Le Meridien Debuts in Ohio with Opening of the 135-key Le Meridien Columbus, The Joseph
COLUMBUS, Ohio - January 27, 2015 - Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE:HOT) today announced the opening of Le Meridien Columbus, The Joseph. The highly anticipated new hotel opens in Downtown Columbus at 620 North High Street, in the vibrant Short North Arts District. Owned and developed by The Pizzuti Companies and managed by Wischermann Partners, the new 10 story hotel has been designed by renowned Miami-based firm Arquitectonica to complement the unique historical aesthetic of Columbus' Short North neighborhood.
"Le Meridien is off to another great year of accelerated growth, set to open more than 10 hotels around the world in 2015," said Brian Povinelli, Global Brand Leader, Le Meridien and Westin. "With a burgeoning arts and culinary scene, Columbus is a perfect match for Le Meridien brand's Ohio debut as we help curious and creative-minded travelers unlock the destination through the hotel's design, cuisine and access to local culture."
Le Meridien Columbus, The Joseph features 135 modern guestrooms - including 10 Executive Suites, two contemporary Spa Suites, and a modern Presidential Suite. The hotel also offers nearly 7,000 square feet of state-of-the-art meeting and event space (including the Michael B. Coleman Grand Ballroom, hosting up to 250 guests), Columbus' chic new lounge, Soul and a 24-hour fully equipped fitness center with floor to ceiling windows and stunning views of the Short North and Downtown Columbus. Guests will be provided with all of the signature amenities, well known to the Paris-born Le Meridien brand, including a 24-hour curated soundtrack by French Bossa Nova band Nouvelle Vague, exclusive illy coffee prepared by master baristas, and Sparkling cocktails, inspired by Europe's aperitif hour.
The hotel's dramatic two-story lobby follows the design principles of the brand's signature Le Meridien Hub, a place to socialise, share ideas and be inspired - harmoniously blending art, design and architecture while featuring dramatic pieces by international artists KAWS, Rob Wynne, Nari Ward and Fred Wilson throughout the bar and reception areas. Towering columns reach from the ground floor lobby to the second floor gallery and event reception space, offering a revolving selection of artwork curated especially for the hotel and on loan from the private art collection of Ron and Ann Pizzuti . Hallways come alive with vibrant wallpaper designed exclusively by Brooklyn artist Almond Zigmund, while the three event spaces feature the art of their namesakes, internationally recognized Ohio artists - Aminah Robinson , Denny Griffith and Ann Hamilton .
As part of an ongoing commitment to the Ohio artistic community, the Pizzuti family has commissioned more than 31 new pieces of art from 15 Ohio artists for use in the hotel's guest rooms, hallways and lounges. As part of Le Meridien brand's mission to provide guests with access to contemporary cultural centers around the world through the UNLOCK Art Programme, Le Meridien Columbus, The Joseph has collaborated exclusively with the globally recognized Pizzuti Collection to offer guests - through the use of their room keycard - access to the Pizzuti Collection's exhibitions and events just steps away from the hotel.
Le Meridien Columbus, The Joseph is also home to restaurateur Cameron Mitchell's The Guild House, allowing guests the opportunity to discover the sustainable flavors of the Midwest during breakfast, lunch and dinner. The menu features locally-sourced, artisan cuisine combined with wines from around the world. The restaurant seats more than 140 guests, including unique dining spaces, a full-service bar and private dining room. Cameron Mitchell Restaurants has also developed a signature catering menu for Le Meridien Columbus, The Joseph's catering events and in-room dining.
"We will focus on bringing a new authentic lifestyle experience to Columbus, offering personalized service excellence within the backdrop of this beautiful, luxury-boutique hotel," said Paul Wischermann , President and CEO of Wischermann Partners, Inc.
