$35 Million Expansion & Renovation Launched at The Westin St. John Resort & Villas on St. John, USVI
Orlando, FL - November 1, 2013 - Starwood Vacation Ownership, a division of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT), and The Westin St. John Resort & Villas on St. John, USVI, today announced a $35 million renovation project including the launch of luxury Coral Vista Villas and enhancements to the resort's guestrooms, dining facilities, meetings space, pool area and more.
"The Westin St. John Resort & Villas is one of the most successful resorts in the Caribbean. As the resort and the on-site vacation ownership continue to play a pivotal role in St John's expansive tourism market, we are thrilled to enhance our presence and commitment to the island," said Steve Williams, chief operating officer for Starwood Vacation Ownership.
Starwood Vacation Ownership will expand at The Westin St. John Resort & Villas with the conversion of 79 guestrooms into 54 luxury vacation ownership villas. The new project overlooking Great Cruz Bay will introduce 30 two-bedroom villas, six two-bedroom lofts, and 18 studio villas commencing Dec. 1, 2013 with expected occupancy beginning in January 2015. Upon completion, a total of 200 villas will grace the resort's lush Caribbean landscape.
Additionally, the resort will further its commitment to leisure travelers, groups, and weddings with renovations to the quarter-acre swimming pool, meetings space, watersports area, WestinWORKOUT® fitness center, dockside check-in, spa, Westin airport lounge and dining facilities. The resort's commitment to sustainability will also be maximized with the planned installation of solar panels throughout the property. With the guest experience at the forefront, the renovations will follow a rolling timeline to ensure that travelers receive the same level of comfort while the resort continues to update the infrastructure and exterior. These renovations will add to the resort's 96 guestrooms that are currently being refreshed, thus further elevating the ultimate Caribbean retreat.
"The significant investment in the renovation of The Westin St. John Resort & Villas will raise the standard of this premier resort with stylish and contemporary accommodations, unique amenities and a world-class guest experience," said John P. de Jongh, the governor of USVI. "These efforts will ensure that The Westin St. John Resort & Villas continues to be one of the top destinations of choice for business and leisure travelers."
With eight Westin-branded vacation ownership resorts, Starwood Vacation Ownership's portfolio includes The Westin St. John Resort & Villas, The Westin Lagunamar Ocean Resort Villas & Spa, The Westin Riverfront Mountain Villas, The Westin Kierland Villas, The Westin Ka'anapali Ocean Resort Villas, The Westin Ka'anapali Ocean Resort Villas North, The Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas and The Westin Desert Willow Villas, Palm Desert.
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About Westin Hotels & Resorts
Westin Hotels & Resorts offers innovative programs that transform every aspect of a stay into a revitalizing experience. All Westin signature services - like the Heavenly® Bed, delicious SuperFoodsRxTM and WestinWORKOUT® studio - have been designed with the guests' well-being in mind. Westin hotels, with more than 190 hotels and resorts in nearly 40 countries and territories, is owned by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with 1,162 properties in nearly 100 countries and 171,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. Starwood is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels, resorts and residences with the following internationally renowned brands: St. Regis®, The Luxury Collection®, W®, Westin®, Le Meridien®, Sheraton®, Four Points® by Sheraton, Aloft®, and ElementSM. The Company boasts one of the industry's leading loyalty programs, Starwood Preferred Guest® (SPG), allowing members to earn and redeem points for room stays, room upgrades and flights, with no blackout dates. Starwood also owns Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., a premier provider of world-class vacation experiences through villa-style resorts and privileged access to Starwood brands. For more information, please visit www.starwoodhotels.com.
Preferred access to Starwood hotels and resorts remains an attractive component of the SVO program. Flexibility is also a key driver. Through the Starwood Vacation NetworkSM (SVN) program, Owners can choose to vacation within a collection of 19 villa resorts each year using their specific value of StarOptions®. Or they can choose from 1,162 Starwood hotels and resorts in 100 countries-with no blackout dates-redeeming their specific value of Starpoints® through the Starwood Preferred Guest® program.
About Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with 1,162 properties in nearly 100 countries and 171,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. Starwood is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels, resorts and residences with the following internationally renowned brands: St. Regis®, The Luxury Collection®, W®, Westin®, Le Meridien®, Sheraton®, Four Points® by Sheraton, Aloft®, and ElementSM. The Company boasts one of the industry's leading loyalty programs, Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG), allowing members to earn and redeem points for room stays, room upgrades and flights, with no blackout dates. Starwood also owns Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., a premier provider of world-class vacation experiences through villa-style resorts and privileged access to Starwood brands. For more information, please visit www.starwoodhotels.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 
