CHENNAI, India--Feb. 25, 2013-- Westin Hotels and Resorts, part of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE:HOT), today announced the opening of The Westin Chennai Velachery. Strategically located in the fast growing business district of Chennai in the Southern part of India, The Westin Chennai Velachery is the sixth Westin hotel in India and the first out of seven new Westin hotels expected to open in 2013 across Asia Pacific.

“The Westin Chennai Velachery is a significant addition to our strong Westin portfolio in India,” said Brian Povinelli, Global Brand Leader, Westin Hotels & Resorts. “We are delighted with the success of the brand and the rave reviews it has received from our guests. The prime location of The Westin Chennai Velachery and the draw of the signature Westin experience, designed to provide our guests a bit of well-being in the center of the vibrant city of Chennai, make us confident that this new landmark hotel will soon become a preferred destination for both business and leisure travelers.”

A Modern-Day Oasis in the midst of Chennai
Located within 20-minute drive from Chennai Domestic and International Airport, the hotel provides convenient accessibility to Guindy business district, OMR-IT corridor, city center and Chennai Trade Centre.

Nestled amidst lush greenery of Chennai, the hotel’s sensory rich environment offers a refreshing respite from the bustling metropolitan city and features a breathtaking view of the cityscape and the surrounding green environment. Upon entering the hotel’s lobby, guests are transported from the everyday and are greeted with 35-feet cascading water body located in the central courtyard of the hotel. Visible from the main lobby, Seasonal Tastes™ restaurant is a spectacular visual delight offering international cuisine with live cooking stations.

A New Haven for Travelers
The hotel offers 215 spacious and lavishly appointed guestrooms and suites with refreshing pool or city skyline views. Each guestroom is outfitted with the world-renowned Westin Heavenly® Bed – an oasis of lush sheets, down and a patented pillow-top mattress, which cradles and contours to the body for truly restorative sleep. Guests can revive in the Heavenly® Bath enhanced with the brand’s Heavenly® Shower, Heavenly® Robe and White Tea Aloe bath amenities, in-room and high-speed Internet access.

Westin brand’s innovative programs and instinctive service transform every aspect of a guest’s stay into revitalizing comfort making the hotel ideal for rejuvenation both for the business as well as the leisure traveler. The Westin Executive Club located on the top floor, is indeed a truly exclusive and pampering experience. It offers panoramic views of the city with complimentary breakfast, Wireless Internet Access, and evening cocktail service with an eclectic selection of hors d'oeuvres.

The Westin Chennai Velachery offers the 24-hour WestinWORKOUT Fitness Studio. For those who prefer to combine their workout routine with fresh air and local scenery, the hotel also offers a group run with the special RunWESTIN™ program. Guests can enjoy a refreshing dip in the outdoor swimming pool, or choose from the rejuvenating bouquet of massages and therapies at the Heavenly Spa by Westin™.

Replenish and nourish the body with one of the many distinctive culinary experiences at the hotel’s three restaurants: Seasonal Tastes, the contemporary all day dining restaurant, features an eclectic display of local and International cuisine as well as Westin brand’s signature SuperfoodsRx™ menu that offers nutrient rich and delicious options to tempt every palate; revel in the flavors of authentic Pan Asia delicacies at EEST™; or, catch up on favourite sport with a heady selection of beverages at the cricket themed lounge bar- Willows. The open-air Poolside Grill & Barbeque venue serves a repertoire of Latin American, Middle Eastern and Indian grills with the choice in barbeque offerings.

State-of-the-art meeting space
With over 12,600 square feet of refined meeting and function space, including 2 large pillar-less ballrooms and 12 break-out rooms and a Business Center, the hotel is an ideal host for everything from intimate business affairs to large-scale corporate meetings. Equipped with high-speed internet access, sophisticated audio visual technology, and first of its kind ergonomically designed performance chair, the hotel offers inspiring and smart solutions for a distinguishing meeting and social experience.

“Making a mark with its sophisticated style, instinctive service and local & international cuisine, The Westin Chennai Velachery is a highly anticipated addition to the portfolio of five star hotels in the city of Chennai. We believe that business travelers, meeting planners and individual travelers will be delighted with the Westin emphasis on well-being and the innovative signature services that have earned Westin worldwide recognition,” says Shrikant Wakharkar, General Manager.

For more information or reservations, please call + 9144 22553366, or email at [email protected] or visit www.westin.com/chennaivelachery

About Westin Hotels & Resorts
Westin Hotels & Resorts offers innovative programs that transform every aspect of a stay into a revitalizing experience. All Westin signature services – like the Heavenly Bed, delicious SuperFoods and WestinWORKOUT studio – have been designed with the guests’ well-being in mind. Westin hotels, with more than 190 hotels and resorts in nearly 40 countries and territories, is owned by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with 1,134 properties in nearly 100 countries and 171,000 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