hotel info | aloft Nashville - Cool Springs

arrive & explore: what's nearby
Aloha! Get ready to stay & play awhile...adjacent to Cool Springs Galleria Mall, within easy access to Interstate 65 and downtown Nashville, birthplace of country music. Nearby Franklin is one of top travel destinations for 2007 by TripAdvisor.com.

stay & play: public spaces
Meet & mingle with friends at our w xyz bar; grab a sweet, savory or healthy snack from re:fuel by aloft, our 24/7 pantry, or play in our re:mix lobby. Plus, you can always stay connected with complimentary hotel-wide wireless internet access!

rest & refresh: aloft rooms
Breeze into one of our aloft rooms, featuring our ultra comfortable signature bed; an oversized spa shower; custom amenities by bliss© spa, and more. Our plug ‘n play connectivity center charges all your electronics and links to the 42” LCD TV to maximize work and play.

meet
Get busy in our tactic meeting space, and add some pizzazz to your next business bash. Tactic is outfitted with the best A/V set up, including a 50” flat screen with laptop hook up and DVD player.

our loft

our loft

re:mix

re:mix

re:mix

re:mix

re:charge

re:charge

tactic

tactic

Monday, August 4, 2008

aloft in the press

aloha! July was another hot month for aloft PR!

We generated 18,750,000 impressions including coverage in USA Today, NY Times, Fast Company, Chicago Tribune and the Boston Globe on topics as broad as the state of the hotel industry to getting rid of phone books in guest rooms. The bloggers continue to watch every move with rapt fascination and provide a great complement to the traditional PR outlets in getting the word out. (see below)

The Big Bash opening party at aloft Rancho Cucamonga got pick up on KCAL TV and an interview with Brian McGuinness ran on CNBC. (links below)

The big NBTA conference was held last week and aloft had a big presence. A few days prior to the event, we sent 110 of our top customers an aloft-branded gumball machine filled with branded gumballs and a letter inviting them to visit our booth at the event. On Sunday afternoon, we helicoptered some of our Starwood customers and travel trade press from downtown LA to aloft Rancho Cucamonga so they could get a tour of the hotel and better understand the brand. We expect pick-up in the coming weeks on the event.

Congratulations to aloft Chicago O’Hare which opened on July 24 and aloft Charleston that opened on July 31. Best wishes to aloft Minneapolis (planned opening for 8/7) and aloft Philadelphia whose opening and grand opening party are on 8/8.

Remember to send emails of anyone in your organization that would like to receive aloft PR updates.

Robin KormanVice President Marketing aloft hotels
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc1111 Westchester AvenueWhite Plains, NY 10604t. 914 640 3615 f. 914 640 3615 alofthotels.com – discover the new tWist in travel



