Westin Hotels Continues To Lead Healthy Hotel Revolution

Westin Move Well Advocate - Holly Perkin

Westin Hotels & Resorts, part of Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT), has revealed the next phase of its year-long Westin Well-being Movement with the announcement of Westin Wellness Escapes, an ongoing well-being series led by experts in the fields of mindfulness meditation, nutrition, yoga, running and more. Taking place at Westin properties around the globe, the series will first launch inNorth America before rolling out internationally. Established health and fitness personalityHolly Perkins will kick off the series by hosting the Women's Strength Nation™ LIVE retreat this April, following her appointment to Westin's Well-Being Council as the brand'sMove Well Advocate.

Westin Wellness Escapes are designed to inspire empowerment and help attendees pursue their well-being through interactive workshops, including fitness classes, healthy cooking courses, panel discussions, seminars and robust itineraries of wellness activities. The inaugural retreat, held at The Westin San Diego Gaslamp Quarter Hotel,April 10-12, will consist of a weekend-long curriculum of tutorials, exercises and activities designed to help participants' cultivate their inner strength.
As a leading voice in fitness and the founder of Women's Strength Nation, a resource dedicated to educating women on the value of strength training, Holly will offer guests the inspiration and tools needed to lead a healthy lifestyle. Westin will also partner with other wellness leaders to curate subsequent retreats in 2015.

"The Westin Wellness Escapes series is designed to motivate and educate those seeking to achieve or sustain a healthy lifestyle while still exploring the world," saidBrian Povinelli, Global Brand Leader for Westin. "Similar to Westin's collaboration with New Balance, Holly's involvement in the program reinforces theMove Well philosophy and lets us further cater to the diverse needs of our guests."

Westin Picks Up the Pace with First-of-Its-Kind Series

Travelers are increasingly seeking quick and effective wellness breaks instead of extended holidays for mind and body reboots, choosing more accessible options that offer a brief change of scenery, relaxation and wellness activities. Leading research groups, such as Global Wellness Tourism Economy Report, predict that wellness tourism will grow by more than 9% per year through 2017, nearly 50% faster than overall global tourism.

Westin is capitalizing on this growing trend with Wellness Escapes to offer concise, thoughtfully organized itineraries for discerning, wellness-minded travelers. The series is inspired by the brand's six pillars of well-being: Feel Well, Work Well, Move Well, Eat Well, Sleep Well and Play Well. Themes will vary across all events; with each workshop focused on well-being and the Westin brand philosophy, "For a Better You."

The Westin Wellness Escapes slated in the brand's pipeline thus far is as follows:

* Women's Strength Nation LIVE with Fitness Expert Holly Perkins at The Westin San Diego Gaslamp Quarter --April 10-12, 2015 The weekend-long strength training retreat for women will enable attendees to achieve next level fitness through a multitude of educational sessions. Participants will learn techniques and methods derived from Holly's Women's Strength Nation platform to discover personal strength through the development of outer strength.

* Triathlon Recovery Retreat with runWESTIN Concierge Chris Heuisler at The Westin Jekyll Island --May 16-17, 2015In celebration of its grand opening and as part of its Jekyll Island Turtle Crawl Triathlon sponsorship, The Westin Jekyll Island will offer a 24-hour triathlon recovery retreat, hosted by runWESTIN Concierge,Chris Heuisler. Activities will kick off right away at the finish line of the race with a private tent for hotel guests, and continue both on and off-property until Sunday at check-out. Westin racers whobook a stay at the hotel on Saturday, May 16 will enjoy a number of carefully selected amenities targeted at the importance of proper recovery following a race, as well as an expertly crafted schedule of recovery activities and educational talks. Additional Wesitn Wellness Escapes will be announced throughout the year. To join the Westin Wellness Escapes conversation, users are invited to use #westinwellbeing on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Holly's Fitness Fundamentals Bring to Life Westin's Mantra "For a Better You"With 20 years of experience in the health industry, Holly is a leading voice in women's fitness and the ideal candidate to support the brand'sMove Well pillar and host the inaugural Westin Wellness Escapes retreat with her Women's Strength Nation programming. Also, as part of the collaboration, Holly has produced four strength training videos with exclusive and engaging content focusing on tips and tricks for staying fit while traveling.

Developed as 5-minute video segments, the films provide a comprehensive, equipment free, 20-minute workout which can easily be done in a guest room or at home. The video content is accessible via on-demand for free at 80+ hotels across the country in addition to being available on Westin's YouTube channels andwestin.com now.

