NEW
YORK – January
25, 2013 – Le Méridien Hotels & Resorts today
announced a significant
growth pipeline with nine new hotels expected to open within the next
12
months. Since its 2005 acquisition by Starwood Hotels &
Resorts
(NYSE: HOT), both Starwood and its hotel ownership groups have
transformed Le
Méridien into a contemporary, design-led lifestyle brand.
Le Méridien,
which at the time of its purchase offered a strong international
complement to
Starwood’s then primarily North American holdings, continues to provide
opportunities for new deal signings and conversions in both emerging
and
established markets, respectively.
“Starwood is seeing increased
interest in Le Méridien among owners, especially around
conversions,” said
Simon Turner, President of Global Development, Starwood Hotels &
Resorts. “Le Méridien is benefiting from growing brand
recognition and deal signing momentum around the world, and the brand’s
long-established global presence remains a competitive advantage.”
Over
the past seven years, Le Méridien has undergone a full
transformation,
including a comprehensive portfolio review as well as a re-development
of its
brand strategy, marketing approach and service culture training.
With the
strongest portfolio and performance levels in the brand’s history, Le
Méridien
has had more new hotel deals signed in the past year than in the
previous four
years combined.
“Le
Méridien has soared under Starwood, with a new design
perspective and truly
unique positioning that helps guests unlock their destination through
culture
and cuisine,” said Brian Povinelli, Global Brand Leader, Le
Méridien and Westin
Hotels. “After significant investment and consolidation, Le
Méridien boasts its
best portfolio ever, and this will be a milestone year for us as we
welcome an
unprecedented number of new hotels into our ever-growing family.”
Le
Méridien will open nine new hotels in the next 12 months,
including:
- Le Méridien Bali
Jimbaran – January 31, 2013 – Located on
Bali’s south-western coast, Le Méridien Bali Jimbaran overlooks
the Jimbaran
Bay and its well-known fishing village. Featuring a large-scale lagoon
with
direct access from some guestrooms, the hotel also offers several
signature bar
and restaurant experiences, as well as an ice cream shop; 118 guest
rooms,
including rooftop penthouses and villas with private plunge pools;
modern
fitness center; and glass chapel with stunning views over the island.
- Le Méridien Atlanta
Perimeter – February
21, 2013 – Following a multi-million dollar, 18-month renovation, Le
Méridien Atlanta Perimeter will open this year in the heart of
Dunwoody. Just
minutes from downtown Atlanta and adjacent to the Perimeter Mall, the
hotel
will feature 275 oversized guest rooms and suites, a ground floor bar
and
restaurant with outdoor seating, fitness center, pool, and
state-of-the-art
meeting space.
- Le Méridien
Zhengzhou (China) – May 2013 –
Centrally located in the progressive capital of Henan Province, Le
Meridien
Zhengzhou offers a sophisticated gateway to the city. Chinese,
Japanese, and
European specialties are served in modern restaurants with private
rooms,
complemented by a designated wine room, a cocktail bar, and a coffee
hub. The
350 spacious guest rooms and suites feature contemporary art elements
with a
local touch, as well as modern furniture and the inviting Le
Méridien bed. The
contemporary bathroom comprises a deep French-style bathtub and a
rainforest
showerhead.
- Le
Méridien Saigon (Ho Chi Minh
City, Vietnam) – June 2013 – Situated beside the Saigon River
and
close to various entertainment and commercial areas, Le Méridien
Saigon is an
ideal base for exploring the local culture and community. For a
relaxing escape
from business or sightseeing, Explore Spa offers guests a range of
treatments
to calm the body and mind. The 350 modern guest rooms and suites
boast river
views, while sleek contemporary furnishings offer a restful retreat or
serene
productivity.
- Le
Méridien Dhaka (Bangladesh) –
July 2013 – Adjacent to the stock exchange, Le Méridien Dhaka
provides
new perspectives of the city for business and leisure travelers alike.
The
hotel is conveniently located between the central business district and
Shahjalal International Airport (DAC). A revitalizing massage in
the spa
awaits at the end of a long day, or one can work off stress in the
state-of-the-art fitness center. Each of the 300 guest rooms and suites
is
complete with indulgent amenities and a palette of warm tones that
create an
inviting ambience.
