Aloft Bangkok – Sukhumvit 11 Brings Stylish and Affordable Accommodation for Next Generation of Travellers to the Heart of Bangkok’s Entertainment District.

The heart of Bangkok beats a little faster today with the official opening of Aloft Bangkok – Sukhumvit 11. One of Starwood Hotels & Resorts brands, Aloft is for the modern and tech-savvy traveller looking for a vibrant, social experience. Aloft Bangkok – Sukhumvit 11- the Aloft brand’s first hotel in Thailand – offers all that and more in a stylish setting all at an affordable price point.

“The debut of Aloft in Bangkok underscores the strength of the Starwood network and the power of the Aloft brand,” said Brian McGuinness, Senior Vice President, Speciality Select Brands for Starwood. “Aloft’s emphasis on high design combined with its tech-savvy features and social atmosphere translates globally and is attracting a growing group of loyal travellers. Aloft’s international expansion so early in the brand’s life cycle is unprecedented.”

Infused with the DNA of W Hotels, the 296-room Aloft Bangkok-Sukhumvit 11 caters to the modern traveller seeking an eclectic, unique experience. With urban-inspired design, Aloft guestrooms feature loft-like decor with soaring nine-foot ceilings, Aloft’s signature platform beds, oversized showerheads and BlissÓ Spa products. And, to maximize both work and play, each room offers free Wi-Fi and a plug n’ play connectivity station for charging all electronics and syncing with the 42″ LCD HDTV. Incorporating industrial design elements throughout the hotel, Aloft features a buzzing bar scene in the open lounge, a grab-and-go café, a full-service fitness center, and an outdoor swimming pool.

For Aloft, the goal is to re-imagine the hotel model by creating a concept that encourages guests to spend more time in public areas, using innovative and surprising materials to focus on smart design solutions. The free flowing energy throughout the hotel, modern design and mood lighting set the tone for a diverse and stylish destination, day and night. This being the first Aloft opened in Thailand, local architecture firm Hassel added customized touches to the space so it would blend with the local culture and market. As the hotel accommodates a plethora of business travellers, the hotel’s meeting space is a welcome feature. An additional exclusive amenity to this Aloft location is access to an all-day, full-service dining restaurant on site featuring fresh local seafood. Aloft Bangkok-Sukhumvit 11 will bring a refreshing change to the hotel scene in Bangkok.

What’s more? At Aloft, guests never stay out of touch. The hotel provides free Wi-Fi in all public areas, enabling guests to stay connected and share their experiences with their loved ones.

Aloft Bangkok – Sukhumvit 11 meets the needs of tomorrow’s traveller throughout their Bangkok visit, whether it’s for business or pleasure. re:fuel by Aloft is an easy option for travellers on-the-go, providing everything from light meals and healthy bites to mix & match munchies and dreamy delights, offered 24/7. At w xyz bar, guests can mingle with new friends over signature sips and a “snack-attack” menu, or get down on the dance floor while the resident DJ spins during one of many special music-theme nights. The re:mix lounge gives guests the option of a playful place or quiet space, where they can do everything from play a game of pool, sip a drink, enjoy free Wi-Fi and slip from day-to-night with lighting and music to switch up the mood. Fun perk – complimentary digital tablets will be available for patrons’ use while visiting the lounge and bar. And, also available for guests at Aloft is Crave - an all day restaurant conducive to a lively atmosphere featuring delicious lunch and dinner buffets offering local seafood and international favourites. The restaurant stocks over 3,000 bottles of wine from more than 250 labels in its wine cellar – available to order via digital menu tablets.

Need to burn off last night’s excesses? Drop into re:charge, Aloft’s full-service, 24/7 fitness centre with state-of-the art fitness and weight-training machines. Or, dive right in and enjoy Aloft’s outdoor swimming pool and adjacent kids pool. For business guests who want to enjoy a fun and productive experience, the hotel offers over 265 square meters of meeting space and pre-function area. Finally, Aloft’s guest can access to Bangkok’s trendiest clubs – Bed Supperclub and QBar for a-free entry.