As a certified strength and conditioning specialist, Holly's success is derived from her philosophy that science should be the foundation of fitness. In 2014, Holly created the Women's Strength Nation community to educate, inspire and lead women towards a new definition of inner strength. The platform serves as a resource for women seeking to enhance their strength in, and out of, the gym.

The Westin Well-being Council is a diverse advisory board composed of renowned thought leaders, each of whom aligns with a specific wellness brand pillar. Perkins joins Council membersAshley Koff, internationally-renowned dietician,Andy Puddicombe, Headspace Co-Founder and mediation expert, and media mogulArianna Huffington in guiding and inspiring new initiatives, leveraging proprietary research to inform and introduce new programs throughout the year.

"It is exciting to join the Westin Well Being Council and help you stay fit even when you travel," saidHolly Perkins. "An active life is key to ensuring optimal health, wellbeing and vitality. In order to thrive, the human body needs to run, jump, dance and play every day. My mission in life is to provide inspiration and tools for you to create a fitness plan that works for your lifestyle and helps you achieve your personal best."

About The Westin Well-being Movement With a brand positioning rooted in wellness for more than a decade, Westin Hotels & Resorts is dedicated to ensuring that guests leave feeling better than when they arrived. Earlier this year the brand launched The Westin Well-Being Movement -- a year-long global initiative designed to enhance the well-being of guests and associates with the introduction of a string of innovative partnerships and programs across the brand's six pillars of well-being: Feel Well, Work Well, Move Well, Eat Well, Sleep Well and Play Well. Building upon its existing healthy SuperFoodsRx™ menus, Westin recently introduced new delicious and nutrient-rich offerings includingWestin Fresh by The Juicery, featuring energizing juices and smoothies, and kid-tested nourishing dishes developed in partnership with SuperChefs on the Westin Eat Well Menu for Kids (Eat Well). The brand also recently announced a partnership with the mindful meditation app, Headspace (Feel Well), in which guests have exclusive access to customized content through the Westin website, designed to spread healthy benefits including decreasing stress, improving mood and increasing creativity.

The inspiration for Westin's wellness strategy, the iconic Heavenly® Bed (Sleep Well) is beloved by guests and lauded as one of hospitality's great innovations. WestinWORKOUT®, RunWESTIN™ and Westin Gear Lending with New Balance® (Move Well) together pack a formidable punch, offering guests a holistic fitness solution. The brand's nature-inspired design, signature sensory welcome, Heavenly Bath and Heavenly Spa (Feel Well) offer a relaxing respite from the rigors of travel. Tangent (Work Well), an innovative workspace concept for small groups modeled to support today's mobile traveler, is receiving rave reviews and high usage from guests in locations where available. Westin Weekend (Play Well) signature experiences are designed to let guests escape, discover and relax and the brand's digital destination guide, Westin Finds from AFAR, provides guests with uniquely curated travel experiences.

The Alcatraz Cruises Website Offers Guaranteed Lowest Prices For Alcatraz Tickets For Your Next Visit To San Francisco

For those that want to visit San Francisco’s notorious Alcatraz Island, planning ahead is a must. As the official website for Alcatraz Tours, www.AlcatrazCruises.com provides the guaranteed lowest price for Alcatraz tickets, which are only $30 per (adult) person. Tickets are now available for purchase up to 90 days in advance.  (Note: While other entities do indeed sell tickets for Alcatraz Tours, there are many unauthorized resellers that offer tickets at inflated prices and Alcatraz Cruises cannot be responsible for tickets bought from other sources)

In addition to the opportunity to book tickets up to 90 days in advance of the desired tour date, visitors to Alcatraz will enjoy the added benefit of complimentary access to the iconic exhibit @Large: Ai Weiwei on Alcatraz with the purchase of a regularly priced ticket through the exhibits’ duration of April 26, 2015. 

@Large: Ai Weiwei

The @Large: Ai Weiwei exhibit responds to the island of Alcatraz and its layered history as a place of detainment and protest. The exhibition features new sculpture, sound and multimedia works exploring pressing themes that have characterized Ai Weiwei’s art and activism—the right to free expression, the irrepressible nature of creativity, and the role of art, artists and individuals worldwide in shaping social change. The installations address these concepts in ways that are both personal to the artist’s experiences and life in China and resonant with individuals and communities internationally. Responding to the potent history of Alcatraz Island, the exhibition examines incarceration as a tool of repressive governments, and creative expression as an act of defiance and individual freedom. Artworks are installed in four sites throughout Alcatraz Island.

One of the most prominent artists of the 21st century, Ai Weiwei is an architect, sculptor, photographer, filmmaker, curator, writer and activist whose work often responds to conditions in China, including the government’s repression of free speech and expression.

