The W Hotel San Francisco and The Westin Plaza Singapore Awarded Best in
'Lobby/Reception' and 'Guestroom' Category, Respectively
Also, The W Hotel San Francisco Garners Finalist Mention in
'Guestroom' Category
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., Dec. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Two of Starwood Hotels &
Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) most innovative design-oriented hotels
were recently named as 2000 Gold Key Winners in the November/December 2000
issue of Hospitality Design in the "Guestroom" and "Lobby/Reception Area"
categories. The magazine's Gold Key Awards signify outstanding achievement in
hotel design and only the best hotels in the world qualify for this
prestigious award.
The Starwood hotels that won the magazine's prestigious awards were The W
Hotel in San Francisco, California and The Westin Plaza Singapore. The W
Hotel in San Francisco was awarded as the 2000 Gold Key Winner in the
"Lobby/Reception Area" design category while The Westin Plaza Hotel in
Singapore was selected as the 2000 Gold Key Winner in the "Guestroom"
category, respectively.
Hornberger + Worstell had been developing the design for a 31-story tower
five years before Starwood decided to make it one of its first ground-up W
hotels. Located on the prestigious corner of Howard at Third Street, The W
Hotel San Francisco is a rare example of architectural brilliance featuring
white granite in the facade and lobby which relates to the rotunda of the
adjacent Museum of Modern Art.
Mark Hornberger, principal-in-charge of Hornberger + Worstell, remarked
"Starwood felt we had achieved the right mix of warm, inviting, upscale modern
architectural elements to appeal to the affluent dot com generation." He
added, "We then collaborated with the Starwood Design Group, who selected
fabrics, colors, and patterns for soft interiors."
A focal point of the building is the main pedestrian entrance which is
through a three-story octagonal pavilion that complements the street corner
and sits forward of the soaring 31-story tower. The interior of the pavilion
features splashes of light filtering down from a skylight behind a cove-lit
starburst, reflecting off the multi-colored terrazzo floor and polished black
Canadian granite. Interior design flourishes include mahogany spandrels,
putty-colored plaster ceilings and warm velvet drapes. The hotel is a
striking example of how both exterior and interior design elements work well
together.
The W Hotel San Francisco was also awarded as 2000 Gold Key Finalist in
the "Guestrooms" category as well. One of the goals of the hotel was for the
guestrooms to combine intimacy with convenience for the business traveler.
This was achieved through combining the use of color, clean lines and built-in
or multi-purpose furnishings. For the bathrooms, cream-toned ceramic tile on
walls and floors simulates stone evoking a warm and soft appearance.
Not to be outdone, on the other side of the Pacific, The Westin Plaza
Hotel in Singapore took the award in the "Guestroom" design category. Owners
of the hotel, were seeking to renovate and upgrade this large five-star hotel,
designed 14 years ago by renowned architect, I.M. Pei. New York-based Brennan
Beer Gorman Monk served as the design company in the project and were faced
with the challenge of giving the hotel's business-like demeanor a more
residential feel. The project also included a refurbishing of the hotel lobby
as well.
"It was the first major re-do the hotel has had. Not only did we have to
balance a contemporary look with a sense of warmth, but we also had to deal
with the Singapore climate, and had to create a color scheme that makes the
traveler feel cool," stated Jeffrey Williams, partner in charge.
Project-designer partner Kate Greenwood was up for the task at hand at
eliminating the rather "nondescript" previous decor and in its place, design a
room that would cater to the modern-day "wired" executive. A highlight of the
room is the innovative "fainting couch" placed at the foot of the bed for
relaxation. European in concept, the couch features a reading light and ledge
which serves all the needs of the savvy business traveler. The couch's
purpose is multifunctional and serves as a great place for a businessperson to
read, drink, eat or relax.
In addition, to the hotel's unique design, The Westin Plaza's South Tower
features the brand's newest innovation, the "Heavenly Bed(TM)." The
sumptuous, stylish, all-white Heavenly Bed consists of ten layers of
heaven -- a custom-designed pillow-top mattress set, a cozy down blanket,
three crisp white sheets (thread count ranging from 180 -250 per square inch),
a comforter, a duvet and five of the best pillows in the business.
Starwood 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 by
Sheraton, W brands, as well as Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., one of the
premier developers and operators of high quality vacation interval ownership
resorts.
SOURCE Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.
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http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/443150.html or fax,
800-758-5804, ext. 443150
CONTACT:
Katie Meyer, Vice President, Public
Relations, 914-640-8247, katie.meyer@starwoodhotels.com; or Mark
Ricci, Public Relations Manager, 914-640-8496,
mark.ricci@starwoodhotels.com, both of Starwood Hotels & Resorts
Worldwide, Inc.
NOTE TO EDITORS: Please contact Starwood's new toll-free media
hotline at 866-4-STAR-PR, (866-478-2777) for photography or
additional information.
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