BizBash | Events * Meetings * Marketing * Style * Strategy * Ideas

Travel Industry Combats Cancellations: As the U.S. Travel Association continues to lobby the government to support meetings and events during the recession, more statistics have emerged to illustrate how different facets of the industry are suffering. Canceled events accounted for a $220 million loss in room revenue during January and February, and Starwood Hotels—which owns the Sheraton, Westin, Le Meridien, and W brands—has booked 40 percent fewer group events in 2009 compared to this time last year, prompting the company to eliminate 10 percent of its staff, or approximately 6,000 employees. [NYT]

Host City Braces for G20: Protesters in London for the G20 Summit are causing quite a stir. To protect the world leaders in town for the series of meetings on the global financial crisis, London has enlisted a record number of police to maintain order. The Metropolitan Police confirmed that approximately 3,000 officers will be on patrol during the two-day summit, and that number could double, should riots erupt. [Telegraph] MORE >>

Madonna, Gucci, Unicef, Raising Malawi, G20 Summit, U.S. Travel Association, Starwood Hotels, Vanity Fair, Cannes

VENUE NEWS 03.05.09 11:05 AM

Starwood to Open W in Late Summer With Rooftop Bar and Event Space

A rendering of the Rooftop Bar at the W Washington D.C.
Rendering: Courtesy of the W Washington D.C.

The long-anticipated reincarnation of one of Washington’s most beloved rooftop destinations will take place on August 1 when the former Hotel Washington opens, after an 18-month renovation, as the W Washington D.C. Managed by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, with decor by Los Angeles-based Dianna Wong Architecture & Interior Design, the property’s interior blends the original Italian Renaissance architecture with modern furnishings.

In addition to 285 guest rooms and 32 suites, Washington's first W will have 12,000 square feet of function space, including the lower-level 6,500-square-foot Great Room, which holds 700 for receptions and seats 480. On the same level is the city’s first Bliss Spa, as well as a fully-equipped fitness center. MORE >>

Starwood Hotels, National Mall, White House

VENUE NEWS 01.30.09 12:12 PM

Starwood to Open Aloft Hotel at National Harbor in March

Aloft Washington National Harbor
Photo: Courtesy of Starwood Hotels and Restorts

National Harbor event venues are on the increase. Starwood Hotels & Resorts announced that it will open Aloft Washington National Harbor at the end of March. San Francisco-based Kokua Hospitality will manage the $48 million, 190-room boutique hotel that includes a day spa and the first East Coast branch of Ketchup, a California-based grill and lounge. Aloft’s 6,500-square-foot Great Room seats 480 or holds 700 for receptions; the 2,400-square-foot Altitude rooftop space seats 220 and holds 260. MORE >>

Starwood Hotels

NEWS 01.26.09 4:38 PM

Hilton Hotels Moves Headquarters to Washington

Hilton Hotels announced late last week that it is moving its corporate headquarters to the D.C. region, bringing with it hundreds of jobs and making Washington, some industry executives say, the center of the world’s hospitality business. The Washington Post reported that the announcement surprised industry executives, coming less than two years after the Blackstone Group bought the Beverly Hills, California-based hotel chain for $26 million and later named Christopher Nassetta chief executive. Hilton has 3,276 hotels and 547,189 rooms in 77 countries. MORE >>

Hilton Hotels, Marriott International, Starwood Hotels, Choice Hotels, Host Hotels & Resorts

VENUE NEWS 04.10.08 11:36 AM

Sheraton Launching Large Expansion Project

On Monday, Sheraton announced its plans to open 54 hotels—that's 20,000 guest rooms—worldwide by 2009. This equates to a $2 billion investment in new North American properties, including hotels in Dallas, Denver, Minneapolis, Phoenix, and Washington, D.C.

The push is an attempt on Starwood's part to revitalize the Sheraton brand. The announcement marks the first phase of a multi-year plan to spend an additional $1.3 billion renovating 100 U.S. hotels (roughly half of Sheraton's North American locations), including some 50,000 guest rooms and 100 lobbies.

Also on tap: New York City properties set to open in Brooklyn and TriBeCa in 2009. —Courtney Thompson

Sheraton Hotels & Resorts, Starwood Hotels

VENUE NEWS 10.25.07 3:07 PM

Starwood to Open Element BWI

Starwood Hotels and Resorts announced plans this week to build a 123-room Element property near BWI Airport in late 2009. The extended-stay-friendly hotel will feature large guests rooms, dubbed "private spaces," which aim to give a residential feel, with full kitchens, oversize desks, swiveling flat-screen TVs, and custom-designed closets. Taking a cue from hotels out West, an outdoor fire pit and barbecue will be on-site, in addition to 700 square feet of meeting space. —Courtney Thompson

Starwood Hotels

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