Aloft Bangkok is situated on Sukhumvit 11, the epicentre of the city’s thriving Sukhumvit entertainment district. The hotel is an easy five-minute walk from the Nana BTS Skytrain stop with convenient access to world class shopping at the nearby Siam Paragon and the Emporium Shopping Centre. From European-style pubs to retro bars, the Sukhumvit District hums with endless nightlife, offering something for everyone. The neighbourhood’s diverse culinary options reflect the city’s reputation as a cultural melting pot; the vast selection of food and dining vary from walk-up street stalls and casual cafes to some of Bangkok’s finest restaurants. The bustling, buzzing Sukhumit region is conducive to Aloft Bangkok’s commitment of providing guests a complete social guest experience!

To celebrate its arrival, Aloft Bangkok – Sukhumvit 11 has unveiled its special opening rates. Under the chic campaign called ‘Style at a Steal’, Aloft offers savvy travellers a chance to experience Aloft Bangkok with attractive rates starting at only THB 2,111++ per room per night for a Chic room and THB 2,411++ per night for an Urban room. The special rates are inclusive of free unlimited hotel-wide and in-room broadband and wireless internet access, free shuttle Tuk Tuk from Nana BTS Skytrain station and Sukhumvit MRT Subway station, and free entry to Bangkok’s trendiest clubs – Bed Supperclub and QBar. Guests who stay two consecutive nights or more will receive a F&B voucher to enjoy at Crave restaurant.

Aloft San Francisco Airport, now the Clarion Hotel San Francisco Airport, will undergo a significant renovation before opening as an Aloft in the summer of 2012.  The 253-room hotel is owned by Starwood Hotels & Resorts and this investment demonstrates Starwood’s commitment to the three-year-old Aloft brand.

“Building on the success of adaptive reuse projects like the award-winning Aloft Dallas Downtown, a former railroad depot, we’ve developed a conversion-friendly strategy for existing hotels to meet owner and guest demand for the brand while helping our partners reposition existing assets in a cost-effective manner,” said Simon Turner, President of Global Development for Starwood.   “We believe that many well-located, older hotels in metro markets represent enormous untapped repositioning potential.  With the right capital investment and the backing of Starwood’s powerful platforms, these assets will benefit from Aloft’s ever-growing guest loyalty.”

Aloft San Francisco Airport occupies a prime location adjacent to San Francisco International Airport (SFO), one of the world’s busiest travel hubs. The property’s strategic location, along with proximity to mass-transit options into San Francisco, made it an ideal choice for a conversion for Starwood. “We see two types of opportunities as ideal candidates for an Aloft conversion: older hotels in need of a major renovation, and unique independent boutique hotels seeking a stronger brand point of view and the ability to utilize Starwood systems,” Turner said.

For consumers, who have made Aloft one of the world’s most prized hospitality brands, conversions will mean access to the brand in more places, according to Brian McGuinness, Senior Vice President of Specialty Select Brands for Starwood.  “The Aloft brand has developed a fiercely loyal following – consumers constantly ask us to bring the brand to more cities,” he said.  “Conversions are exciting from a brand standpoint because they allow us to bring the Aloft experience to new markets more quickly, which can only enhance its already-powerful growth.”

Four new Aloft hotels around the world have pushed the brand past its landmark 50th hotel opening.

The “style-at-a-steal” brand from Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, which launched in 2008, is now debuting the Aloft New York Brooklyn, Aloft Zhengzhou Shangjie and Aloft Haiyang in China, and Aloft Coimbatore Singanallur in India, to reach 52 hotels around the world. Starwood expects to increase its Aloft portfolio to more than 70 hotels by 2013.