Le Meridien Columbus, The Joseph offers Starwood's loyal SPG travelers a new, contemporary destination when visiting the Columbus area. The hotel anchors a highly anticipated mixed-use development complex that includes The Offices at The Joseph, a six-story cubist-inspired building with 60,000 square feet of premium office and retail space, a 318-space parking garage adjacent to the office building and the Pizzuti Collection, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit exhibition space dedicated to the public presentation of contemporary art from the world-recognized collection of Ron and Ann Pizzuti .
For more information or to book, please visit www.lemeridiencolumbus.com
(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.)
About Le Meridien Hotels & Resorts
Le Meridien , the Paris-born hotel brand currently represented by nearly 100 properties in more than 40 countries, was acquired by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE:HOT) in November 2005. With more than 80 of its properties located in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific, Le Meridien provided a strong international complement to Starwood's then primarily North American holdings at the time of purchase. Since then, Le Meridien has gone through a brand re-launch, which included a large scale hotels product consolidation and redefined brand strategy. Through creation of the LM100 artist community, Le Meridien has transformed numerous guest touch points, thus bringing unique, interactive and curated experiences to its guests. Plans call for dynamic expansion of Le Meridien Hotels and Resorts within the next five years, concentrating on markets in Asia-Pacific and the Americas. Le Meridien recently opened new hotels in Columbus (Ohio, USA), Charlotte (North Carolina, USA), Indianapolis (Indiana, USA), New Orleans, Chicago, Tampa (Florida, USA), Cairo, Bahrain, Bali, Atlanta, Oran (Algeria), and Zhengzhou (China), and will open in the next 12 months in Bangkok, Gurgaon (India), Mahabaleshwar (India), Thimphu (Bhutan), Paro (Bhutan), Dhaka (Bangladesh), Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam), Qingdao (China), Leshan (China) , and Putrajaya (Malaysia). For more information, please visit www.lemeridien.com
About The Pizzuti Companies
The Pizzuti Companies is a recognized leader in the development, marketing and management of real estate. With operations in Columbus, Chicago and Orlando, Pizzuti has developed more than 50 million square feet of Class A office, hospitality, healthcare, retail, residential and institutional-quality industrial facilities throughout the Midwest and Southeast regions of the United States. Pizzuti also has considerable experience working with local governments in the development of creative public-private partnerships. A leader in sustainable design practices, Pizzuti has completed build-to-suit and speculative construction projects in each of their major markets. Pizzuti Solutions LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary, boasts a staff with decades of combined public-sector work experiences, and focuses extensively in the areas of public facilities, sports and recreation, cultural facilities, education and strategic planning. For more information, please visit http://www.pizzuti.com.
About Wischermann Partners, Inc.
Wischermann Partners, Inc. is a national hospitality firm, focused on the operations of upper upscale and luxury hotels. Recognized by clients, peers and industry experts, Wischermann Partners brings a unique mix of knowledge, experience and insight to hospitality management, development and acquisitions. Currently, Wischermann Partners operates a hotel portfolio of more than 3,400 rooms. For more information about Wischermann Partners, please visit www.wischermannpartners.com.
Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) is a global leading lodging company based in Bethesda,Maryland, USA, with more than 4,200 properties in 80 countries and territories. Marriott International reported revenues of nearly $14 billion in fiscal year 2014. The company operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership resorts under 19 brands, including: The Ritz-Carlton®, BVlgari®, EDITION®, JW Marriott®, Autograph Collection® Hotels, Renaissance® Hotels, Marriott Hotels®, Delta Hotels and Resorts®, Marriott Executive Apartments®, Marriott Vacation Club®, Gaylord Hotels®, AC Hotels by Marriott®, Courtyard®, Residence Inn®, SpringHill Suites®, Fairfield Inn & Suites®, TownePlace Suites®, Protea Hotels® and MoxyHotels®. Marriott has been consistently recognized as a top employer and for its superior business ethics. The company also manages the award-winning guest loyalty program, Marriott Rewards® and The Ritz-Carlton Rewards® program, which together surpass 50 million members. For more information or reservations, please visit our website at 
