Bern Hotels Opens Le M'eridien in Panama

Le M'eridien's First Hotel in Central America

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. September 27, 2009

PANAMA CITY, Panama, September 24, 2009 - Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE:HOT) today announced the opening of Le M'eridien Panama, the European rooted hotel brand's first property in Central America. Set in the heart of Panama's cosmopolitan capital city, Le M'eridien Panama, owned by developers Bern Hotels & Resorts Panama, is a modern, contemporary building located on the edge of the Bay of Panama, boasting spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean and the Panama City skyline.

Surrounded by the intimate cafes and chic galleries of Panama City's vibrant Uruguay Street, Le M'eridien Panama is within the city's financial district and a short distance from Panama City's major tourism attractions, such as the Panama Canal, considered one of the "Eight Wonders of the Modern World."

"We take pride in this new hotel in Panama, as the property will be a key hotel for international travelers interested in exploring the modern and diversified culture of Panama," said Osvaldo Librizzi, President of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Latin America. "The pipeline of Le M'eridien hotels in Latin America has a focus on city centre hotels and resorts in leisure destinations to complement the brand's footprint worldwide."

"We are honored to open the first Le M'eridien hotel in Central America and look forward to being part of the brand's development into a contemporary lifestyle brand," said Glen Champion, VP for Bern & Hotels and Resorts Panama.

Designed by renowned Panamanian architect Mallol Ignacio, Le M'eridien Panama features a jaw-dropping double height entry with an overturned glass pyramid that reflects vibrant colors throughout the sleek black granite lobby. Offering 111 guestrooms, including 29 suites, the hotel also has 4,000 square feet of function space ideal for corporate meetings and events as well as intimate social affairs. In addition, Le M'eridien Panama features a signature restaurant, Latitudes, by Panamanian Chef Anibal Chiari, a contemporary fusion concept of international cuisine that can seat 75 guests, including a communal table and private dining room. Latitudes also offers Le M'eridien signature breakfast, which includes reinvented favourites with components developed by three-star Michelin chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten, and Coffee Culture, a global programme developed in partnership with illycaff`e. The hotel also offers spa treatments in the Sensory Spa by Clarins with six treatment rooms and a fully-equipped fitness center and outdoor pool and terrace, overlooking the Bay of Panama.

"Le M'eridien Panama marks a milestone in Le M'eridien's global re-launch and transformation into a lifestyle brand as we open in Central America for the first time and celebrate our 15th new Le M'eridien hotel since Starwood acquired the Le M'eridien brand in November 2005," said Eva Ziegler, Global Brand Leader, Le M'eridien and W Hotels Worldwide. "Le M'eridien's vision is to transform the functional and transactional driven hotel experience into an emotional connection with our guests, delivering a new perspective through art and cuisine, the brand's passion points, in a relevant way in order to attract a new, aspirational audience - the creative mind."

Le M'eridien Panama showcases the newly introduced global Le M'eridien arrival experience, curated by international arts provocateur J'er^ome Sans, the hotel brand's cultural curator since 2006, and developed together with members of the LM100, Le M'eridien's family of cultural innovators. Le M'eridien arrival experience, designed to make the first ten minutes of the guest's stay memorable, consists of four signature elements, including the transitional portal, which is a visual and audio "wall" of art and sound at the entrance of the hotel that engulfs each guest to reset their minds, leaving the outside world behind for the world of Le M'eridien; the sensory experience, illustrated through Le M'eridien signature scent, sound and use of light, creating a unique and distinctive atmosphere; UNLOCK ARTTM programme, which features an artist designed key card collection that not only offers access to the guestroom but also to Le M'eridien affiliated contemporary cultural centers; and lastly, the elevated experience, which transforms the event of riding an elevator into an "elevating experience" through sound.

At Le M'eridien Panama the hotel's transitional portal has been developed by artist and LM100 Member Youn`es Rahmoun. His role within LM100 originated when he was engaged by Le M'eridien brand to create the art pieces, entitled "Zahara 77 Flowers," "Nisf Sah^aba" (Half Cloud) and "Sah^aba / Massar" (Cloud / Rangelands) for various Le M'eridien transitional portals around the world. The exclusive keycards at Le M'eridien Panama, part of the UNLOCK ART programme, have been created by American artist Sam Samore and provides guests with access to the Museum of Contemporary Art (MAC), one of Panama's largest cultural and design institutions. The scent at Le M'eridien Panama has been developed by LM100 members Eddie Roschi and Fabrice Penot from Le Labo, an innovative perfume company from New York, and the 24-hour music piece of the transitional portal and elevated experience has been created by LM100 member, musician and composer Henri Scars Struck. In addition, Le M'eridien Panama has engaged local Panamanian artist Igor Kourany to curate artwork throughout the hotel, including a large piece at the entrance titled "Sky Dancers" that reflects the fiery colors and vibrant urban landscape of Panama City.