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

Saturday, September 6, 2008

aloha! Another good month for aloft PR! Press pick-up generated 17,300,000 measured impressions for the month of August.

Articles in the past 2 weeks have focused on specific hotels including a New York Times feature on aloft Montreal, a Chicago Tribune article on the opening of aloft Chicago O’Hare and a Boston Herald article on aloft Lexington. Other articles featured the newly opened aloft Minneapolis and the soon-to-open aloft Tempe.

Arizona Republic.com – Tempe’s First New Hotel in a Decade Opens Soon – 8/29
...Tempe's first new hotel in 10 years is near completion, and Mayor Hugh Hallman Thursday morning was at a ceremony to mark the "closing in" of the five-story, 136 room "aloft" hotel at Rural Road and Loop 202. The hotel is slated to open in January. "This is our first hotel in a decade, and you can tell the developers can read the numbers, because Tempe has the highest hotel occupancy rate in the Valley," Hallman said. "And now we've got 14 others scrambling to get in because we have a community in the center of it all. The $25 million hotel is being built in partnership with Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Triyar Hospitality and Warburg Pincus Real Estate. Brent LeBlanc, vice president of Starwood, said one visit to the site on the north shore of Tempe Town Lake two years ago convinced him. "This is a beautiful place, a perfect place for our first aloft hotel in Arizona," LeBlanc said "Nearby is ASU's stadium, the lake, downtown Tempe . . . this is excellent for us." Triyar Chief Executive Officer Michael Mahoney said the new hotel will particularly cater to seasoned travelers that want to be able to check in and out quickly, who want high-tech rooms that facilitate electronic communication and who want to be near the airport and freeways…

Elle Quebec – Aloft Story Montreal – 8/28
…The first Aloft hotel, a unique concept in the marketplace, was inaugurated in Montreal. The formula: loft-style rooms that gather the functions of office, mini-entertainment center and bedroom. Large windows, a platform bed and walk-in shower are executed with high design and urban chic, aloft is inspired by W Hotels. It's like home ...only better…
Minnesota Meetings (Blog) - Under the Radar: The New Aloft Minneapolis – 8/27
…Between the W opening two days ago in the Foshay tower and The Hotel Minneapolis opening about a week earlier in the Midland Bank building, the brand new aloft hotel in the Mill District has gotten a little lost in the shuffle. Opened on Aug. 8, aloft is part of the Starwood family and is being marketed as a budget kid sister to the W brand. (“Budget” as in $169 a night versus the W’s $319.) We got a tour this morning with Amy Phillips, director of sales and marketing and despite the price point difference, the W feel is still there. With sleek furniture and electric colors tastefully woven into the design it felt (for lack of a better word) Ikea-esque; stripped down to everything you need and nothing you don’t. The welcome desk includes self-service check in/out stations. Instead of a restaurant, there’s “re:fuel,” a cute 24-hour grab ‘n’ go nook (you can’t really call it a cafeteria) offering bagels, muffins, coffee, sandwiches, salads and the like. Instead of a swanky club there’s “w xyz,” a glowing, color-changing bar in the communal lobby area, which itself is called “re:mix.” The complimentary fitness center and modest indoor pool are dubbed “re:charge” and “splash,” respectively. (Noticing the W-like branding of the amenities?) While it doesn’t have the luxury feel of the W, it’s not supposed to. And it seems a heck of a lot more fun than other hotels in its price range. I’d stay there. The hotel also has a decent sized conference room and a pre-function area and meeting room that can be divided in two or opened up to seat about 90 people in banquet rounds or fewer in a classroom setup. Unfortunately some of the furniture in these spaces still hadn’t arrived and it was the same situation in the upstairs suite, so they seemed a little lackluster compared to the lobby and bar. The aloft Minneapolis is only the first of a handful that began opening around the country in June, so it’s a pretty new brand and an interesting concept. Reminds me of when Target partnered with high-end names to bring good design to the masses. It worked for Target, so it will be interesting to see how the current and future aloft locations fare…

