Aloft, Starwood's Sizzling "Style-At-A-Steal" Brand Continues Expansion In China

With the debut of seven new hotels by 2013 in the region including Nanhai, Haiyang, Shangjie and Zhengdong New District in Zhengzhou, Dalian, Guangzhou and Yamcheng

Shanghai, China (April 15, 2011) /ChinaNewswire.com/ — Starwood Hotels & Resorts recently announced the opening of Aloft Nanhai, Foshan on February 1, 2011, the second Aloft hotel to open in China after the debut of Aloft Beijing Haidian in 2008. To continue the brand expansion in the region, six more Aloft hotels will debut by 2013 including Haiyang, Shangjie and Zhengdong New District in Zhengzhou in 2011, Guangzhou in 2012, Dalian and Yancheng in 2013.

"Starwood's new Aloft brand offers style, design and high tech touches at an affordable price. We are thrilled to introduce Aloft to China's fast-growing markets like Nanhai, Haiyang, Zhengzhou as a new choice and a unique experience for international and domestic travelers," said Stephen Ho, Senior Vice President of Acquisitions & Development for Starwood Hotels & Resorts Asia Pacific.

Aloft, the sizzling "style-at-a-steal" brand has rocked the global hospitality industry since launching in 2008. Aimed at Generation Y, Aloft is Starwood’s design-led, social-experience brand that has enjoyed the fastest ramp-up of any brand in hotel history. As a young, tech-driven society, China will become a key market for Aloft’s development outside of the United States.

Aloft Nanhai, Foshan
Opened on February 1, 2011, Aloft Nanhai, Foshan is conveniently located near the Nanhai Science and Technology Park in Foshan, Guangdong Province. Surrounded by numerous high-tech businesses, research centers and leading universities, this new hotel is part of an exciting, new mixed-use complex including the Foshan International Convention and Exhibition Center, offices and residential buildings. 252 guest rooms feature the brand’s signature nine-foot ceilings, oversized windows and the ultra-comfortable bed, as well as oversized walk-in showers and amenities created by Bliss® Spa. Each aloft room is also a combination high-tech office and entertainment center equipped with wireless internet access and plug & play, a one-stop connectivity solution for multiple electronic gadgetry all linked to a 42” flat-panel, HDTV-ready television.

Aloft Zhengzhou Shangjie
Scheduled to open on April 30, 2011, Aloft Zhengzhou Shangjie is a fresh, fun and forward-thinking alternative for travelers in Zhengzhou city. Located in the hub of the industrial zone-Shangjie district in Zhengzhou, the hotel will offer 172 urban-inspired, loft-like rooms and suites with nine-foot ceilings and oversized windows to allow for more natural light, leading edge plug & play connectivity solution for multiple electronic gadgetries such as PDAs, cell phones, mp3 players and laptops – all linked to a large flat panel HDTV ready television for optimal sound and viewing. Aloft Zhengzhou Shangjie will have the brand’s signature products including re:mix, w xyz bar, re:charge, re:fuel, splash and so on.

Aloft Haiyang
The 165-room Aloft Haiyang will set to debut in June 2011 and be part of a mixed-use complex including hotel, residential apartments, villas, retail pedestrian street, pier and so on. The new hotel will be strategically located in Haiyang, a coastal city in the peninsula province of Shandong in east China. Under the administration of Yantai City, Haiyang is known for its national forest parks, wetland reserves as well as beach and yacht activities. Haiyang will also be the host city for 2012 Asian Beach Games.

Aloft Zhengzhou Zhengdong New District
Aloft Zhengzhou Zhengdong New District will consist of 293 rooms, approximately 4,176 square feet of meeting space, three food and beverage outlets, including splash and re:charge. Ideally located in Zhengdong New District, the hotel will be scheduled to open its doors in December 2011.

Aloft Guangzhou, University Park
Set to be open in May 2012, Aloft Guangzhou, University Park will be ideally located in the Guangzhou University Park on Xiaoguwei Island, north of Xinzao Town of Panyu District in the south eastern part of Guangzhou. The hotel is approximately 35 minutes drive from the Tianhe Central Business District and 20 minutes drive from the Guangzhou International Exhibition and Convention Centre in Pazhou Island. Being part of the mixed-use complex, this new hotel will introduce style at a steal to the gateway city with 300 spacious, loft-like rooms, accessible technology and a vibrant, social atmosphere.

Aloft Yancheng
Located in northeastern Jiangsu province, this 250-room Aloft Yancheng will open in January 2013. Within 15 minutes drive from Jiangsu Yancheng Economic Development Zone and Tinghu Economic Development Zone, the new hotel will be situated in the city’s new Central Business District and next to Yandu Park, the biggest park in Yancheng. Yancheng, literally “Salt City”, is named after the many sea salt harvest fields around the city.

Aloft Dalian
Aloft Dalian will include 350 rooms, two food and beverage outlets as well as more than 16,000 square feet of meeting space. Opening in January 2013, the hotel will be located in the city center of Dalian, Liaoning Province’s economic, financial, commercial and tourism center and one of China’s major trading ports.

For more information, please visit www.alofthotels.com.

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. In the same way that W Hotels broke through the clutter of conformity in the upscale hotel arena more than a decade ago, Aloft is shaking up the industry for the next generation of traveler. Aloft hotels are geared toward savvy, design-conscious consumers who grew up with the democratization of design. Building on its tech-savvy DNA, the brand recently pioneered the industry’s first "keyless entry" automatic check-in program at Aloft Lexington in Massachusetts. With nearly 50 hotels open in the two years since Aloft first arrived on the scene and nine more opening in 2011, Aloft can be found everywhere from Abu Dhabi and Baltimore to Dallas and Beijing and everywhere in between. For more information, please visit www.alofthotels.com.

Aloft Hotels, like all brands within Starwood’s portfolio, is proud to offer the Starwood Preferred Guest® program, which offers a breakthrough policy of no blackout dates on Free Night Awards. To learn more, please visit www.spg.com.

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.

CONTACT INFORMATION

• Angela Feng
  Regional Public Relations Manager, China
  Telephone:+86 21 6141 7716
  Fax: +86 21 6391 8220