Travelore News: St. Regis Unveils Highly Anticipated Flagship In Istanbul

ISTANBUL, Turkey - St Regis Hotels & Resorts, part of Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Inc, is delighted to debut the highly anticipated St. Regis Istanbul. Owned by Nisantasi Konaklama ve Otel Hizmetleri A.S. (Demsa Group), The St. Regis Istanbul marks the debut of the luxury brand in Turkey. St. Regis has tripled its global footprint in the last decade to 34 hotels and is set to open three more hotels this year, strengthening its position as a leader in luxury hospitality.

Nestled in the sophisticated Nisantasi neighborhood, The St. Regis Istanbul is surrounded by chic designer boutiques and boutique art galleries. The residential hotel sits atop Maçka Park and boasts breathtaking, floor-to-ceiling views of the Bosphorus from each of the 118 guestrooms and suites. Designed by award-winning Turkish architect Emre Arolat, The St. Regis Istanbul is a modern interpretation of Istanbul’s glamorous Art Deco era with a variety of contemporary art installations.

“With the opening of The St. Regis Istanbul, we are delighted to strengthen Starwood’s presence in Turkey, one of our key markets for growth and a burgeoning destination for luxury travelers,” said Michael Wale, President, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Europe, Africa and Middle East. “The St. Regis Istanbul will offer exceptional levels of service and exquisite experiences including Spago by acclaimed chef Wolfgang Puck and a Bentley Suite, and we look forward to welcoming guests at our first St. Regis hotel in Turkey.”

“As a hotel brand as international and informed as its guests, St. Regis is thoughtfully building its portfolio in destinations, including Istanbul, where there is a robust demand for high-end hospitality from a new generation of global travellers,” said Jenni Benzaquen, Vice President, St. Regis, W Hotels and The Luxury Collection in Europe, Africa and Middle East. “Capturing the soul of the historic city and the spirit of the new grand tour, this hotel is a befitting debut for St. Regis in this international gateway city.”

Wolfgang Puck’s Iconic Spago Restaurant

The St. Regis Istanbul is home to the first international outpost of Wolfgang Puck’s iconic Spago restaurant, which stars as the hotel’s signature culinary experience. Located on the hotel’s rooftop, the restaurant offers contemporary design and stunning views of the vibrant city. Inspired by the celebrated chef’s global travels, the modern and imaginative seasonal menus include signature dishes, such as blue crab and lobster "Louis" cocktail with spicy tomato-horseradish; "Angry" two-pound live lobster with Szechuan chilies, garlic, scallions and black bean dust; roasted duckling "Peking Style" with blood oranges, port-ginger reduction; and grilled lamb chops, harissa aioli, charred eggplant, falafel “macaroons”, natural jus. This is paired with a superb artisanal cocktail menu and extensive wine list, including international varietals alongside local Turkish wines. Poised to be the best address for celebrity spotting in Istanbul, the Spago lounge offers a seductive atmosphere above the busy streets of Istanbul all year round.

Exquisite Culinary Experiences

While the St. Regis Brasserie offers street-side action: an indoor show kitchen and bustling outdoor terrace, reminiscent of a Parisian café, the Petit “O” Bar follows the St. Regis tradition of creating a signature Bloody Mary cocktail with a local twist. Guests can enjoy the Misty Mary cocktail amidst the “Bosphorus Breeze” mural by Bedri Baykam, the Turkish artist commissioned to create a whimsical mural as the focal point for the bar. The mural is symbolic of the brand’s evolution: a modern iteration of the iconic King Cole Mural at The St. Regis New York, commissioned by St. Regis founder John Jacob Astor IV.

Impeccable Design

St. Regis’ commitment to art and design is brought to life at The St. Regis Istanbul, which showcases works by both internationally-acclaimed and emerging Turkish artists as part of the Demsa Collection of Art. This is complemented by custom pieces created for the hotel, including the spectacular Lasvit chandelier, which takes center stage in the lobby.

The St. Regis Istanbul features an exquisitely designed Bentley Suite, second in the world only to the Bentley Suite at the brand’s flagship hotel in New York. Providing guests with the luxury, craftsmanship and style associated with both renowned international brands, the suite draws inspiration from the Bentley Continental GT model and features hand-crafted finishes and one-of-a-kind furnishings throughout.

Iridium Spa & Beyond Expectation Events

Born from the DNA of the timeless sophistication of the St. Regis brand, Iridium Spa offers a transformative spa journey that bestows the rarest luxury of all: time. With seven treatment rooms and two hammams, the spa offers bespoke treatments tailored to guests’ needs in an idyllic setting. The spa also features an indoor pool and fitness center with the latest Technogym equipment designed by Antonio Citterio.

The St. Regis Istanbul is the perfect venue for special occasions, including exquisite weddings and intimate business gatherings. The hotel has seven meeting rooms, including the prestigious Astor Ballroom, setting an incomparable stage for a truly unforgettable event.

“A Postcard from Istanbul” by John Malkovich

To celebrate the hotel’s debut, St. Regis partnered John Malkovich, who wrote and directed “A Postcard from Istanbul”, an original short film starring Julian Sands and Turkish actress Belçim Bilgin. The cinematic five-minute picture unveils the allure, rich culture and historic charm of Istanbul with sweeping views of the city’s notable sights.

