Starwood Hotels Moves Downtown
NEW YORK, NY, March 25, 2009 - Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE:HOT) today announced plans to relocate its Manhattan-based luxury and design-led brands from Chelsea to a new headquarters space downtown on Varick Street, where SoHo and Tribeca meet. Global marketing, brand management and design teams for W Hotels, Le M'eridien, St. Regis and The Luxury Collection will join Starwood's Bliss and Rem`ede Spa teams in a redesigned space meant to inspire creativity and innovation and serve as a design, branding and retail think tank.
"This move is illustrative of Starwood's commitment to design, innovation and brand building," said Phil McAveety, Chief Brand Officer, Starwood Hotels & Resorts. "As we continue to attract and inspire the best and the brightest creative talent, we look forward to being part of a vibrant community that appreciates, cultivates and inspires our brands' passion points including fashion, entertainment, art and design."
VM Design Studio, a New York-based collective of renowned architects and designers, will lead the renovation of Bliss and Rem`ede Spa's existing 20,000 square foot office space located at 75 Varick Street. When the redesign is completed in September, 2009, Starwood will unveil a modern office space for 150 associates, which will also serve as showcase space to immerse owners, developers, designers and creative agencies in Starwood's signature luxury and lifestyle brands, which continue to meaningfully grow around the world.
VM Design Studio's design portfolio includes work on the world headquarters of Pixar Animation Studios in California and the West Elm corporate headquarters in New York, in addition to several St. Regis properties, including four new St. Regis hotels currently under construction in Hawaii, The Bahamas, Puerto Rico and Deer Valley, Utah.
"In addition to establishing a creative hub, we are excited to merge space with our Bliss and Rem`ede Spa brands which work closely with our brands to develop signature spas and bath amenities in our hotels around the globe," said McAveety. "We are, of course, sensitive to the current economic environment. By consolidating the two offices we will drive efficiencies which will offset the investment needed to create this new brand and design space."
While the space is under construction, the design, marketing and brand management teams for these brands will temporarily move from their current space in West Chelsea's Starrett-Lehigh Building to Starwood's global corporate headquarters in White Plains, NY.
Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) is a global leading lodging company based in Bethesda,Maryland, USA, with more than 4,200 properties in 80 countries and territories. Marriott International reported revenues of nearly $14 billion in fiscal year 2014. The company operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership resorts under 19 brands, including: The Ritz-Carlton®, BVlgari®, EDITION®, JW Marriott®, Autograph Collection® Hotels, Renaissance® Hotels, Marriott Hotels®, Delta Hotels and Resorts®, Marriott Executive Apartments®, Marriott Vacation Club®, Gaylord Hotels®, AC Hotels by Marriott®, Courtyard®, Residence Inn®, SpringHill Suites®, Fairfield Inn & Suites®, TownePlace Suites®, Protea Hotels® and MoxyHotels®. Marriott has been consistently recognized as a top employer and for its superior business ethics. The company also manages the award-winning guest loyalty program, Marriott Rewards® and The Ritz-Carlton Rewards® program, which together surpass 50 million members. For more information or reservations, please visit our website at 
