The Westin Detroit Metropolitan Airport Lands December 15; First Luxury Hotel to Open in the Detroit Market in 15 Years

Business Wire, Dec 16, 2002

Business Editors/Travel Writers

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 16, 2002

The new Westin Detroit Metropolitan Airport came in for a landing on Sunday, December 15th adjacent to the Edward H. McNamara/Northwest WorldGateway terminal at Detroit's Metropolitan Wayne County Airport.

The 11-floor, 400-room property is the first luxury hotel to open in the metro Detroit market in 15 years. This $85.1 million hotel is owned by Wayne County and managed by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., (NYSE:HOT) under its Westin brand. Located only 15 minutes from downtown Detroit and Windsor, Ontario, Canada, the new Westin promises to be a welcome addition to Detroit's hotel market for both corporate and leisure travelers.

"We are extremely proud to add The Westin Detroit Metropolitan Airport to Starwood's highly-acclaimed portfolio of luxury hotels," said Geoff Ballotti, Starwood's executive vice president of North American hotel operations. "This hotel will expand Starwood's presence in metro Detroit and provide travelers with the finest amenities at the airport - amenities and services our Westin guests expect and deserve. Together, the WorldGateway and Westin will make Detroit a premiere meeting location."

Designed for the ultimate comfort and service for travelers, meetings and special events, the new Westin offers top of the line accommodations and amenities. The sleek and contemporary design mirrors the contours of the new terminal and features Asian-influenced decor with light-colored Anigre wood accents imported from Africa. The spacious eight-story atrium with a 5,000-square-foot serene reflecting pool and 50-foot-bamboo trees offers the perfect place for a quiet conversation or a tranquil interlude between meetings and flights.

The 370,000-square-foot hotel includes:

- 400 elegantly appointed guestrooms, including 10 luxury suites

- Direct entrances to airport ticketing, curbside and Concourse

A

- Four glass-enclosed elevators rising from the atrium

- Westin Executive Club floor with a private concierge lounge

- 25,000 square feet of meeting facilities

- 28 meeting rooms, all fully-equipped with high-speed Internet

access and state-of-the-art sound systems

- 7,600-square-foot ballroom accommodating up to 850 guests with

a separate banquet kitchen

- Business center

- Fitness center with heated indoor pool, whirlpool, weight

machines and state-of-the-art cardiovascular equipment

- DEMA, a full-service upscale restaurant and bar located in the

hotel's atrium and overlooking the reflecting pool

- Flight Deck observation lounge for cocktails and light fare

- Curbside valet parking located on the departure level,

WorldGateway Drive

"The Westin adds another world-class feature to the new Edward H. McNamara Terminal/Northwest WorldGateway," said Wayne County Airport Authority CEO Lester Robinson. "The hotel was designed to provide convenient access to gateways around the world with direct entrances to and from the terminal. Business travelers will be able to land, attend a meeting within exceptional facilities and depart the same day, or board a flight after a restful night in deluxe accommodations."

Guestrooms feature Westin's signature Heavenly Bed(R) -- layer upon layer of fluffy down bed covers, comforters, and pillows -- and its newest Heavenly Bath(TM) -- a custom-designed Speakman(R) showerhead that offers a choice of spray options from light mist to massage needles, as well as velour bathrobes, oversized, Brazilian combed cotton bathsheets, curved shower rods to provide extra elbow room, and refreshing and invigorating spa amenities. Guestrooms also boast two-line phones including one cordless phone, voicemail, data ports with high-speed Internet access and all of the brand standards and superior services the Westin name is known for, such as Service Express(R), a "one call does it all" concept that allows guests to dial just one number on their telephone to order 24-hour in-room dining, call the luggage attendant or room attendant, or have any other request filled.

Northwest Airlines served as the project manager, Darryl Berger Companies, Inc., New Orleans served as the project developer and Atlanta-based PFVS Architects as the architectural firm. Ai Group, Atlanta, designed the interior. Walbridge Aldinger, one of Michigan's major construction firms headquartered in Detroit, began building the hotel in March 2001.

"The combination of the WorldGateway Terminal and the Westin Hotel creates a new standard in airport hotel comfort and convenience," said Jim Greenwald, Northwest vice president facilities and airport affairs. Northwest's WorldGateway at Detroit provides travelers with seamless, quick and easy connections to over 130 destinations worldwide with 514 daily flights. The WorldGateway offers amenities such as fully integrated domestic and international arrivals and departures, and fully enclosed, climate controlled, passenger jet bridges for every type of aircraft it operates. Northwest Airlines is the world's fourth largest airline with hubs at Detroit, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Memphis, Tokyo and Amsterdam and more than 1,500 daily departures. With its travel partners, Northwest serves nearly 750 cities in almost 120 countries on six continents.