Westin Hotels & Resorts Kicks off New Year with Global Roll-out of New Fitness Studios

Just in time to cater to the millions of Americans resolving to get fit in the new year, Westin Hotels & Resorts (NYSE:HOT) announces a complete refresh of the WestinWORKOUT® program to match the evolving fitness trends among guests and further enhance the brand’s goal of promoting well-being in travel. After conducting in-depth guest research and monitoring workout trends, Westin is transforming fitness facilities at its 186 hotels around the world into highly-designed fitness studios featuring new equipment, blue-light therapy and more. The new fitness studios will roll-out globally throughout 2012.

Floor Space: Spread Out

Westin’s in-house Design Team studied guest behavior and found that the Westin guest desires a more well-rounded, holistic fitness experience, including more options for stretching, yoga and fitness classes. To capitalize on this trend, Westin chose to remove select pieces of equipment that guests were not using as frequently in order to provide more floor space for these types of activities. Finally, versatile pulley machines were added to smaller fitness studios to further maximize space and provide a greater range of workout options.

Customized Lighting: Blue-Light Boost

Westin worked with Philips to create ideal lighting for the re-designed fitness studios and is the first hotel brand to introduce ActiViva Lighting, Philips’ new energizing fluorescent lighting, into its gym facilities. This cutting-edge blue light technology positively influences well-being and will help to make guests feel more alert, awake and energized in target workout areas such as the cardio zone. Additionally, the lighting will be customized in all workout zones to coincide with the type of exercise taking place in each specific area.

Design Aesthetic: Go Natural

The custom-created design of Westin’s new fitness studio, a departure from the typical gym aesthetic, was also driven by the changing trends of how people work out. Instead of black rubber floors, the Westin Design Team chose to use a natural, soft-tone color palette and organic materials including textural woven flooring. Inspired by nature, each fitness studio will also display a full-size art mural entitled "Step Up” – a reflective image of people running up a grassy hill, illustrating Westin’s goal of helping guests leave feeling better than when they arrived.. A built-in entry millwork unit was also added in order to house guests’ essentials, such as towels and water, in one place.

"For a Better You” - Westin’s Elements of Well-Being

The global launch of the new fitness studios joins a host of well-being initiatives recently introduced by Westin Hotels & Resorts. Most recently, Westin launched a brand-wide Associate Enrichment program, introducing the brand’s "Elements of Well Being Platform” to its associates around the world through key touch points. In May 2011, the brand unveiled its groundbreaking "For a Better You” ad campaign that uses artistic imagery to depict the "Elements of Well Being” that help Westin guests leave feeling better than when they arrived. In December 2010, Westin announced an exclusive partnership with New Balance, helping hotel guests overcome the hurdles of exercising on the road by providing New Balance footwear, apparel and fitness program content to its guests to borrow. Later this year, the brand will also be expanding its in-room SuperFoodsRX menu items for breakfast to also include lunch and dinner options.

About Westin Hotels & Resorts

Westin Hotels & Resorts makes the healthiest choices irresistibly appealing, so guests leave feeling better than when they arrived. With more than 180 hotels and resorts in over 36 countries and territories, Westin is owned by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. Starwood Hotels is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with 1,071 properties in 100 countries and territories with 145,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. Starwood Hotels is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels, resorts and residences with the following internationally renowned brands: St. Regis^®, The Luxury Collection^®, W^®, Westin^®, Le Méridien^®, Sheraton^®, Four Points^® by Sheraton, Aloft^®, and Element ^SM. The company boasts one of the industry’s leading loyalty programs, Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG), allowing members to earn and redeem points for room stays, room upgrades and flights, with no blackout dates. Starwood Hotels also owns Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., one of the premier developers and operators of high quality vacation interval ownership resorts. For more information, please visit www.starwoodhotels.com.