We are thrilled to unveil The St. Regis Istanbul as a modern vision of the St. Regis brand,” said Rui Reis, General Manager, The St. Regis Istanbul. “We look forward to welcoming guests and residents to the hotel, poised to become the best address at a global intersection of art, design, fashion and culture.”

Starwood Hotels & Resorts To Grow Portfolio By More Than 40 New Hotels Across Europe

From the International Hotel Investment Forum (IHIF) in Berlin, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc today announced it is on track to open more than 40 new hotels and resorts across Europe in the next five years, expanding its portfolio by almost 30% with openings in both fast-growing and established markets. Further underlining its long-term growth strategy, Starwood is set to open five new hotels in Turkey this year, including The St. Regis Istanbul which just opened on March 1st.

“2014 was a record year of deal signings for Starwood in Europe with consistent, sustainable high-quality portfolio growth in key European markets and sought-after destinations,” said Simon Turner, President of Global Development for Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. “Our growth momentum continues this year with 14 hotels on track to open across Europe and strong owner interest in our nine lifestyle brands, backed by our loyalty program, the collective strength of our global platform and our highly-experienced, local teams.”

2015 opening highlights include:

• Five new hotels in Turkey, reaffirming Starwood’s commitment to growth in the country, bringing its portfolio to 15 hotels across seven brands by the end of 2015. Among the openings, is the St. Regis brand launch in Turkey with The St. Regis Istanbul introducing unparalleled luxury and style into the dynamic gateway city. Starwood will also introduce the Four Points by Sheraton brand into the country with two Four Points by Sheraton hotels in Batisehir and in Dudullu, two of Istanbul’s most promising districts. The iconic Sheraton brand will open a hotel in Atasehir, on the Asian side of Istanbul and recently entered the emerging coastal city of Samsun.

• Steady growth in Russia with two new Starwood hotels opening in 2015: Sheraton Ufa and a Four Points by Sheraton in Kaluga, marking the entry of the Four Points by Sheraton brand in the country. With six more hotels in the pipeline, Starwood will double its footprint in Russia over the next three years.

• Growth momentum in Germany with the launch of the Aloft brand in Stuttgart and Munich this summer, strengthening Starwood’s position in this key European travel market to nearly 30 hotels.

• The introduction of the W and Element brands to The Netherlands by year-end with W Amsterdam located in the prestigious Dam square, just steps from the city’s vibrant canal district, and Element Amsterdam, south of the city center.

• Three further additions to the Sheraton brand portfolio in Southern Europe: Entering Romania with the opening of Sheraton Bucharest this fall, a conversion that leverages the brand’s first-mover advantage. The brand will also open the Sheraton Lake Como Hotel, a conversion hotel, overlooking the spectacular Lake Como in Italy, and expand its footprint in Croatia with the Sheraton Dubrovnik Riviera Hotel.

2014 record year for hotel signings in Europe, conversion hotels driving expansion

In 2014 Starwood experienced a record year of deal signings in Europe with almost 60% more signed deals than in the previous year, largely driven by conversion deals. Starwood continues to see increased interest from owners looking to maximize the value of their assets quickly, with many conversion opportunities amidst growing demand coming from the UK, Germany, France and Southern Europe.

Recent conversions such as The St. Regis Moscow Nikolskaya and Excelsior Hotel Gallia, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Milan, have fuelled growth in Starwood’s luxury brand segment, highlighting development interest for strong brands with global selling power. Another key conversion this year is Sheraton Berlin Grand Hotel Esplanade, which marks the launch of the iconic Sheraton brand in Germany’s capital, one of the most important European travel destinations for business and leisure.

“We see many conversion opportunities across Europe through both managed and franchised deals,” said Bart Carnahan, Senior Vice President Acquisitions & Development, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Europe, Africa & Middle East. “Our conversion-friendly approach allows us to deliver value to our partners through a flexible, cost-efficient process that yields almost immediate results and gives them access to world-class delivery systems as well as our SPG loyalty program, differentiated marketing, and much more.”

Franchise deals are a fundamental part of Starwood’s development strategy, driving nearly 50% of signed hotel deals in Europe last year. The pace of franchise deal signings is expected to continue through 2020 with developers seeing the added value Starwood’s brands deliver to their real estate strategies, particularly in mature markets such as the UK, Germany and France.

Starwood's mid-market brands build on strong growth momentum

Starwood’s three distinct mid-market brands, Aloft, Four Points by Sheraton and Element, are experiencing unprecedented growth momentum globally. In Europe, the company’s mid-market portfolio is poised to exceed 50% of Starwood’s development pipeline with more than 15 new hotel openings expected across the three brands by the end of 2017.

Aloft will more than double its portfolio in Europe with hotels opening in St. Petersburg and London over the next two years, in addition to two hotels in Germany, opening this summer. Four Points by Sheraton, Starwood’s fastest growing brand will also expand in emerging markets with eight openings planned in Turkey and Russia by 2017. The eco-centric Element brand, introduced to Europe with the opening of Element Frankfurt Airport Hotel last year, will debut in Amsterdam before year-end, and become part of an Aloft and Element dual-hotel development in the historic Tobacco Dock section of East London in 2017.

“The record growth experienced in the last five years in the mid-market segment has set the stage for 2015, where we will see a vigorous expansion in mature and emerging markets” said Michael Wale, President Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Europe, Africa & Middle East. “The increasing demand for conversion and franchise deals from new and existing partners is a strong reflection of Starwood’s powerful network, loyal customer base and commitment to deliver value for owners.”