Press Release: Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.
December 6, 2000
WHITE PLAINS, NY -- 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.