New York Times - Terrible Timing for a Hotel Boom – 7/31
…A record number of hotels are opening this year, and the timing could not be worse. High gasoline prices and a slumping economy have put a damper on leisure and business travel. Airlines have been cutting service and raising fares. While new hotels open, occupancy rates are falling across much of the United States. ''We're really on the verge,'' said Charles Snyder of Smith Travel Research, a firm based in Hendersonville, Tenn. ''It hasn't turned into a hotel recession just yet, but we're certainly keeping an eye on the economy.''…When the industry was recording record revenue, major chains like Holiday Inn, which is part of the InterContinental Hotels Group; Hyatt; and Ritz-Carlton, owned by Marriott, began making plans to open new hotels. The industry now has about 6,000 new hotels, with nearly 800,000 rooms, under development, a 27 percent increase from last year, according to Lodging Econometrics, a consulting firm in Portsmouth, N.H. About 2,000 of those hotels are already under construction, and construction is scheduled to begin on many more in the next year. But perhaps more telling is the number of projects called off in the last three months -- 327 -- after investment banks like Lehman Brothers, UBS and Merrill Lynch began to reduce financing for new construction, according to Lodging Econometrics. It was the highest number of cancellations since immediately after Sept. 11. Even Donald J. Trump, who plans to build hotels in New York City, Honolulu, Toronto, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and Panama by 2010, is preparing for the worst. ''It may be speaking against my interest,'' Mr. Trump said, ''but I think the industry is headed for a fall.'' The hotels most likely to suffer are expected to be in smaller cities that are losing scheduled air service, which could reach as many as 100 by the end of the year, according to air transportation analysts. Rising air fares, already up an average of about 17 percent in 2008, are not expected to help. ''The cost of the travel experience is the hotel and the flights,'' said Barry S. Sternlicht, the former chairman of Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide. ''If one costs more, consumers have less to spend on the other.'' Some analysts, however, say the hotel industry will be able to withstand the tough times, albeit with lower profits. Professor Hanson, of the Tisch Center, said that at current levels, most hotels could endure significantly lower occupancy and still make money. On average, he said, hotels break even at 54 percent occupancy. Stephen P. Joyce, president of Choice Hotels International, said, ''It's a tough environment to open into.'' The company opened four hotels last year and has plans to open a dozen more by the end of this year, and more than 60 in the next three years. The company's brands include Comfort Inn, Cambria Suites and EconoLodge. In July, Starwood, which includes Westin, Sheraton and St. Regis, introduced its Aloft hotel -- a more hip and affordable brand modeled after its W Hotel. Starwood is developing more than 90 Alofts in 10 countries, and most of them ''are already under construction,'' Brian McGuinness, the company's vice president, said. But he said a few might have to be scrapped. ''There might be some slippage,'' he said, adding that plans for ''maybe five hotels'' would have to be canceled. Hyatt is also adjusting some of its plans. The company said it had originally planned to open 80 hotels this year. Instead, it will open 64, and about 94 next year.

Plenty Magazine (Blog) - State-By-State Guide to Green Hotspots – 7/30
…There's no need to book an ecotourism trip to Costa Rica this summer. Stay home and explore the United States' vast terrain for eco-minded travelers. You don't have to venture far from home to find eco-friendly places to eat, shop, and play. Here are several dozen of our favorite spots around the United States…ARKANSAS: Aloft. Eco façade is not just for show. Aloft is also green behind the scenes: Linens are washed with Seventh Generation goods and the pool is cleaned with chem-free products. 1103 South 52nd St., Rogers, AR. 479-268-6799; starwoodhotels.com/alofthotels…

Business Traveller (UK) – Starwood Announces Element Abu Dhabi – 7/30
…Starwood Hotels has announced the debut of its long-stay Element brand outside North America, a new-build property in Abu Dhabi due to open in 2011. The hotel will feature 270 “extended-stay units”, and will be located in Capital Centre, a mixed-use development around 20 minutes from the city centre and 15 minutes from Abu Dhabi International airport. A spin-off from the group’s Westin brand, Starwood has placed particular emphasis on green construction and design techniques for the new Element concept (see online news April 22). The brand recently opened its first property in Lexington, Massachusetts, with around 20 hotels under development across the US and Canada, including New York, Chicago, Las Vegas and Toronto. Capital Centre is being dubbed as a “micro city” on the outskirts of Abu Dhabi, and once complete will feature six hotels (Starwood’s Aloft brand will also make an appearance in 2009), residential and serviced apartment blocks and a marina. The complex also houses the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, the first phase of which has already been completed, and which will eventually feature over 55,000 sqm of meeting and conference space, as well as food courts, retail outlets and 2,000 sqm of serviced office space…

