�We are dedicated to building profitable one-on-one relationships with frequent travelers and believe the web is a primary vehicle for accomplishing this,� remarked Sue Brush, VP and Westin brand manager for Starwood Hotels Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (parent of Westin). �With that in mind, Westin is dedicated to a continuous website evaluation and improvement in order to anticipate their needs.�

Modem Media. 

Poppe Tyson, a leading builder and marketer of customer focused e-businesses, together with Starwood Hotels Resorts, developed the website to enhance the customer experience. The site�s e-commerce applications were redesigned to make them more intuitive and responsive to individual user needs and interests.  From finding and reserving a room online to accessing driving directions to the hotel, to providing surrounding location information, Modem Media was able to streamline www.westin.com. 

Website enhancements include:

• Enhanced search capabilities: Now offering three different ways to search for a hotel: �Quick Search,� �Detailed Search� (including searching for hotels nearest to your destination) and �Search by Hotel Name.� Each results page now displays a property proximity map, provided by Vicinity Corporation.

• Local information for all properties: In collaboration with Vicinity Corporation, local information such as area attractions and point to point driving directions are now available for each property.

• Slideshow photography: Hotel photographs will be presented in a slideshow format allowing guests to view a more comprehensive set of images.

• Hot deals: A new section featuring packages and reduced rates offered exclusively to online guests.

• Westin perspectives: A frequently updated homepage feature headlining new and significant Westin information such as new properties, recent Westin innovations and highlighted promotions.

• Meeting facilities search results: Updated to include �Plan a Meeting� button allowing guests to view meeting capacities and floor plans and submit their event details to request a proposal from any specific Westin property.

• Simpler navigation: Primary and secondary navigation menus will be displayed to pinpoint guests� location throughout the site.

• Starwood Preferred Guest section: Allows guests to enter their membership number and last name to view the number of points accumulated to date while navigating the site. As one of the largest loyalty programs in the industry, Starwood Preferred Guest unites the world�s most celebrated names in hotels and results, allowing travelers to earn points and redeem awards at over 550 participating Starwood properties. Designed as the easiest, most flexible and rewarding program of its kind, the program features no blackout dates and no point expiration dates for active members.

• Starwood Vacations section: Provides a link to Starwood Vacations website and offers special packages. Starwood Vacations offers complete vacation packages featuring distinctive Starwood properties complemented by air transportation, rental cars, sightseeing tours and more.