Boston Herald – Find a luxury hotel, in your own back yard – 8/25
… Between tight budgets and torrential downpours, hot summer fun’s been pretty scarce. But there’s still time to find a last-minute swanky summer getaway. Just head to the suburbs. Bedroom communities boast chic hotels these days, giving Boston a run for its money and letting cash-strapped staycationers enjoy city amenities without a colossal price tag and commute. “We’re seeing locals stay here in a big, big way,” said Lou Carrier, president of BOKX 109 American Prime restaurant and pool at the Hotel Indigo in Newton. The boutique hotel, formerly a Holiday Inn, opened in February and features valet parking, a steakhouse, bistro and seasonal outdoor pool complete with private cabanas. “Locals are coming here, renting a cabana for the day, eating at the restaurant at night and sleeping over,” Carrier said. “It’s out of left field, but it’s a bonus that helps us sell out on the weekends.” A new Starwood hotel that opened last month in Lexington - called aloft - features a “sassy, savvy” social space designed by David Rockwell and based on the W hotel brand. Aloft’s neon touches, flat screens, pool tables and hopping bar scene attract as many locals as tourists. The eco-friendly Element, also a Starwood hotel, located across the courtyard from aloft, is the first LEED-certified hotel chain in the country. It boasts an oversized gym, pool, outdoor space and health food. “Both the newly launched aloft and Element hotels offer fantastic lobbies to encourage guests traveling the ability to be alone and together,” said Robin Korman, vice president of marketing for aloft and Element hotels. “Aloft Lexington’s lobby is a great space for local residents to mix, mingle and enjoy signature cocktails at the w xyz bar.”…

Chicago Tribune - aloft: A Comfy, Contemporary Stay – 8/21
…The new Aloft Chicago O'Hare in Rosemont is an odd little hotel. On the one hand, it's exactly what parent company Starwood wants: an affordable spin-off from its W chain, a chic piece of eye candy for the late 20s-early 30s set with the price point of a Hilton Garden Inn. But because of the price, the hotel attracts families unimpressed by Jamiroquai booming through the lounge-style lobby or psychedelic images on LCD screens. During a recent stay, I noticed kids splashing around in Aloft's ground-floor pool and teens hanging out at the hotel bar, ordering sodas. That's when I realized this new hotel had its work cut out for it. Starwood hotels are all about targeting an audience: The W is for the urbane. Sheraton is for the traditionalists. The Westin is for upscale business travelers. And the Aloft? Well, this latest brand seems to have an identity crisis. "You'll definitely see a wide range of clientele," says general manager Rick Ross. I suspect the hotel, the fifth Aloft to open worldwide, is vying for the young and hip who are forced to spend a weekend in the suburbs, either attending business meetings in some nearby corporate park or the latest event to grace the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, literally minutes away by foot. Either way, Aloft outshines many of its competitors with its mix of up-to-date amenities and affordability. Rooms range from $149 to $229 on a weeknight ($109-$149 a night on weekends). But frankly, I've seen more expensive hotels provide less, like charging for Wi-Fi. Identity issues aside, Aloft does offer a lot of value. In today's market, that's worth mentioning…The hotel's outdoor patio—that's called "the backyard"—should become a draw for locals who enjoy their happy hours in the sun. In fact, Ross is betting on it; he has deejays spinning music Saturdays from 9 p.m. to midnight. "It's very unique and different," he says. "I don't know of that many hotels, outside of the W, that have that feeling." Designers of the Hyatt Regency O'Hare's Red Bar, that gaudy thing, take note. This is how you build a hotel bar…

Travelweek (Canada) – Starwood’s New aloft hotel in Montreal Offers Hip Amenities – 8/21
…The much-anticipated new lifestyle brand, aloft hotels, by Starwood Hotels & Resorts has settled down in the cosmopolitan city of Montreal. Opening this past June as the first aloft to open anywhere in the world, the 136-room aloft Montreal Airport features guestrooms with nine-foot ceilings, oversized windows, platform bed, walk-in showers, wireless Internet access and plug & play, a one-stop connectivity solution that links electronic gadgetry such as PDAs and laptops to a large flat panel LCD television. Designed in conjunction with world renowned David Rockwell and the Rockwell Group, aloft stays true to the W Hotel brand’s heritage, offering atmospheric public spaces designed to draw guests from their rooms to socialize with friends and colleagues. Such public spaces include a communal lobby area and bar, fitness centre and a 24-hour one-stop food and beverage area serving healthy food and snack options. “The sleekness and dynamism of the aloft lifestyle complements the sophistication and style of Montreal, where we are proud to make our global debut,” said Brian McGuinness, vice president of aloft and element hotels worldwide. “Youthful-minded travellers will appreciate the aloft brand’s emphasis on creativity, culture and fun.”…

