Press Release
April 20, 2001
WHITE PLAINS, NY -- The Westin Grand Bohemian opens today as downtown Orlando's first luxury hotel. The 250-room
property is owned and managed by The Kessler Enterprise, Inc./Grand Theme Hotels of Orlando, Fla., with Starwood
Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) providing sales, marketing and Westin brand support through a
franchise agreement.
Richard C. Kessler, President and CEO of The Kessler Enterprise, Inc., Orlando Mayor Glenda E. Hood and several
other local dignitaries were on hand this morning to cut the ribbon as part of the official festivities for the
hotel. The Westin Grand Bohemian is located downtown within walking distance of the city's shopping, dining and
other attractions, including the Church Street Station pedestrian area.
Billed as ``An Experience in Art and Music'', the hotel's design is inspired by European Bohemia, the present day
Czech Republic, that is known historically as the hub for music and art. More than 100 pieces of rare artwork are
showcased throughout the hotel, including oil paintings, glass, bronze and wood sculptures by artists such as:
Jiang Tiefeng, Lorenzo Ghiglieri, Gustav Klimt, Egon Schiele, Marcel Marceau, Dale Chihuly and Dean Cornwell. To
complete the ambiance, classical and contemporary music plays throughout the hotel on an impressive sound system.
The hotel's 250 guestrooms and suites are designed with an elegant early 20th century European/Bohemian theme,
and feature Westin's signature Heavenly Bed® with a custom-designed pillow-top mattress, down blanket and five
pillows. Metallic shears with velvet draping adorn the windows, and each room features rich red and purple color
schemes and customized furniture that combines dark Java wood tones and brushed silver accents. Guestroom amenities
also include two dual-line telephones with dataport for high speed Internet access, large work space, CD clock
radio and a safe that is large enough to store a laptop computer.
For dining, The Boheme restaurant offers classic, exotic cuisine with a European flare and a modern, fresh attitude.
The restaurant's design is sleek, stylish and sexy with plush furnishings and rare works of art. Headed by Executive
Chef Todd Bagget, the menu features high-quality steaks and fresh seafood as well as duck and venison prepared
in an ``old-world'' fashion, yet modern in technique and execution. The Boheme also boasts an exceptional wine
cellar, with a superior selection of champagne and wine from the finest vineyards around the world.
The posh Bosendorfer Lounge, named after the rare Imperial Grand Bosendorfer Piano on display in the Klimt Rotunda,
is a welcome addition to an area commonly known for its ``trend-setting'' bars. The ambiance is as unique as its
downtown location. It is designed to be edgy and intriguing, offering an elegant meeting place to sip a martini
or a glass of wine. The focal point of the lounge is the round bar decorated in black marble with red stones and
mirror pieces. Long red sconces hang from the gold leafed ceiling for soft, sensual lighting and the seating around
the bar is comprised of sofas and chairs decorated with soft red velvets in a cozy setting.
The Klimt Rotunda, named after the collection of artwork by Gustav Klimt, is the musical heartbeat of the hotel.
It is also home to the $250,000, rare Imperial Grand Bosendorfer Piano, one of only two in the world. The imperial
concert grand piano was designed by the world-renowned Austrian architect Hans Hollien and has gold leaf inlay,
a hydraulic lid that opens and closes and brass legs that cost $14,000. The hotel will have nightly entertainment
and guests can order libations and light fares while listening to this magnificent instrument.
The hotel also features more than 9,600 square feet of meeting space between eight rooms, an outdoor pool and sundeck,
business center, spa services, fitness center and valet parking.
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. For information or to make reservations,
please visit www.starwood.com or call (800) WESTIN-1.
The Westin Grand Bohemian shares the legendary name and refined standards of Richard C. Kessler's Grand Theme Hotels,
a portfolio of unique hotels, each boasting individual architecture and interior design; all with a common commitment
to service, value and entertainment. Other Florida based Grand Theme Hotels include the Doubletree Castle Hotel
in Orlando, opened in 1995; the Sheraton Safari Hotel in Lake Buena Vista, opened in 1997 - an affiliated property,
owned by Meristar; the Sheraton Studio City Hotel in Orlando, opened in 1999; the Celebration Hotel in Celebration,
opened in November 1999 and the Casa Monica Hotel in St. Augustine, opened in December 1999. For reservations and
information, please visit Grand Theme Hotels' website at www.grandthemehotels.com.
or www.grandbohemianhotel.com or call 1 (888) GRAND 123.
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Contact:
MEDIA:
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.
Gretchen Kloke, 914/640-5236
gretchen.kloke@starwoodhotels.com
or
The Kessler Enterprise, Inc./Grand Theme Hotels
Mary C. Kenny, 407/996-9942
mkenny@grandthemehotels.com