USA Today.com - Hotel Chains to Get Rid Of Phone Books In Rooms – 7/30
…Phone books, like tube TVs, are starting to disappear from hotel rooms. Omni Hotels, citing environmental concerns, announced today it will eliminate phone books in its 35 hotels. The current stock of 30,000 phone books will be recycled, and Omni will "invite other hotel brands to join in this effort," the Irving, Texas-based company says. "We found that that no one uses them anymore," says spokeswoman Caryn Kboudi. "They just collect dust and take up drawer space." While a vast majority of hotels in the USA continue to stock phone books, Omni joins a growing list of hotel chains that are eliminating them to cut down on paper waste and present clutter-free rooms. Several chains operated by Starwood Hotels — Westin, Sheraton, Aloft and Element — and Kimpton Hotels no longer carry phone books in the rooms (although they're available at the front desks). Hilton and Intercontinental Hotels' Indigo have dropped phone books as "a brand standard," or an item that must be stocked, and left up the decision to individual hotel owners…

Chicago Tribune - Hotel Opens Doors in Rosemont – 7/29
…People relax Thursday in the lobby of the newly opened Aloft Hotel, at 9700 W. Balmoral Ave. in Rosemont, near O’Hare International Airport. The 251-room hotel was developed by Milwaukee-based Continental Properties Co. and is affiliated with the Starwood Hotels & Resorts chain. The hotel is managed by Dallas-based Aimbridge Hospitality, which is developing three other Aloft properties in Texas…

Boston Herald – Inside Track, We Hear – 7/29
…That Mass. Lodging Association prez Paul Sacco is bursting with pride that his son, Paul Jr. senior veep of development for Starwood Hotel & Resorts, opened the country’s first LEED-certified, eco-friendly hotel chain in Lexington. The new hotel, called element, and its sister property aloft, are on the site of the old Sheraton Lexington Inn, which Papa Paul opened back in the day…

Hotel Report (UK) - A New Element - 7/28
…Hotel development in North America may be in a holding pattern but brands in one category seem to be in a more expansionist mode– extended stay, which continues to out-perform the industry as a whole. The largest existing brands – Residence Inns (over 500 locations), Homewood Suites and Staybridge Suites (well over 100 locations each with busy pipelines) – from Marriott, Hilton and InterContinental respectively – promise significant growth. But starting from scratch and taking aim at those big players is Starwood’s newest brand, element, which the company has dubbed an “eco-chic” product for its style and status as the very first brand to be LEED certified in every location. (LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, and is the internationally recognized third party certification for green buildings.) Last week, I stayed in the new element in Lexington, Massachusetts (it opened July 1), the brand’s first property. Located in the Boston area, it shares a plot of land with a new aloft hotel – Starwood’s slightly newer “W inspired” brand. Element’s first impression: a bright, open lobby with floor-to-ceiling windows bringing in natural light from an outdoor area accessible to guests, green growing things dotted about, and soaring ceilings. Upstairs, the room was comfortable, though not strikingly large by extended stay standards. The bathroom is sizeable with a “rainfall” showerhead as well as a European style shower “wand.” Not surprisingly in a green hotel, shampoo and body wash were dispensed from large containers hanging in the shower. The only small bottle, containing body lotion, sat on the sink. The most jarring impression – the absence of water bottles -- in the room or anywhere in the hotel. They are not sold or offered to guests; water is filtered at the tap and element executives say that at some point recyclable bottles or containers will be available for free or for sale to joggers and other guests. The eco-chic theme leans more heavily on the chic at the Gourmet Pantry located behind the front desk. It features items like frozen lime cilantro shrimp, Korean kimche soup, organic beer and an upscale brand of sorbet called Ciao Bella. An impressive breakfast includes freshly made fruit smoothies. “It’s all about staying whole on the road,” said Robin Korman, vice president-marketing, one of several Starwood executives on hand for the opening. “When people are away from home for extended periods they tend not to exercise, eat healthily or sleep well. We try to deal with all of those with a well-equipped fitness center, the Heavenly Bed and nutritious foods.” Will eco-chic and the power of Starwood’s loyalty program enable element to leapfrog over much larger competitors with powerful resources behind them? Not surprisingly, Starwood executives appear confident about element’s success (after all, this is the company that surprised many in the industry with the successful launch of W Hotels.). Paul Sacco, senior vice president for development, said, “We are on target for our expansion and both brands will be international (In fact the first international element was to be announced this week in Abu Dhabi.) At the beginning, however, according to Denise Coll, president, North America for all of the Starwood brands, international expansion for element will be more gradual than for aloft. As she noted. “Extended stay is not as familiar in Europe, but we do see strong potential there.” Added Korman, “We recently brought in Starwood managers from all over the world and asked if aloft and element were too America-centric; they told us that was not the case at all. We see a ton of interest from developers in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. And some of our best and brightest developers are coming to us for multiple projects.” Executives believe that having the name Westin on the Element brand – It says “Element by Westin” above the door -- will appeal to loyal Starwood customers. As for that Westin influence, Korman, noted, “ Element is influenced by Westin as far as the Heavenly Bed, the natural feel, the light and the sense of balance we have sought to incorporate.” Korman said that Element will not take business from existing Starwood brands because “we have not had an extended stay entry – this is something our customers asked for.”…

