December 22, 2014 – CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE:HOT) today announced the opening of Le Méridien Charlotte, following a multimillion dollar transformation. Le Méridien Charlotte is within walking distance of Charlotte’s Uptown Business District, which is home to North Carolina Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, Discovery Place, Charlotte Aquatic Center the Charlotte Convention Center, Time Warner Arena and Bank of America Stadium (home of the Carolina Panthers), as well as corporate offices for Bank of America, Wells Fargo and BB&T.
“Le Méridien is experiencing strong growth momentum in North America, nearly tripling our portfolio since Starwood first acquired the brand in 2005,” said Brian Povinelli, Global Brand Leader, Le Méridien and Westin. “Charlotte shares in our passions for culture, the arts and cuisine, and we look forward to helping creative and curious minded travelers unlock the destination through our locally-inspired programming and culinary offerings.”
Le Méridien Charlotte features 300 guestrooms with 18 suites, including three Executive Suites comprised of contemporary and mid-century inspired furnishings. The hotel also boasts 55,000 square feet of expansive event space as part of the dual branded complex including the 305 room Sheraton Charlotte Hotel, including the 16,000 square foot Symphony Ballroom and the 8,000 square foot Carolina Ballroom for corporate meetings and social functions. Le Méridien Charlotte also boasts the newly opened Evoke Restaurant, Longitude Bar and an expansive Fitness Center.
Guests will be immediately enthralled by the new modern façade, which opens into the hotel’s signature and award-winning arrival experience, Le Méridien Hub™. Le Méridien arrival consists of four unique elements: large-scale artwork in high impact areas; the sensory experience, illustrated through Le Méridien signature scent, sound and use of light; UNLOCK ART™ programme, featuring artist designed key card collections that offer access to the acclaimed Mint Museum Uptown; and a 24-hour curated soundtrack by French Bossa Nova band Nouvelle Vague. The Hub also features the signature Master Barista, a role designed to meet the growing demands of coffee lovers at every Le Méridien hotel worldwide. The Master Baristas lead coffee-related initiatives at each hotel, serve as a coffee cultural ambassador, and maintain knowledge of current coffee trends within the destination.
“Our associates are very excited and proud to be a part of this rebranding and opening,” said Paul Wischermann, President and CEO of Wischermann Partners. “We will create memorable experiences and guest loyalty one customer at a time, positioning Le Méridien Charlotte for future success and offering Starwood’s loyal guests a great new option in the vibrant Charlotte marketplace.”
For more information or to book, please visit www.lemeridien.com/charlotte.
(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.)
