THE LUXURY COLLECTION HOTELS & RESORTS INVESTS $200 MILLION TO RESTORE ICONIC HERITAGE HOTELS IN EUROPE
CANNES – From
the International Luxury Travel Market (ILTM), The Luxury Collection
Hotels & Resorts, part of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide,
Inc. (NYSE: HOT), has announced that the company and its owners are
investing $200 million to renovate and restore some of its most
celebrated hotels in Europe.
The brand is already off to a strong start
with the reopening of two iconic hotels in Spain this year: Hotel
Alfonso XIII in Seville and Hotel Maria Cristina in San Sebastian. This
will be followed by the debut of the restored Gritti Palace in Venice
and Prince de Galles in Paris in 2013.
“The
Luxury Collection has an intimate understanding of today’s luxury
travellers who, more and more, aim to stay with a brand that offers a
consistent level of impeccable service, while celebrating each hotel's heritage and unique character,” said
Paul James, Global Brand Leader, The Luxury Collection Hotels &
Resorts, St. Regis and W Hotels Worldwide. “We are delighted to
reintroduce these historic icons, carefully restored by some of the
world’s most renowned architects, interior designers and craftsmen who
have preserved the authentic elegance and distinct personality so
beloved by its guests, while bringing the landmark hotels into the 21st century.”
The
Luxury Collection is an ensemble of more than 80 of the world’s finest
hotels and resorts around the world, spanning 30 countries, offering the
brand’s signature concierge service, luxury amenities and indigenous
cultural experiences. There are currently 40 Luxury Collection hotels in
Europe, Africa and Middle East and the four restored hotels in Spain,
France and Italy will reinforce the brand’s distinguished portfolio as
portals for guests to discover new, exciting destinations throughout the
region.
“As
part of Starwood’s strategy to strengthen our Luxury Collection brand
portfolio and as the world’s leader in luxury hospitality, we are making
major investments to renovate and restore some of our most
distinguished hotels,” comments Roeland Vos, President, Starwood Hotels
& Resorts, Europe, Africa and Middle East. “The refurbishment of
these legendary hotels allows us to continuously exceed guest
experiences by offering unparalleled service and authentic experiences
that reflect the local spirit of the destination.”
Hotel Alfonso XIII, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Seville (reopened March 2012)
Located
on the historic Calle San Fernando in the heart of Seville, Hotel
Alfonso XIII is considered to be one of the grandest hotels in Europe
and was commissioned by King Alfonso XIII for the 1929 Ibero-American
Exhibition. The restoration spanned 10 months and was led by renowned Sevillian architect Demopolis, with interiors designed by The Gallery at HBA London.
Recently recognised for “Best Historic Renovation” at the annual Gold
Key Design Award, Hotel Alfonso XIII is a magnificent showcase of
Moorish architecture and regional Andalusian design infused with Arabic
accents. The hotel features 151 luxuriously-appointed guest rooms and
suites and distinct culinary experiences, including Spanish cuisine at
Bodega Alfonso and Andalusian specialties at San Fernando, the poolside
Taifas restaurant and bar, and the Art Deco-inspired American Bar.
Hotel Maria Cristina, a Luxury Collection Hotel, San Sebastian (reopened July 2012)
The renovation of Hotel Maria Cristina was completed in time for its 100th
anniversary in July, celebrating a century of elegance renewed.
Situated in the storied city centre of San Sebastian, Spain’s culinary
capital, this Belle Epoque gem was originally designed by famed French
architect Charles Mewès and was christened in 1912 by its namesake,
Queen Maria Cristina. Carried out over nine months, the refurbishment
was led by Idom Engineering & Architecture, with interiors restored
by The Gallery at HBA London.
The hotel’s 107 lavish guest rooms and 29 suites are dressed in
sophisticated pastel tones and decorated with elegant gold furnishings,
evoking the élan and striking presence of all the leading ladies who
have graced the environs of the hotel. Following the restoration, the
hotel introduced haute Chinese cuisine at Tse Yang, complemented by
Basque and international selections at Easo Restaurant and excellent
cocktails at DRY bar.