“Aloft Hotels’ success comes from rewriting the rules of our industry, from the unprecedented pace of new hotel openings to its complete reinvention of the select-service category,” said Simon Turner, president of global development for Starwood.  “Demand for Aloft in North America has been particularly healthy and the potential for additional growth in fast-growing economies like China and India is enormous.”

Aloft will continue its global expansion with six additional hotels slated to open by the end of 2011, each in an international market, including China, India, Thailand, the United Kingdom, Columbia, Panama, and Costa Rica.

The fastest-growing market for Aloft is Asia Pacific, which accounts for 12 of the 27 hotels in the brand’s current development pipeline. By the end of 2013, Aloft will have opened six additional new properties across China, including hotels in Yancheng, Haiyang, and Guangzhou, southern China’s largest city. In India, the brand will have four hotels by the end of 2011. The brand’s current Indian portfolio of three hotels will multiply to include the fast-growing urban hubs of Chandigarh and Bengaluru.

Aloft Hotels, of the makers of W Hotels, will open their second NYC area hotel in Brooklyn on April 21.

Aloft New York Brooklyn is located in downtown Brooklyn, just a short drive from Manhattan over the famous Brooklyn Bridge. Brooklyn Academy of Music, Prospect Park, the Botanical Gardens and Brooklyn Heights are nearby.

Aloft Brooklyn offers the usual Aloft mod-cons, like a w yxz Bar, re:mix Lounge and re:fuel Snack Bar. Aloft Brooklyn rooms feature an ultra-comfortable signature bed, an oversized showerhead, custom amenities by Bliss® Spa, and more. The plug & play connectivity station charges all your electronics and links to the 42” LCD TV to maximize work and play. Plus: free WiFi!

Aloft Brooklyn is the second Aloft in the NYC area, Aloft Harlem opened December 27, 2010.

Starwood announced the opening of a second Jacksonville property with Aloft Jacksonville Tapestry Park. Aloft made its Jacksonville debut in 2009 with Aloft Jacksonville Airport.

With 137 loft-inspired rooms, Aloft Jacksonville Tapestry Park will bring urban-influenced, modern, open, and vibrant design – at an affordable price point – to Tapestry Park’s European-inspired streetscapes. Aloft will also buzz with a social guest experience that includes the dynamic re:mix^SM lounge, a playful place to work or relax, and the always-happening w xyz^SM bar, with its signature cocktails and surprise sets by star local artists and DJs.

Aloft Jacksonville Tapestry Park will pursue a coveted Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification from the United States Green Building Council (USGBC). LEED is the nation’s preeminent program for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings. Starwood currently has 10 LEED certified properties throughout its portfolio, including two other Aloft properties – Aloft Charlotte Ballantyne and Aloft Tempe.

At Aloft Jacksonville Tapestry Park, travelers and locals alike will find smart signature features that have made the Aloft brand 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 re:mix lounge. The re:charge^SM fitness center and splash indoor pool, give travelers options to de-stress and re-energize, while re:fuel by Aloft^SM, a one stop, gourmet “grab-and-go” cafe offers sweet, savory and healthy snacks and beverages 24 hours a day.

Guests can choose to check in via touchscreen through Aloft’s signature kiosk, which allows them to select a room and view floor maps. 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 by Bliss^(R) Spa. Aloft Jacksonville Tapestry Park is pet-friendly, with special arf amenities and treats for Fido or Rover.

Aloft Jacksonville Tapestry Park guests will find close to 30 restaurants and entertainment options within walking distance in Tapestry Park, an urban village boasting a unique combination of residential, retail, office space, and popular eateries. Tapestry Park is a component of Deerwood Park, the Jacksonville metropolitan area’s largest suburban office development, with over 3.4 million square feet of office space. The 1000-acre park began in 1983 and is home to over 50 companies employing over 15,000 people. Within five miles of Tapestry Park are approximately 72,000 employees. For business, Aloft Jacksonville Tapestry Park features Tactic, more than 3,600 sleek square feet of completely flexible, wired meeting space.

