First aloft Opens At Montreal Airport

-- Hotels, 6/5/2008 8:22:00 AM

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. announces the opening of aloft Montreal Airport, the first hotel in Starwood's new lifestyle brand to open. Aloft hotels are meant to be modern, fresh and fun, with loft-inspired design.

Developed and owned by the joint venture between Silver Hotel Group and Northampton Group Inc., the 136-room aloft Montreal Airport will offer a variety of intuitive technologies, atmospheric public spaces and an array of amenities.

“The sleekness and dynamism of the aloft lifestyle complements the sophistication and style of Montreal, where we are proud to make our global debut,” says Brian McGuinness, vice president of aloft and element hotels worldwide. “Youthful-minded travelers will appreciate the aloft brand’s emphasis on creativity, culture and fun.”

A vision of W Hotels, aloft hotels are based around urban-influenced design, accessible technology, style and a social atmosphere. aloft hotels offer a total sensory experience, with guestrooms featuring loft-like 9-ft. ceilings and oversized windows to create a bright, airy environment.

The centerpiece of each aloft room is the plush platform bed, and large bathrooms complement the guest experience with oversized walk-in showers and amenities created by bliss® spa.

Each aloft room also is a combination office and entertainment center, featuring wireless Internet access and plug & play, a one-stop connectivity solution for electronic gadgetry such as PDAs, cell phones, MP3 players and laptops - all linked to a large flat panel LCD television for optimal sound and viewing.

Designed in conjunction with David Rockwell and the Rockwell Group, aloft stays true to the W Hotel brand’s heritage, offering atmospheric public spaces designed to draw guests from their rooms to socialize. Guests can read the paper, work on their laptops via hotel-wide wireless Internet access, play a game of pool or grab a drink with friends at the re:mix communal lobby area and bar w xyz. The re:charge fitness center and splash, the indoor or outdoor pool, give travelers options to de-stress and re-energize; while re:fuel by aloft, a one-stop food and beverage area, offers sweet, savory and healthy food, snacks and beverages to grab & go, 24-hours a day.

The aloft brand has announced some 88 development projects in more than 10 countries. In 2009, the aloft brand plans to open more than 50 hotels, broadening its international footprint and domestically positioning aloft hotels in markets previously underpenetrated.

Following the debut of this first aloft hotel in Montreal, Canada, several others are scheduled to open shortly in markets such as: Chicago; Minneapolis; Philadelphia; Lexington, Massachusetts; Ontario-Rancho Cucamonga, California; and Beijing. Aloft hotels scheduled to open in 2009 include sites such as Brooklyn, New York; Denver; Dallas; Atlanta; Las Vegas; and Toronto.