The Gritti Palace, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Venice (reopening 31 January 2013)
Located
along the city’s enchanting Grand Canal, the historic Gritti Palace is
slated to open on 31 January next year, in time for the city’s
celebrated annual carnival and the Venice International Biennale of
Contemporary Art, following a significant 15-month restoration. Working
closely with the renowned Venetian fabric house Rubelli and leading
interior design firm Donghia, the restoration will return the hotel to
its former glory using rare archival fabrics and stunning chandeliers
and glassware from Murano. The hotel’s design is inspired by the Gritti
Palace’s origins – dating back to 1475 as a private home for the noble
Pisani family followed by the distinguished Doge of Venice, Andrea
Gritti – to provide a home away from home for global travellers. In
addition to the hotel’s famous terrace, The Gritti Palace will feature
61 guest rooms and 21 sumptuous suites as well as Club del Doge
restaurant and the restored Bar Longhi. Soon to be unveiled are the
reintroduction of the iconic culinary school, The Gritti Epicurean
School, the new Acqua di Parma Blu Mediterraneo SPA and the Explorer’s
Library at The Gritti Palace.
Prince de Galles, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Paris (reopening Q2 2013)
Built
in 1928 along Avenue George V, Prince de Galles is one of the finest
addresses in the City of Lights. The celebrated Art Deco treasure is set
to offer the epitome of elegance and understated luxury when it reopens
in the second quarter of 2013 following an extensive two-year
renovation. With the acclaimed Pierre-Yves Rochon leading the design
direction, the iconic hotel will feature 159 exquisite guest rooms and
44 suites in authentic Art Deco style, reviving its original grandeur
and splendour. The hotel’s famous mosaic courtyard will be fully
restored and together with a new signature restaurant led by acclaimed
Chef Stéphanie Le Quellec, set the stage for an intimate Parisian social
scene.
Starwood Strengthens Luxury Position
In
the last five years, Starwood has doubled its global luxury room count
to meet growing global demand. With more than 150 luxury hotels
operating under the St. Regis, Luxury Collection and W brands, Starwood
has the largest footprint of luxury hotels in the industry.
In
addition to its commitment to restore some of the Europe’s most
emblematic hotels, The Luxury Collection is enhancing its extraordinary
portfolio with historic and contemporary icons around the world. The brand continues its remarkable global growth and is on track to surpass 90 hotels by 2014, including nine new hotels and resorts that are slated to open in Asia Pacific in the next two years.
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About Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.
Starwood
Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and
leisure companies in the world with 1,128 properties in nearly 100
countries and 154,000 employees at its owned and managed properties.
Starwood 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, Aloft®, and ElementSM.
The Company boasts one of the industry’s leading loyalty programs,
Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG), allowing members to earn and redeem
points for room stays, room upgrades and flights, with no blackout
dates. Starwood also owns Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., a premier
provider of world-class vacation experiences through villa-style resorts
and privileged access to Starwood brands. For more information, please
visit www.starwoodhotels.com.
About The Luxury Collection Hotels & Resorts
The
Luxury Collection® is an ensemble of hotels and resorts offering
unique, authentic experiences that evoke lasting, treasured memories.
For the global explorer, The Luxury Collection offers a gateway to the
world's most exciting and desirable destinations. Each hotel and resort
is a unique and cherished expression of its location; a portal to the
destination's indigenous charms and treasures. Magnificent decor,
spectacular settings, impeccable service and the latest modern
conveniences combine to provide a uniquely enriching experience.
Originated in 1906 under the CIGA brand as a collection of Europe's most
celebrated and iconic properties, today The Luxury Collection brand is a
glittering ensemble of more than 80 of the world's finest hotels and
resorts in more than 30 countries in bustling cities and spectacular
destinations around the world. The Luxury Collection includes
award-winning properties that continuously exceed guest expectations by
offering unparalleled service, style and class while celebrating each
hotel's distinctive heritage and unique character. All of these hotels,
many of them centuries old, are internationally recognized as being
among the world's finest. For more information, please visit www.luxurycollection.com
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