“Opening in Tapestry Park situates Aloft guests at the pulse of one of Jacksonville’s key commercial and corporate hubs,” said Brian McGuinness, senior vice president of Specialty Select Brands for Starwood. “Tapestry Park is also energetic and eclectic, so it’s a perfect match for Aloft’s style.”

Jason Simballa, general manager of Aloft Jacksonville Tapestry Park, agreed. “Along with all the Aloft features that guests have come to love, the Tapestry Park location gives travelers a major advantage,” he said. “And we’re looking forward to welcoming Jacksonville locals with a stylish new space to hang out after work, meet friends on weekends, and unwind any time.”

Owned by New Century Investments, the newly constructed hotel will offer style at a steal with 140 spacious, loft-like rooms, intuitive and accessible technology and a vibrant, social atmosphere.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT), announced it will debut its new Aloft brand in Oklahoma City in early 2013. Aloft Oklahoma City Downtown-Bricktown will be located right at the heart of the revitalized Bricktown district – the city’s hotspot for arts and entertainment. Owned by New Century Investments, the newly constructed hotel will offer style at a steal with 140 spacious, loft-like rooms, intuitive and accessible technology and a vibrant, social atmosphere.

“We are delighted to infuse even more energy into Oklahoma City’s dynamic Bricktown district with this stylish new hotel, designed to appeal to today’s savvy travelers,” said Paul Sacco, Senior Vice President of North American Development for Starwood. “Aloft has shaken up the hospitality industry with one of the fastest and most successful brand launches in industry history, opening more than 40 hotels in less than two years.”

Aloft Oklahoma City Downtown-Bricktown will offer an ideal location at NE 2^nd Avenue and Walnut, surrounded by a variety of upscale urban residences. Just minutes from Will Rogers World Airport, the hotel will be walking distance to shops, restaurants, night clubs and bars, and convenient to Cox Convention Center, AT&T Bricktown Ballpark and Oklahoma City Arena, home of the NBA’s Oklahoma City Thunder. The new Aloft will offer 5,000 square feet of flexible meeting space, an outdoor pool, indoor spa and sauna, and wxyz ^sm bar. Aloft Oklahoma City Downtown- Bricktown will be the brand’s second hotel in Oklahoma, joining Aloft Tulsa.

“Aloft Oklahoma City Downtown-Bricktown will deliver a compelling blend of urban style and social interplay to downtown Oklahoma City,” said Brian McGuinness, Senior Vice President of Specialty Select Brands for Starwood. “With its bold design and lively social atmosphere, Aloft caters to the next generation of travelers who expect their lodging to facilitate their constantly evolving lifestyle.”

“We look forward to introducing Starwood’s upscale and affordable Aloft brand to Oklahoma City. We expect Aloft Oklahoma City Downtown-Bricktown to appeal to both sophisticated travelers and area professionals with its eclectic and electric experience, lively re:mix ^sm lounge and w xyz ^sm bar,” said James R. Thompson II, Vice President of New Century Investments. “By working with Starwood, we are also able to tap into the power of the Starwood network and reach even more travelers through the groundbreaking Starwood Preferred Guest® program.”

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide announces the opening of Aloft Harlem, the select-service brand’s first New York City hotel.

“Aloft’s vibrant social atmosphere will provide the perfect complement to the dynamic and energetic neighborhood of Harlem,” says Brian McGuinness, senior vice president of specialty select brands for Starwood. “Not only is Aloft ushering in a new era of lodging in Harlem, but we’ll be a local neighborhood outpost for the community as well, and we look forward to becoming an integral part of the Harlem landscape.”

Featuring 124 loft-style guestrooms, Aloft Harlem is part of a mixed-use project which also includes 44 condominium residences and retail space.

“We’re delighted to celebrate the grand opening of the first Aloft Hotel in New York City, which will provide a modern and luxurious escape for leisure and business travelers alike,” says Richard Gorsky, who leads the RCG Longview development and ownership team. “Harlem is a resurgent community which has retained its timeless charm while embracing new lifestyle attractions, particularly along the bustling Frederick Douglass Boulevard corridor.”

