FRAMINGHAM, Mass. (August 6, 2012) – Sheraton Framingham Hotel & Conference Center – a local icon and the area's only IACC-approved conference center and full-service hotel – in Framingham, Mass., announces plans for a multi-million dollar renovation. Extensive improvements of the 375-key hotel are already underway in isolated areas of the hotel, with overall completion anticipated by early spring 2013.

The renovation will encompass refurbished guestrooms, updated public spaces, a revamped contemporary restaurant and lounge, enhanced fitness center and an upgraded ballroom.

“Our upgraded look, coupled with meeting and conference facilities that are unsurpassed in the area, will create a totally new atmosphere with the same attention to detail we have always valued,” says Thomas McKenney, general manager, Sheraton Framingham Hotel & Conference Center. “We are excited to announce the upgrades to the hotel and look forward to welcoming our loyal guests and first time visitors to experience the transformation.”

The hotel, centrally located in the outer Boston technology belt, features oversized guestrooms and suites, including a Sheraton Club Lounge floor, which will all receive new furnishings, new soft goods and renewed art. The hotel corridors and elevators are being modernized while the lobby renovations will boast sleek, tailored furniture and an elegant neutral color palette with jewel tone accents and geometric shapes. The on-site restaurant and lounge, will feature a renewed concept and name with a rich color scheme and dark wood furnishings creating a relaxed, intimate atmosphere. Renovations will also update the hotel’s large ballroom space in the form of new hues and modern finishes, as well as the 2,114 square-foot fitness facility.

Sheraton Framingham Hotel & Conference Center has brought together a stellar team of hospitality talent for the renovation. Respected interior design firm Hager and Associates, Inc. leads the re-design, with the award-winning Tri-North Builders overseeing the revamping and remodeling of the property. AREA Property Partners purchased the hotel in a joint venture with Ultima Hospitality in 2011. Ultima Hospitality manages the property, which includes an Executive Meeting Center approved by the International Association of Conference Centers (IACC).

Sheraton Framingham Hotel & Conference Center currently offers an imaginative, old-world charm and includes amenities such as high-speed Internet access, indoor and outdoor pools, fitness facility, two restaurants, Sheraton Club Lounge and approximately 22,000 square feet of meeting space with a 14,000 square-foot IACC-approved conference center.

For more information on Sheraton Framingham Hotel & Conference Center, call (888) 627-7184 or visit SheratonFramingham.com. Follow Facebook.com/SheratonFramingham and Twitter.com/SheratonFraming for special offers.

About AREA Property Partners
AREA Property Partners, formerly known as Apollo Real Estate Advisors, is a leading international real estate investor and fund manager on behalf of prominent government and corporate pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, insurance companies, foundations, endowments, and high net worth individuals.  Since the firm’s founding in 1993, AREA Property Partners has overseen the establishment of multiple real estate funds and joint ventures totaling $13 billion in equity commitments for investments in the United States and globally.  Its funds have collectively invested in over 500 transactions with an aggregated value in excess of $60 billion. The firm has offices in New York, Atlanta, Los Angeles, San Francisco, London, Paris, Luxembourg and Mumbai.  The firm’s website is www.areapropertypartners.com.

About Sheraton Hotels & Resorts
Sheraton helps guests make connections at more than 400 hotels in 70 countries around the world and recently completed a $6 billion global revitalization and is now in the midst of a $6 billion global expansion over the next three years. Sheraton is owned by and is the largest and most global brand of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with 1,103 properties in nearly 100 countries and 154,000 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 ElementSM. 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 Ultima Hospitality
Ultima Hospitality is a Chicago based hospitality management and real estate investment group. As the management arm of Waterton Commercial Properties, Ultima Hospitality manages both full and select-service properties leveraging more than 150 years of experience in hospitality and commercial real estate management among senior leadership. Ultima Hospitality possesses expertise with multiple brands, manages an IACC-approved conference center and specializes in ethnic events including maintaining a full Kosher kitchen. A results-driven organization, Ultima Hospitality provides owners and investors with superior capital management, cost containment and extensive resources to ensure successful management in a constantly changing business environment. More information can be found at www.ultimahospitality.com

About the International Association of Conference Centers (IACC)
The International Association of Conference Centers is the global home for IACC-approved conference centers, corporate meeting planners and event organizers. More than 300 IACC members boast uniquely designed settings, superior services and support, plus dedicated, professional staff to maximize meeting productivity. Members exact specific standards and follow stringent guidelines ensure the highest quality conference facilities and services around the world. IACC facilities specialize in small to medium size meetings, and businesses select IACC venues for corporate training sessions, sales meetings, board retreats and special customer events. More information can be found at http://www.iacconline.org.