Lodging Magazine – In Brief – 7/28
…Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide announced the June debut of its much-anticipated new lifestyle brand, aloft. The launch was marked by the opening of aloft Montreal Airport, developed and owned by the joint venture between silver Hotel Group and Northampton Group Inc. The 136-room aloft property touts a variety of intuitive technologies, atmospheric public spaces, and guest amenities…

Philadelphia Magazine (Blog) - Good Life Daily: Hotel Happenings – 7/28
…It’s not looking like the fabled W Hotel is actually, like ever, going to open in Center City — ground hasn’t been broken and phone calls are not being returned. (All this hush-hush drama reminds me of another W, no?) And here at 1818 Market Street, the Good Life style team is coming to terms with the fact that we won’t ever get a Bliss Spa — they come in many Ws — or their ouch-less, razor-burn-less bikini waxes. But, there has been some actual exciting hotel news and it does include a W. Sorta. Next week, August 8th, marks the official opening of Aloft, Starwood’s budget-friendly, very Euro-like hotel concept at Philadelphia International, shown. In true Starwood fashion, it’s sleek and sophisticated, has an indoor pool, and is pet-friendly. (Oh yeah, and they’ll wash your car, too.) Splurge for the high-end rooms — they are still less than $200 a night. We’ll keep you updated on more Aloft area openings. Back in Center City, where people you know might actually want to stay (no offense Philly International), The Independent is a new 24-room spot that calls itself a boutique hotel, which opened in the Gayborhood about a month ago. It’s got a huge mural by local artist Kim Senior that’s very cool, has updated rooms (plasma, fancy bedding), and serves breakfast — making it more of a really hip B&B than a boutique hotel in our minds. Which isn’t a bad thing. Rooms start at $129…

Hotel Talk.com – New Brand Neighborhood – 7/28
…I’m here in Lexington, Mass., taking a peek at the new, side-by-side aloft and Element hotels that opened this month. The corporate-owned properties are a showcase for developers, said Denise Coll, who was appointed president, North America for Starwood at the beginning of the year. It seems like a long time since Starwood’s Project XYZ was christened aloft during The Lodging Conference in 2005. It was the year of the loft-style room, with John Russell introducing NYLO just down the hall at The Arizona Biltmore. The anticipation is finally over as alofts are popping up from Chicago to Beijing. Lexington is the first Element open. So the question for my one-night visit: aloft or Element? It was like deciding between fraternal twins. I’ve been watching these two brands since they launched. They’re cut from the same Starwood cloth, but oh-so-different offerings. I stayed at the Element because it’s the first one open. There are more alofts open because the brand launched a year earlier than Element, so I’m hoping to stay at one soon. Paul Sacco, who was recently appointed senior VP of development, said four more Elements and 18 more alofts will open this year. Next year, he expects 10 Elements and 40 to 50 alofts…