Travel Daily Asia - aloft Comes to Beijing – 8/20
…The first Asia-Pacific aloft branded property will open in Beijing this September, Starwood Hotels & Resorts have announced. The new aloft Beijing, Haidian will create an affordable accommodation alternative in the Chinese capital and is the latest in Starwood’s rapidly expanding portfolio in the city…

Travel Plus.com (UK) - Starwood Openings in Asia – 8/20
…The first Asia-Pacific aloft branded property will open in Beijing this September, Starwood Hotels & Resorts have announced. The new aloft Beijing, Haidian will create an affordable accommodation alternative in the Chinese capital and is the latest in Starwood’s rapidly expanding portfolio in the city. Starwood Hotels & Resorts has also announced the latest move in their Chinese portfolio expansion, Le Méridien Shimei Bay Beach Resort and Spa. The 275-room resort will be the first international five-star resort in Wanning City, and the first Le Meridien brand resort on Hainan island. Opening is scheduled for late September…

New York Times - Montreal: Aloft Montreal Airport the Basics – 8/18
…Starwood Hotels and Resorts, the company that created the W chain 10 years ago, wants to bring its "boutique hotel" aesthetic to the masses. It is off to a good start, with its first Aloft, a chain that opened in Montreal in early June. Rooms, which go for under 130 Canadian dollars a night, roughly $125 U.S., are cleverly designed, with loads of amenities but a refreshing lack of clutter. And the lobby, which combines elements of a disco, a bar, a game room and a cafe, is a hoot. But Starwood, which plans to build 500 Aloft hotels in the next five years, may have gone too far, reinventing things that didn't need reinventing. Instead of a restaurant, there is an antiseptic grab-and-go buffet that provoked several guests to walk across the street to the Hilton for breakfast. And the corporate chirpiness desk clerks say "Aloha" instead of hello fell flat. THE LOCATION: A short hop from Montreal's international airport so close, in fact, that you could walk from the terminal if there were sidewalks. Downtown Montreal is about 15 miles away. THE ROOM Three weeks after the opening, my room, No. 418, still smelled like paint and solvent (no doubt because the windows in the hotel don't open). The room, about 10 by 14 feet, contained a comfortable king-size bed, a widescreen TV between the two large windows and a box for connecting an iPod, a computer or a camcorder to the TV. The decor was spartan the walls were gray, the concrete ceiling white but an occasional burst of color reminded you this isn't a W. Sadly, the view of the airport perimeter was bleak. But everything inside the room, from the blackout shades (which completely darken the room) to the simple alarm clock (you don't have to read a manual to set it!) was beautifully thought out. THE BATHROOM The toilet and the shower occupy separate compartments, but it would be easier to share the room if you didn't have to pass through one to reach the other. The showerhead was a bit low. The soap and the shampoo are in wall-mounted canisters. THE LOBBY If the rooms are subdued, the lobby goes to the other extreme, with jazzy furniture (olive and pink upholstery), exposed pipes (suggesting a real loft), a pool table (covered in maroon felt) and a bar illuminated with L.E.D.'s that constantly change color. Rock music issues from overhead speakers. ROOM SERVICE There is no room service (or restaurant). Instead, there is an all-day buffet, with prepackaged items like Caesar salad (6 Canadian dollars) and microwavable Campbell's soups. In the morning, there were additional breakfast items like egg patties on English muffins, with a choice of bacon or vegetables (4.50). Oddly, there were no trays or plates, so you have to use paper bags. AMENITIES Every hotel feature has a cutesy name. The lobby is called re:mix. Ask for the buffet, and you're directed to re .fuel. And the small, well-equipped gym is re : charge. The bar is called "w xyz," suggesting a W for the younger generations. BOTTOM LINE If the design-savvy retailer Target opened a hotel, this is what it would look like. Rooms are about 129 Canadian dollars on weekdays, less on weekends

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