SYDNEY--
Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT - News
) today announced it has reached an agreement with Lilianfels Hotel
Blue Mountains Pty Ltd and Echoes Hotel Blue Mountains Pty Ltd to
rebrand Lilianfels and Echoes resorts in Blue Mountains, Australia.
Under The Luxury Collection brand, the two hotels will become
Lilianfels, A Luxury Collection Resort, Blue Mountains, Australia and
Echoes, A Luxury Collection Resort, Blue Mountains, Australia. They are
scheduled to debut on 13th February 2012.
"We are thrilled to introduce The Luxury Collection brand to Australia
with the signings of two renowned resorts,” said Sean Hunt, Regional
Vice President, Starwood Pacific Hotels & Resorts. “As we welcome
Lilianfels and Echoes to The Luxury Collection’s esteemed portfolio, we
celebrate their distinctive character, indigenous charm and
unparalleled service that allow guests to experience the scenic Blue
Mountains in a unique way.”
“The Luxury Collection is experiencing a great wave of global growth
this year in the Asia Pacific,” continued Paul James, Global Brand
Leader, St. Regis and The Luxury Collection Hotels & Resorts. “This
is a significant milestone for the brand and continues Starwood’s
expansion in Australia and the Pacific region where we currently
operate 13 hotels.”
The Luxury Collection brand is an ensemble of more than 75 of the
world’s finest hotels and resorts in more than 30 countries. All of
these hotels are internationally recognized as being among the world’s
finest. As the newest members of The Luxury Collection brand,
Lilianfels and Echoes join a portfolio of celebrated and iconic
properties around the world including The Gritti Palace in Venice,
Hotel Alfonso XIII in Seville, Hotel Pulitzer in Amsterdam, The Romanos
in Costa Navarino and The Chatwal in New York City.
“Lilianfels has been synonymous for luxury in Australia for more than
20 years. Our partnership with Starwood Hotels marks a new chapter for
the iconic Blue Mountains Collection,” said George Saad, Lilianfels and
Echoes Director. “The Luxury Collection will reaffirm our positioning
as the ‘indigenous luxury’ destination where guests can expect
uncompromised service in one of the most well-preserved settings in
Australia.”
Located on the bluff of the Three Sisters and the World Heritage Area,
Lilianfels is the former residence of New South Wale’s Chief of
Justice, Sir Frederick Darley, dating back in 1889. Lilianfels features
85 guest rooms and suites, 235sqm of meeting space, 2 restaurants
including the award winning “Darley’s”, lobby lounge, bar, outdoor
swimming pool, indoor heated pool, floodlit tennis court and an
impressive luxury spa. Lilianfels was named the Leading Resort in
Australia by World Travel Awards in 2011 in addition to being honored
on Travel & Leisure’s Top Five Resorts in the Oceana region.
Adjacent to Lilianfels, Echoes is a former retreat for a renowned
Australian writer Thomas Keneally. Perched at the very edge of the
Jamison Valley at Echo Point in the Blue Mountains, the resort offers
guests an intimate experience with 14 contemporary-designed rooms and
suites featuring an uninterrupted and panoramic view of the National
Park. Refined facilities include award-winning Echoes Restaurant, the
private spa and sauna.
Under The Luxury Collection brand, Lilianfels and Echoes will introduce
the signature Luxury Collection Concierge service, which will provide
extraordinary access Blue Mountains’ indigenous charms and treasures.
The signing of Lilianfels and Echoes follows The Luxury Collection
Hotels & Resorts recent opening of The Hongta Hotel in Shanghai.
The renowned brand continues its plans to grow globally with four new
hotels and resorts opening in Asia within the next six months,
including The Royal Begonia in Sanya, Twelve at Hengshan in Shanghai,
ITC Grand Chola in Chennai, India and Keraton at The Plaza in Jakarta.
Starwood continues to lengthen its lead in luxury hospitality, with
nearly 150 luxury hotels under its St. Regis, Luxury Collection and W
Hotel brands, offering guests and residents exceptional levels of
service and luxury experiences in a wide range of destinations around
the world.
For more information on Echoes, please visit www.luxurycollection.com/echoes
For more information on Lilianfels, please visit www.luxurycollection.com/lilianfels
About The Luxury Collection
Hotels & Resorts
The Luxury Collection® is an ensemble of hotels and resorts
offering unique, authentic experiences that evoke lasting, treasured
memories. For the global explorer, The Luxury Collection offers a
gateway to the world’s most exciting and desirable destinations. Each
hotel and resort is a unique and cherished expression of its location;
a portal to the destination’s indigenous charms and treasures.
Magnificent décor, spectacular settings, impeccable service and
the latest modern conveniences combine to provide a uniquely enriching
experience. Originated in 1906 under the CIGA brand as a collection of
Europe’s most celebrated and iconic properties, today The Luxury
Collection brand is a glittering ensemble of more than 75 of the
world’s finest hotels and resorts in more than 30 countries in bustling
cities and spectacular destinations around the world. The Luxury
Collection includes award-winning properties that continuously exceed
guest expectations by offering unparalleled service, style and class
while celebrating each hotel’s distinctive heritage and unique
character. All of these hotels, many of them centuries old, are
internationally recognized as being among the world’s finest. For more
information, please visit www.luxurycollection.com
About Starwood Hotels &
Resorts Worldwide, Inc.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading
hotel and leisure companies in the world with 1090 properties in 100
countries and territories with 154,000 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.