Business Traveler Magazine – Hotel Update – 7/25
… Aloft Montreal Airport marked the official launch of the brand this June when the 136-room property opened its doors. Located at the entrance to Trudeau International Airport, the hotel is 20 minutes form downtown Montreal. An urban-influence design is conveyed in the rooms, with nine-foot-high ceilings, oversize windows and platform beds, while bathrooms feature walk-in showers and Bliss Spa amenities. Each room is also equipped with an entertainment center that has plug-and-play capability, allowing for PDAs, cell phones, MP# players and laptops to link to the LCD television. Public spaces have been crafted with the intention of fostering an environment for socializing and networking, with pool tables, Wi-Fi and a lobby bar. The hotel also features a fitness center and both indoor and outdoor pools. Starwood currently has 88 additional aloft projects under development in more than 10 countries, with over 50 slated for a 2009 opening….

Chicago Tribune - Mojitos and Pool – 7/23
…A new hotel opens near O'Hare International Airport this week. It's name is aloft, and, yes, it is spelled with a lower case "a, " just as the recently opened dana hotel spells its name ' with a lower case "d." The 251-room aloft is intended to be a less expensive version of W Hotels, spokeswoman Lisa Kornblatt said. But it is also intended to attract people who like people. That's the reason for the prominent bar and pool tables in the lobby. The layout is intended to encourage people to socialize at the hotel, at 9700 Balmoral Ave. in Rosemont…

Business Traveler – Loyalty Programs – 7/22
…Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide and its new lifestyle brand, aloft hotels, announced that in celebration of the opening of the first aloft, Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) members can earn eight Starpoints for every U.S. dollar spent (quadruple the base earning) when they register and then book and stay at any aloft hotel worldwide until December 31, 2008. Members currently earn two points for every dollar spent at any participating Starwood hotel. Gold and Platinum members will continue to earn one additional bonus point based on their elite status, bringing their earning to nine Starpoints for every U.S. dollar spent. SPG members, as well as non-members, can register at www.alofthotels.com/8to1...The first aloft hotels are scheduled to open in summer 2008, and include locations such as Chicago O’Hare, IL; Minneapolis, MN; Philadelphia Airport, PA; Lexington, MA; Ontario-Rancho Cucamonga, CA; Rogers-Bentonville, AR; as well as Montreal Airport and Beijing, China. More than 50 aloft hotels are scheduled to open in 2009…

KCAL 9 News – High-Tech Hotel is Eco-Friendly Too – 7/21
…aloft Hotel Rancho Cucamonga, California was featured on KCAL 9. Please click on the link below to view the video:
aloft on KCAL 9

Modern Agent - Aloft Hotel Opens in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. – 7/21
…The first aloft hotel in the U.S. has opened in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. The 136-room aloft Ontario-Rancho Cucamonga is the hotel component of a $60 million master-planned, mixed-use development called HavenPark. It features an urban-influenced design, accessible technology and a social atmosphere. Highlights include nine-foot ceilings and oversized windows designed to create a bright, airy environment. Each guestroom features a signature bed and a large bathroom with an oversized, walk-in showers and amenities by Bliss Spa. Each guest loft is also a combination high-tech office and entertainment center, featuring wireless Internet access and plug ‘n' play, a one-stop connectivity solution for multiple electronic gadgetry like PDAs, cell phones, mp3 players and laptops, all linked to a large, flat panel HDTV-ready television. Public areas include the re:mix communal lobby area, bar w xyz, the re:charge fitness center, splash outdoor pool and re:fuel by aloft, a one-stop food and beverage area…

CNBC – High Time for Hotels? – 7/21
…CNBC's Mike Hegedus travels to Hawthorne, N.Y., to visit a new hotel chain, aloft, with Brian McGuinness. Please click on the link below to view the segment:
Brian McGuinness, aloft Hotels on CNBC

