WHITE PLAINS, N.Y.--May 16, 2007 - --Westin Hotels & Resorts today
announces the formation of the Westin Renewal Council, a panel of six lifestyle
experts who will advise on initiatives that bring to life the brand�s positioning
of personal renewal. Westin partnered with Creative Artists Agency (CAA)
of Los Angeles to identify top experts to provide tips and editorial content
for a new dedicated website along with the hotel industry�s first signature
in-room television channel. The Renewal Council�which includes trainer
to the stars David Kirsch, renowned psychologist Dr. Dale V. Atkins and
TV�s home-makeover consultant Vern Yip�will provide a full range of advice
that will help guests lead happier, more fulfilling lives.
Westin will introduce the Renewal Council to hotel guests through an
exclusive in-room television channel to include lifestyle content and renewal-inspired
programming. Working with Westin and their in-room entertainment group,
Council Members will help develop programming specific to their areas of
expertise and advise on the direction of the channel, which is in development
and anticipated to begin appearing in rooms in the beginning of 2008.
Westin also announced today the interactive website www.findrenewal.com,
where visitors�Westin guests and non-guests alike�can read advice, recipes
and tips from the Renewal Council, organized in helpful categories such
as �Unwind�, �Energize� and �Create�. Ranging from how to infuse your workspace
with personal style to eating well for better performance on the road,
the daily tips are available via email and RSS feed and can also be delivered
directly to users� desktops or blogs via a custom widget. Designed by digital
brand consultants Electric Artists, findrenewal.com is the only place on
the Internet that brings together renewing tips from such an esteemed and
independent variety of professionals.
�The Westin Renewal Council was introduced to help people live their
best lives,� said Sue Brush, senior vice president of Westin Hotels &
Resorts. �With an in-room channel for guests and a dedicated website that
features rich content cultivated by the council, our hope is to be a daily
resource for people in search of simple and meaningful ways to enrich their
lives.�
Meet the Westin Renewal Council
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Fitness: David Kirsch - Trainer to the stars and best-selling author
of Sound Mind, Sound Body and The Ultimate New York Body Plan, Kirsch will
share his personal fitness philosophy, which emphasizes fast, healthy,
long-lasting results and mind-body conditioning. Kirsch is a regular contributor
to Shape magazine and a frequent guest on shows such as �Today� and �Extreme
Makeover;� he is also the owner of the Madison Square Club in Manhattan.
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Nutrition: Akasha Richmond - Richmond is the chef and owner of catering
and event company Akasha�s Visionary Cuisine, co-founding chef of natural
and healthy takeout company Eaturna and celebrity chef to Silk® Soymilk.
Her extensive experience cooking for celebrities and her unmatched enthusiasm
for healthy eating have led her to cater at such events as the Grammys
and Sundance Film Festival, and to write HOLLYWOOD DISH: More Than 150
Delicious, Healthy Recipes From Hollywood's Chef to the Stars.
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Psychology: Dr. Dale V. Atkins - Licensed psychologist Dr. Atkins
has more than 25 years of experience as a relationship expert, focusing
on managing stress and maintaining balance. Atkins is also a communications
consultant for corporations, advice columnist for www.weddingchannel.com
and author of numerous books, including Sanity Savers, and I�m OK, You�re
My Parents. A frequent lecturer and contributor to various morning programs,
Dr. Atkins maintains a private practice in New York.
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Trends: Jane Buckingham - Trend forecaster Jane Buckingham will
help users stay ahead of the curve in business and in life. Her consulting
firm, The Intelligence Group, tracks lifestyle trends for companies such
as Coca-Cola, Revlon and Nike. Buckingham is host of the Style Network
series �Modern Girl�s Guide to Life� and regularly lends her expertise
to a variety of outlets, including �Good Morning America,� PBS and Cosmopolitan.
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Style/Design: Vern Yip - Yip has starred on various home-makeover
shows, including TLC�s �Trading Spaces,� HGTV�s �Design Star� and NBC�s
�Home Intervention.� This year, he�ll add another HGTV show, �Deserving
Design,� to his numerous roles and projects. Yip also spearheads home makeovers
for AOL and is the author of the book Designing Spaces. His architectural
and interior designs have received legions of awards, and his timeless
less-is-more philosophy is showcased in his work through Vern Yip Designs
Inc.
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Productivity: Donna Smallin - Smallin�s seven books on organizing
and simplifying have been translated into several languages. She frequently
provides tips to magazines such as Woman�s Day and Real Simple; has been
a guest on HGTV, CNN and CBS; and is the resident organization expert for
www.homeminders.com.
For more information on the Westin Renewal Council, including
tips on how to live your best life, visit www.findrenewal.com. Westin Hotels
& Resorts, with more than 127 hotels and resorts in more than 31 countries
and territories, is owned by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.
(NYSE: HOT). Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the
leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with approximately 850
properties in more than 95 countries and 145,000 employees at its owned
and managed properties. Starwood® Hotels is a fully integrated owner,
operator and franchisor of hotels and resorts with the following internationally
renowned brands: St. Regis®, The Luxury Collection®, Sheraton®,
Westin®, Four Points® by Sheraton, W®, Le Méridien®
and the recently announced AloftSM and ElementSM Hotels. 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.
(Note: This press release contains forward-looking statements
within the meaning of federal securities regulations. Forward-looking statements
are not guarantees of future performance or events and involve risks and
uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events
to differ materially from those anticipated at the time the forward-looking
statements are made. These risks and uncertainties are presented in detail
in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Although we
believe the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are
based upon reasonable assumptions, we can give no assurance that our expectations
will be attained or that results and events will not materially differ.
We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking
statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.)
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