October 18, 2000
CHARLOTTE, NC -- Westin Hotels & Resorts - the hotel company known for launching such innovations as The Heavenly
Bed(SM), 24-hour room service, hotel voicemail and a central reservations system - will manage the new, 700-room
convention hotel in downtown Charlotte. The contracts for the property, owned by Portman Holdings, an Atlanta-based
real estate development company, were signed last week by Westin's parent company, Starwood Hotels & Resorts
Worldwide, Inc. The hotel is scheduled to open in the fourth quarter of 2002.
``Just like some of our other projects, such as the Embarcadero Center in San Francisco and the Shanghai Center
in Shanghai, this hotel is the right hotel at the right time for the growth of Charlotte and its convention center
district,'' said A.J. Robinson, president of Portman Holdings. ``The Westin fits Portman's usual type of project
and returns us to our roots. It is located in an urban core that will launch development, and it responds to the
particular needs of Charlotte. The Westin's infrastructure, a trolley station, parking and pads for additional
office space make an urban statement.'' The groundbreaking ceremony for the hotel was held last month on September
20.
``We celebrate the realization of Charlotte's dream to build a new, world class hotel in the convention district,''
says Norman MacLeod, Starwood's executive vice president. ``This hotel will be an excellent addition to the Westin
portfolio, as it embodies the spirit of the brand. The innovative architectural design and sleek, modern styling
meshes perfectly with the Westin brand, and the strategic location across the street from the Charlotte Convention
Center, makes it an ideal choice for the upscale business traveler and conventioneer.
``Westin is the brand of choice of the upper upscale business traveler, according to Business Travel News, whose
readers awarded it the top spot in its annual survey of hotels in the upper tier. According to Starwood officials,
the brand's international marketing power and global reach will open new doors to Charlotte when the new hotel
joins an elite group of more than 120 hotels in 26 countries.
The hotel will cost an estimated $143 million. One major asset of the hotel will be an on-site trolley station,
linking the convention district with the south side of Charlotte. The station is being funded through a grant from
the City of Charlotte. The hotel complex also will provide parking for hotel guests and convention attendees with
a garage that accommodates 1,650 cars.
The Ideal Venue for Meetings
Its proximity to the Convention Center and its generous meeting facilities will make The Westin Charlotte an ideal
venue for groups seeking the best, upscale facilities for conferences and meetings. The hotel will provide more
than 46,000 square feet of meeting and pre-function space, and a full-service business center. A 16,276-square-foot
grand ballroom will accommodate up to 1,360 people for banquets, and a junior ballroom (7,056-square-foot) will
hold 590.
Dining options will include a restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and dinner daily; a lobby lounge and an outdoor
cafe. For recreation, guests can take advantage of the hotel's health spa or indoor swimming pool.
Portman Holdings is an Atlanta-based real estate development company. It operates both in the United States and
abroad. The firm currently is working on future projects in Philadelphia and Warsaw, Poland. Additional information
on the firm can be obtained at http://www.portmanholdings.com.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) 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 and W brands, as well as Starwood
Vacation Ownership, Inc., one of the premier developers and operators of high quality vacation interval ownership
resorts. More information is available at the company's web site: http://www.starwoodhotels.com.
SOURCE: Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.