Aloft Harlem put its own spin on the traditional job fair and held “auditions” to recruit the very best local talent at the famous Apollo Theater nearby. The hotel is managed by Prospsera Hospitality.

Aloft Brussels Schuman has opened in the Belgium capital, marketing the debut of the select-service Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide brand in Europe.

Owned by London-based Thornsett Group, the 147-key Aloft Brussels Schuman is located in the heart of the buzzing European Union district.

“The launch of Aloft in Europe underscores the strength of the Starwood network and the power of the Aloft brand,” says Brian McGuinness, senior vice president of specialty select brands for Starwood. “Aloft’s emphasis on high design and affordability translates globally and is attracting a growing group of loyal travelers. In fact, Aloft represents one of the strongest brand launches in industry history, and its international expansion so early in the brand’s life cycle is unprecedented.”

Aloft Brussels Schuman is the fifth Starwood Hotel in Belgium, joining Le Méridien Brussels, Sheraton Brussels Hotel, Sheraton Brussels Airport Hotel and Four Points by Sheraton Brussels.

With more than 40 hotels open since its June 2008 debut, Aloft Hotels currently operates hotels in five countries: the United States, Canada, China, the United Arab Emirates and India, with Belgium marking its sixth country market. Aloft’s pipeline includes additional properties in India and the United States, as well as brand introductions in Thailand and the UK.

“We are thrilled to introduce Aloft to Brussels, a fitting choice for the brand’s debut in Europe,” says Roeland Vos, president of Starwood Hotels & Resorts in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. “The hotel’s strategic location in the heart of the European Quarter makes a bold statement about how the brand is taking its innovative, fresh perspective on hotels to the most important locations around the world.”

Aloft Brussels Schuman will boast atmospheric public spaces where guests can mix and mingle, read the paper, work on laptops, play a game of pool or grab a drink with friends at the Re:mix lounge and the W XYZ bar.

For work meetings, training courses and presentations, the hotel’s Tactic meeting rooms, which are equipped with the latest generation of audiovisual hardware, provide a creative space for groups of up to 50 people.

Opening in 2013, Aloft Cleveland Downtownwill Deliver Style at a Steal at the Heart of the Flats East Bank Development

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT), today announced plans to debut its Aloft brand in Cleveland, Ohio. Aloft Cleveland Downtown is scheduled to open in early 2013 as a key element of the Flats East Bank development – Cleveland’s newest, upscale mixed-use complex. Managed by Heritage Development Company, the newly constructed hotel will offer style at a steal with 150 spacious, open rooms, a tech-forward sensibility, and a vibrant, social atmosphere.

“Starwood’s stylish and affordable Aloft brand is a perfect choice for Cleveland’s upcoming Flats East Bank development, which will help spearhead the rejuvenation of downtown Cleveland,” said Paul Sacco, Senior Vice President of North American Development, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. “Inspired by the DNA of W Hotels, Aloft has shaken up the hospitality industry as one of the fastest and most successful brand launches in hospitality industry history, opening hotels in more than 40 global destinations in less than two years.”

Aloft Cleveland Downtown will be built as part of the $275 million first phase of the Flats East Bank project – a joint venture between The Wolstein Group and Fairmount Properties – along with a 450,000 square foot office tower, retail, restaurants, entertainment venues, a riverfront boardwalk and 14 acres of parks and green space. The highly anticipated development overlooks the Cuyahoga River and Lake Erie, boasting dramatic water views and cityscapes. Easily accessible from Hopkins International Airport via Rapid Transit, the hotel will be just minutes from many downtown attractions including the Warehouse District, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the East 4th Street entertainment district, Playhouse Square and several major sporting venues. The hotel will provide access to nearly 3,000 square feet of flexible meeting space, perfect for business meetings and social gatherings.