- Le Méridien Cairo
Airport – September 2013 – Le Méridien
Cairo Airport will be located at Terminal 3, making it the only hotel
with
direct access to Cairo International Airport terminals. The hotel
features 350 guest rooms, a 24-hour restaurant, specialty restaurant,
coffee
bar, lobby bar, lounge, fitness center, and swimming pool. A business
center,
ballroom, and six meeting rooms totaling approximately 750 square
meters of
meeting space provide ample room for a variety of business functions.
- Le Méridien Jiaonan
Resort (Qingdao, China) – October
2013 – Discover the “Switzerland of the Orient” at Le Méridien
Jiaonan Resort.
A captivating garden city located at the foot of Mount Laoshan, Qingdao
is
nestled on the shore of the Yellow Sea in China’s Shandong Province.
Situated
on the city’s longest beach, the resort is located just two kilometers
from the
Jiaonan County government, less than five kilometers from Orient
(Qingdao) Golf
& Country Club, and just 30 minutes from the Qingdao Liuting
International
Airport (TAO).
- Le Méridien
Mahabaleshwar Resort
& Spa (India)
– October 2013 – Meaning “God of Great Power” in Sanskrit, small and
picturesque Mahabaleshwar is a hill station situated in the Indian
state of
Maharashtra. Surrounded by rare evergreen forests in the Western Ghats,
Le
Méridien Mahabaleshwar Resort & Spa offers guests an
atmosphere of
luxurious relaxation. Located near the city center on Satara
Road, the
resort is 90 minutes from the Pune International Airport.
- Le
Méridien Chicago – Oakbrook Center – January 2014 –
Located in Greater Chicago, directly adjacent to Oakbrook Center, one
of the
most prestigious shopping destinations in the United States, Le
Méridien
Chicago – Oakbrook Center is set to undergo a $20 million
transformation prior
to its 2014 debut. The hotel will feature 172 guest rooms and suites,
fitness
center, ninth floor bar, restaurant and meeting spaces, and a rooftop
terrace.
All
new hotels will feature the Le Méridien Hub™ experience, which
re-interprets
the traditional lobby into a social gathering place for creative people
to
converse, debate, and exchange. Le Méridien Hub offers both
guests and locals a
creative atmosphere where contemporary, curated artwork sets the
environment.
Le Méridien Hub further builds on the brand’s award-winning
arrival experience
and coffee culture, curated by Le Méridien brand’s Cultural
Curator Jérôme Sans.
Le Méridien arrival consists of four elements: large-scale
artwork in high
impact areas to reset the mind and stimulate dialogue and curiosity;
the
sensory experience, illustrated through Le Méridien signature
scent, sound and
use of light, creating a unique and distinctive atmosphere; UNLOCK ART™
programme, featuring LM100 ™ artist designed key card collections that
not only
offer access to the guestroom but also to Le Méridien affiliated
contemporary
cultural centers in the city; and a 24-hour soundtrack curated by Sans.
About
Le Méridien Hotels & Resorts
Le
Méridien, the Paris-born hotel brand currently represented by
100 properties in
more than 40 countries, was acquired by Starwood Hotels & Resorts
Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) in November 2005. With over 80 of its
properties located in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and
Asia-Pacific, Le
Méridien provided a strong international complement to
Starwood’s then
primarily North American holdings at the time of purchase. Since then,
Le
Méridien has gone through a brand re-launch, which included a
large scale
hotels product consolidation as well as redefining its brand strategy.
By
appointing a full-time Cultural Curator – French arts-provocateur
Jérôme Sans –
Le Méridien transformed numerous guest touch points, thus
bringing unique and
interactive experiences to its guests. Plans call for dynamic expansion
of Le
Méridien Hotels and Resorts within the next five years,
concentrating on
markets in Asia-Pacific and the Americas. Le Méridien recently
opened new
hotels in Istanbul, Oran (Algeria), Arlington (Virginia, USA),
Coimbatore
(India), Koh Samui (Thailand), and Taipei, and will open in the next 12
months
in Bali, Atlanta, Chicago, Zhengzhou (China), Mahabaleshwar (India), Ho
Chi
Minh City (Vietnam), Cairo (Egypt), Qingdao (China), and Dhaka
(Bangladesh). For more information, please visit www.lemeridien.com or facebook.com/lemeridien.
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