Westin Hotels & Resorts Set to Debut in Buffalo, New York, as Part of Downtown Revitalization
Delaware North to Operate The Westin Buffalo at its New Global Headquarters on Delaware Avenue
STAMFORD, Conn. & BUFFALO, N.Y. January 28, 2015 –(BUSINESS WIRE)– Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE:HOT) and Delaware North today announced that Starwood’s world-renowned Westin brand will soon debut in Buffalo, N. Y. The Westin Buffalo will open in June 2016 at 250 Delaware Avenue as part of a new 12-story mixed-use development that will house Delaware North’s world headquarters.
Marking the Westin brand’s debut in the region, The Westin Buffalo will be owned and operated by Delaware North and feature 118 luxurious guest rooms, 4,000 square feet of state-of-the-art meeting facilities, a restaurant operated by Delaware North’s Patina Restaurant Group, and all the Westin brand’s signature services and amenities designed to inspire wellbeing.
“The upcoming debut of The Westin Buffalo as part of this new mixed-use development will play an important role in the revitalization that is transforming the city’s downtown,” said Brian Povinelli , Global Brand Leader for Westin Hotels & Resorts and Le Méridien Hotels. “Known for its distinctive wellness positioning, Westin invites travelers to revitalize and renew through the brand’s signature programs and amenities, designed to send them home feeling better than when they arrived.”
“We are proud to partner with Starwood Hotels to bring the innovative Westin brand to Buffalo. Given that Delaware North will operate the hotel, The Westin Buffalo will be an exciting and prestigious addition to our lodging portfolio and our first city-center hotel,” said Rick Abramson , President of Parks and Resorts for Delaware North. “Delaware North has a reputation for outstanding hospitality management. We are excited to showcase our expertise and bring an exceptional experience to business and leisure travelers visiting downtown Buffalo.”
The Westin Buffalo will be within walking distance of restaurants, corporations, the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus and several major attractions, including the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center, First Niagara Center (home to the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres), and the HarborCenter mixed-use development. Easily accessible from both the New York State Thruway (I-90), as well as Interstate I-190, the hotel location is approximately 10 miles from Buffalo Niagara International Airport (BUF).
The Westin Buffalo will occupy the first five floors of the new building, being developed by Uniland Development Co., and feature a separate entrance and lobby on Delaware Avenue. In addition to 4,000 square feet of event/banquet/reception space, the hotel will offer 6,000 square feet of outdoor meeting space. The hotel will also feature the brand’s signature WestinWORKOUT® fitness studio, measuring 2,400 square feet, a bar and a grab and go market.
A separate office entrance will be located on the corner of West Chippewa Street, with offices on floors 6-12, occupied mainly by Delaware North. The hotel and offices will share an on-site parking ramp with dedicated spots for hotel guests.
“The upcoming opening of The Westin Buffalo will strengthen the Starwood portfolio in the region and help meet the demand for high-caliber lodging in the city’s downtown,” said Allison Reid , Senior Vice President of North America Development, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. “Westin crossed the 200th hotel milestone worldwide in 2014 and is on track to open its 125th hotel in North America this year, due to the success of its distinctive wellness positioning and the enthusiasm of owners and developers who are eager to bring the brand to new markets.”
The sensory-rich environment at Westin offers a respite from the rigors of travel and sets a welcoming tone. The Westin brand’s innovative programs and instinctive service transform every aspect of a guest’s stay into a revitalizing experience. All guestrooms and suites at The Westin Buffalo will feature the world-renowned Westin Heavenly® Bed – featuring lush sheets, down cushioning and a patented pillow-top mattress, which cradles and contours to the body for complete comfort. Guests will revive in the Heavenly® Bath enhanced with the brand’s Heavenly® Shower, Heavenly® Robe and White Tea Aloe bath amenities, in-room and high-speed Internet access. The hotel will also offer the Westin brand’s signature SuperFoodsRX® menu, which includes nutrient-rich and delicious options to tempt every palate.
Westin Hotels & Resorts, like all brands within Starwood’s robust portfolio, is proud to offer the Starwood Preferred Guest® program, which made headlines when it launched in 1999 with a breakthrough policy of no blackout dates on Free Night Awards. SPG® offers members the ability to redeem awards at more resorts, more luxury properties, more European hotels and more golf properties than any other hotel program.
For more information on Westin Hotels & Resorts, please visit www.westin.com.
About Westin Hotels & Resorts
Westin Hotels & Resorts has been a leader in wellness and hospitality for more than a decade. Today, Westin has more than 200 hotels and resorts in nearly 40 countries and territories, and is owned by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with more than 1,200 properties in 100 countries and 181,400 employees at its owned and managed properties. Starwood 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®. 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 also owns Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., a premier provider of world-class vacation experiences through villa-style resorts and privileged access to Starwood brands. For more information, please visit www.starwoodhotels.com.
About Delaware North
Delaware North is one of the largest and most admired privately-held hospitality companies in the world. Founded and owned by the Jacobs family for nearly 100 years, it is a global leader in hospitality and food service with subsidiary and affiliate operations in the sports, travel hospitality, restaurants and catering, parks, resorts, gaming and specialty retail industries. Its portfolio includes high-profile venues ranging from sports stadiums, entertainment complexes, national parks, restaurants, airports, and some of the top regional casinos in the country. The company also owns a selection of award-winning destination resorts, as well as a series of premium restaurants and catering services that are leaders in the industry. Delaware North has annual revenue exceeding $3 billion with 60,000 employee associates serving half a billion guests in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and Asia. “Delaware North” is a reference to Delaware North Companies Inc. and its affiliates and subsidiaries, including location-specific operating entities.
Source: Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.