Palm Beach, Aruba � Jan. 7, 2010 � The Westin Resort, Aruba is pleased to announce the appointment of Bill Thompson as director of sales and marketing.  A seasoned hospitality executive with vast knowledge of the Caribbean market, Thompson has over 35 years of experience in the hotel industry.  In his new role, Thompson will oversee all sales and marketing activities, including group and leisure sales, food and beverage, catering and public relations for the 481-room resort located on Palm Beach in Aruba.  
 
�Bill is a respected industry veteran who brings a winning combination of experience with both the Westin brand and the Caribbean to the position,� said Graeme Davis, Vice President Operations, Southern and Caribbean region.  �We look forward to welcoming his unique perspective, which will further elevate the resort and guest experience.�  
 
A member of the Starwood Hotels & Resorts team for over 10 years, Thompson joined The Westin Resort, Aruba from his role as area director of sales and marketing for the southeast U.S. region with four Westin properties:  The Westin St. John Resort & Villas in the USVI, Westin & Sheraton at Our Lucaya in The Bahamas, The Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa and The Westin Savannah Harbor Golf Resort & Spa.   His previous position was as director sales and marketing for the 285-room Westin St. John Resort & Villas. 
 
At The Westin Resort, Aruba, Thompson will responsible for driving occupancy through a mix of group and leisure business, as well as the weddings market.  For meetings and events, the resort offers more than 20,000 square feet of function space, and for leisure guests, The Classic All-Inclusive package provides the value of an all-inclusive in a traditional resort setting.  
 
For resort reservations or further information, call (877) 782-0149 or visit www.westinaruba.com. 
 
Located on seven and a half acres amidst the white sands of Palm Beach and encased by lush gardens and swaying palm trees, The Westin Resort, Aruba is a recently refurbished resort featuring 481 luxurious guest rooms and suites, eight restaurants and lounges, the world-class Casablanca Casino, a variety of activities, spa and nearby golf.  The resort offers more than 20,000 square feet of flexible indoor and outdoor function space.  The resort is located just seven miles from Queen Beatrix International Airport and five miles from downtown Oranjestad.