Hotel & Motel Management – Starwood’s CEO Maps Out Journey – 7/21
…"It would be wonderful to have a brilliant c.e.o., but it's much more important to have a smart organization," said Frits van Paasschen, president and c.e.o. of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide. Van Paasschen, who joined the hospitality industry last September, shared thoughts on his new role during a general session at the 30th NYU International Hospitality Industry Investment Conference. He was interviewed by Jonathan Tisch, chair of the conference and chairman and c.e.o. of Loews Hotels. Van Paasschen talked about the transition from his position as president and c.e.o. of Coors Brewing Co. and his past experience at Nike and Disney Consumer Products. Branding execution is everything, he said, adding it's about repeated great guest experiences. Van Paasschen has immersed himself in the industry, visiting 132 hotels in 20 countries since his arrival. Now he is taking employees on the Starwood Journey, which is the name of the strategic direction for the company. Part of the difference from the company's past direction is more emphasis on working as a team. Starwood also will continue to pursue its asset-right structure, which will mean selling more owned hotels. "If we can develop our pipeline more quickly by bringing our balance sheet to bear, we will selectively look at opportunities, but it's more a means to an end," he said. Van Paasschen anticipates growth globally from 900 properties to 1,500 worldwide. About 50 percent of the company's pipeline is outside the U.S. While a lot of upscale and luxury brands do not seek widespread distribution, for Starwood's brands, the more global they become, the stronger they are, he said. "Having a network, a series of access points to our brands around the world, is an extraordinary opportunity," he said. There currently are more economic challenges in the U.S. than internationally, but some sectors are doing incredibly well, van Paasschen said, citing about 75 percent of reservations coming from the business segment. He added that the leisure sector will struggle this summer but that it's a short term challenge. In the future, Element and aloft are brands that will be mainstream, van Paasschen said, adding they have the advantage of not yet existing (At press time, two aloft properties were open). "What we have the opportunity to do today is invent those brands with a clear idea of what we see the traveler will be like in 2020," he said. Van Paasschen mentioned the current effort to revitalize the Sheraton brand and cited Four Points by Sheraton as a success story of bringing back a brand. In the past five years, Four Points has almost doubled revenue per available room. He also addressed buzz over the departure of Ross Klein, president of the luxury brands group and a leader in the creation of aloft, and senior v.p. Amar Lalvani to Hilton Hotels Corp. in the roles of global head of luxury and lifestyle brands and global head of luxury and lifestyle brand development, respectively. "I was disappointed," he said. "Both of those executives were very talented. I had a personal rapport with both. When you have a strong team, you don't miss a step when someone leaves." After nine months on the job, van Paasschen doesn't see himself as a hotelier yet, but rather he views himself as a global branded business leader…


Canadian Lodging News - aloft Debuts With Montreal Opening – 7/17
…The aloft Montreal Airport, the first hotel in Starwood's new lifestyle brand, opened June 5. Aloft hotels are meant to be modern, fresh and fun, with loft- inspired design. They even have their own language, according to a Starwood release. For example, w xyz means clink! mix, meet and mingle over music and cocktails. Developed and owned by the joint venture between Silver Hotel Group and Northampton Group Inc., the 136-room aloft Montreal Airport will offer a variety of intuitive technologies, atmospheric public spaces and an array of amenities. "The sleekness and dynamism of the aloft lifestyle complements the sophistication and style of Montreal, where we are proud to make our global debut," says Brian McGuinness, vice president of aloft and element hotels worldwide. "Youthful-minded travelers will appreciate the aloft brand's emphasis on creativity, culture and fun." The centerpiece of each aloft room is the plush platform bed, and large bathrooms complement the guest experience with oversized walk-in showers and amenities created by bliss spa. Each aloft room also is a combination office and entertainment centre, with wireless Internet access and plug & play, a one-stop connectivity solution for electronic gadgetry such as PDAs, cell phones, MP3 players and laptops, all linked to a large flat panel LCD television for optimal sound and viewing…

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