Starwood Diva

India Expansion…Here We Come!

starwooddiva — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 13:15:13 +0000

Starwood Hotels announced their expansion plan to open 14 hotels in India by 2011!! I’ve always wanted to travel to India, and now there will be 14 more Starwood properties to choose from! The three new brands will include aloft, Westin, and Sheraton (can you smell the white tea?). Check out the article by The Economic Times for more details.

An “Arrival Experience” for All to Share

starwooddiva — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 18:09:15 +0000

Who said checking in at a Starwood Hotel would be boring? Le Meridian Al Aqah announced the implementation of Starwoods global initiative, affectionately titled the “Arrival Experience”. It includes underwater photography, art influences throughout the hotel from international artists, and a 24 hour music sound piece. Check out the article here for more information.

Hotel stays…becoming more of a sensory experience that evokes emotion for guests worldwide.

Starwood and Microsoft Team Up for Advertising

starwooddiva — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 11:42:18 +0000

Is this a match made in heaven? Starwood Hotels & Resorts is promoting its Westin brand to the UK market through Microsoft Advertising. The campaign will be centered around “wellbeing while you travel” and is targeted to health conscious travellers. Check out the Travolution article here.

Food for Thought: Is providing healthy food and beverage for customers a good strategy for hotels?

Digital Magazines for Starwood Guests?

starwooddiva — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 04:44:05 +0000

Imagine reading U.S. News and World Report from a lobby kiosk or from the comfort of your guest room television. If you are staying at an Element or aloft Hotel, you just may get that chance.:) Starwood Hotels & Resorts has partnered with Zinio to provide digital versions of magazines to hotel guests! Read the following article for Marketing Daily about the new partnership!

Website: http://www.mediapost.com/publications/?fa=Articles.showArticle&art_aid=106924

Ahh…the thought of reading Macworld (I’m a huge Mac fan btw) from my guest room flat screen while I’m snuggled up in a Heavenly Bed brings a tear to my eye.:)

New Starwood Properties in Pakistan

starwooddiva — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 17:51:30 +0000

It seems like Starwood Hotels are continuing their expansion! Two new Sheraton Hotels are coming to the city of Islamabad, Pakistan by 2013. Check out the article from Hotelier.com (http://hoteliermiddleeast.com/article-4740-starwood_to_open_two_more_pakistan_properties/).

So many choices for the Diva, so little time.:)

New Starwood Hotels in Vietnam

starwooddiva — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 16:45:26 +0000

Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide will be building two luxury hotels in Vietnam at a project cost of $100 million dollars. For more information, visit the Forbes news article at http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2009/06/10/ap6525939.html.

Could this be a new destination for the Diva?

The Starwood Diva has arrived!

starwooddiva — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 14:24:42 +0000

There are a few, select things that bring me comfort during a hotel stay: plush decor, exceptional customer service, Heavenly Beds, the Acura Experience, or the tantalizing scents of white tea…You can only experience this at a Starwood Hotel.

My love for the Starwood brand started in 2007, at my very first W Hotel – The Tuscany. Since then, I’ve been hooked, and I’ve stayed primarily at Starwood establishments, including the W Hotels, Westin, Le Meridian, and St. Regis. As a Platinum SPG, I have enjoyed countless upgrades, amenities, and look forward to exploring the 900+ properties that Starwood has to offer in the years to come.

Come join me as I provide my first Starwood Hotel review of the W Washington DC, which opens on July 8, 2009. This is the first and only W Hotel property in the Washington D.C. Metro area, and it is LONG overdue.:) The Starwood Diva will be there, martini in hand at the rooftop bar! You can also follow my Starwood quest, including updates and reviews of Starwood Hotels via Twitter at www.twitter.com/starwooddiva.

Upcoming reviews to include:

St. Regis Hotel – Rome: August 2009
Westin Reston Heights: August 2009
W Mexico City: September 2009
W San Francisco: October 2009
Le Meridian New York: October 2009
W Times Square: December 2009 (New Year’s Eve of course!)

And many more!