Canada,
and, in 1980, the company commemorated its 50th birthday by changing its name
to Westin Hotels & Resorts.
"A sleepy little hotel chain grew from 17 properties in the Northwest to
become a world leader," says Brush. "Today, we have 120 hotels in 24
countries including our latest additions, some of the most prestigious
properties such as The Westin Resort & Spa Whistler (British Columbia), The
Westin Europa and Regina in Venice and The Westin Palo Alto. All the while,
we've continued our market innovations."
Westin innovations include free rooms for children staying with their
parents (1950s), central reservations (1970s), voicemail (1990s) and the
Heavenly Bed (1998). Other industry firsts include computerized reservations,
guaranteed reservations and acceptance of credit cards. Westin is even
credited with inventing the hotel mini-bar at The Westin Ottawa in Canada.
"Our founders would be as proud of our accomplishments and new additions
as we are," says Brush. "We've been cited as the best upper-upscale hotel
company by Business Travel News and have been honored with the top spot in a
J.D. Power & Associates hospitality industry guest satisfaction survey. Our
70th birthday is just one more milestone for us to celebrate."
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) is one of the
leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with more than 725 properties
in 80 countries and 120,000 employees at its owned and managed properties.
With internationally renowned brands, Starwood is a fully integrated owner,
operator and franchiser of hotels and resorts including: St. Regis, The
Luxury Collection, Sheraton, Westin, Four Points and W brands, as well as
Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., one of the premier developers and operators
of high quality vacation interval ownership resorts. More information is
available from the company's web site: http://www.starwoodhotels.com.
SOURCE Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.
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Related links:
http://www.westin.com
http://www.starwoodhotels.com
Company News On-Call:
http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/443150.html or fax,
800-758-5804, ext. 443150
CONTACT:
Deborah Bernstein, 914-640-8361, and Ellen
Gallo, 914-640-8167, both of Starwood Hotels & Resorts
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