“Aloft Cleveland Downtown will bring a compelling blend of urban style and social interplay to the heart of downtown,” said Brian McGuinness, Senior Vice President of Specialty Select Brands for Starwood. “With its bold design and social atmosphere, Aloft caters to the next generation of traveler who expects their lodging to reflect their constantly evolving lifestyle.”

“We are delighted to partner with Starwood to introduce Aloft to Cleveland as an important element of the Flats East Bank development. We’re pleased we could bring this upscale boutique hotel to our project and believe it will improve upon the top-notch experience we plan to give to everyone who visits the Flats, whether they live in Cleveland or are just visiting,” said Scott Wolstein who with his mother, Iris, is leading the Flats East Bank development.

“Aloft Cleveland Downtown will target both sophisticated travelers and area professionals with its eclectic and electric experience, lively re:mixsm lounge and w xyzsmbar.”

The hotel is being financed by the Cleveland International Fund which has raised $20 million in funding and commitments for the hotel project.

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Calling the new Aloft Hotel Tulsa “contemporary” is an understatement.

Bold swatches of light and color intersect in right angles and semi-circles all over the southeast Tulsa building, especially in the split-level central area that puts no barriers between the “Aloha” front desk and the wxyz bar.

Guests can see the difference for themselves starting Thursday August 19, the official opening day for the world’s 40th Aloft hotel, at 6716 S. 104th East Ave., on the west side of U.S. 169.

The 136-room facility, the first Aloft in Oklahoma and the first hotel under the Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. umbrella to open in Tulsa, was built by Andy Patel, owner and operator of numerous other hotels in the metro area.

Although the hotel’s ultra-modern look is unusual for Tulsa, Patel said he believes the area is more than ready for the brand.

Aloft’s differences become apparent immediately after a visitor enters the common area – there are no interior walls between the Aloha Desk, the grab-and-go food area dubbed Refuel, the wxyz bar, the pool table and the angular yet comfortable seating.

Kimberly Cole-Honea, director of sales at Aloft Tulsa, said the design is intended to appeal to travelers who want to interact with fellow guests rather than just stay in their rooms.

“We want to keep the energy flowing,” she said. “It’s to encourage people who want to stay down here and mingle.”

There’s not just conversation on the first floor. At night on weekends, the wxyz bar, which has multicolored LED lights peeking through holes in the bar itself, will feature DJs spinning music.

The bar spills out into the Backyard patio, which features benches surrounded by short central pillars that also are illuminated. A glass fireplace is visible from both indoors and outdoors.

On the opposite corner of the interior from the bar, four HDTVs are pushed together to form one image, and an LED ticker bends around the wall to provide news, sports, stock listings and other information, said Ken Morgan, general manager of the hotel.

“We cater to business travelers, and they want to be in the know,” he said.

In addition to the pool, known as Splash and adorned with a large, lighted “A” logo at the bottom, Tulsa’s Aloft is the first in the chain to have a whirlpool and a sauna.

Aside from those features and a meeting space, which at 1,058 square feet is nearly twice the size of the norm, the Tulsa hotel is designed just like all the others in the young brand, which was launched in 2005, Morgan said.

The rooms are different from the norm as well, with beds featuring high backs forming a wall between the sleeping area and the bathroom.

The wood paneling along the outer wall bends inward at the bottom to form two small corner desks, while a central padded bench underneath the HDTV forms the only seating area in the room.

“We took out the couches,” Morgan said. “When people stay in hotel rooms, they don’t spend much time sitting on furniture,” he said.

A device called a Jack Pack serves as a central power station and connectivity hub in each room for MP3 players, cell phones, digital cameras and other devices, and can allow instant transmission of pictures or videos onto the room’s TV.

But not everything’s high-tech. Each room’s clock has a decidedly retro-style mechanical face.

“Hotels have gone overboard with clock functionality, so we wanted to have something that’s easy to use,” Morgan said.

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