How to Get to Alcatraz/Summer Season Schedule

Passengers may purchase and print tickets online at www.alcatrazcruises.com.  Tickets can also be purchased by calling 415-981-ROCK (7625) or from the ticket booth at Pier 33 Alcatraz Landing. Advance reservations are strongly recommended.

Spring & Summer 2015 Tour Schedule

(Available from March 9 – November 1, 2015)

Departure Times

Early Bird

8:45 AM

Day Tours

9:10 AM

9:30 AM

10:00 AM

10:30 AM

11:00 AM

11:30 AM

Noon

12:30 PM

1:00 PM

1:30 PM

2:10 PM

2:40 PM

3:20 PM

3:50 PM**

Night Tours

5:25 PM*

5:55 PM

6:30 PM

*through April 26, 2015 only

http://www.alcatrazcruises.com/website/price-schedule-chart.aspx

Ticket Prices

                                    Adult               Junior             Child               Senior             Family**

                                    18+                  12-17               5-11                 62+                  2A & 2C

Day Tour                  $30.00            30.00              18.25              28.25              $90.25

Night Tour                $37.00            36.00              21.75              34.25              N/A

** Family Pack consists of 2 Adults and 2 Children.  Please call 415 981-ROCK (7625) to book the Family Pack as it is not available for purchase on-line.  Prices and schedules subject to change without notice.

History of Alcatraz

“Despite what they tell you, I think they feel a little nostalgic. I think they’re going to miss this place.” – Alcatraz Warden Fred T. Williamson when the last inmates were shipped out in 1963

Few islands in the world can boast such a glorious natural setting – and grim human past – as Alcatraz. Visited by Native Americans as early as 10,000 years ago, the barren island remained uninhabited until Europeans arrived. Spanish and Mexican settlers in the early 1800’s called the guano covered island “Isla de los Alcatraces” – Island of Pelicans.

Not long after the island was acquired from Mexico in 1848, the U.S. Army built what would become the largest defense fort west of the Mississippi River during the Civil War (1861-1865). Alcatraz also became a beacon for ships entering the treacherous waters of the Golden Gate after its lighthouse, the first on the West Coast, went into service in 1854,

Alcatraz began its long era as a dreaded place of confinement when soldier-convicts were first imprisoned at the fort in 1860. Over the next decades, the island became less of a defense fort and more of a military prison, with Army convicts building most of the structures still standing on Alcatraz today.

Alcatraz was reborn as a civilian Federal Penitentiary in 1934, becoming known in the press as “The Rock” and “America’s Devil’s Island.” Wardens at Atlanta, Leavenworth and other federal prisons selected their most unruly convicts to transfer there, among them Al Capone and “Machine Gun” Kelley. No less tough and carefully selected were the guards, one for every three prisoners, who were trained to use their wits as well as their muscle when trouble broke out.

Alcatraz was the most escape-proof prison in the nation. Even if a convict could get past the remote-control locks, control tower and barbed wire, he had struggle against swirling tides and icy waters to reach shore. Yet, escape was uppermost on the minds of many inmates.  “Alcatraz is becoming a prison of madmen and men half mad,” Al “The Bug” Loomis, a bank robber once incarcerated there, wrote in 1938. “The sustaining hope is escape.”

Over the years, escapees fashioned crude water wings and wooden flippers and attempted the swim, but either drowned or were caught while swimming. In 1962, convict John Paul Scott became the first and only penitentiary escapee to reach the San Francisco shore. He was discovered unconscious on the rocks of Fort Point, purple and shivering with just his socks on. Too weak to continue, he ended up back where he started.

In that same year, Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy announced the phase-out of the prison. Alcatraz was turned over to the General Services administration as surplus property and most of the inmates were transferred to a new facility in Marion, Ill. Over the next few years, hundreds of proposals were submitted for new uses for the island, including a West Coast version of the Statue of Liberty, a casino resort and space museum.

In 1969, a group of 300 Native Americans began a 19-month occupation of Alcatraz, claiming rights to the island under an old Sioux Treaty that gives Native Americans the right to unused federal lands. While the occupation put a media spotlight on Native American issues, the numbers of activists gradually dwindled and Federal marshals removed the last few from the island in June 1971. Each November Native Americans of many tribes return to Alcatraz to hold a sunrise ceremony commemorating the Occupation.

In 1972, Alcatraz became part of the newly designated Golden Gate Recreation Area, a unit of the National Park Service. Tours of Alcatraz began the next year, now drawing some 1.5 million visitors a year to a place so many men had once dreamed of never seeing again.

Alcatraz Cruises is the National Park Service concessionaire of ferry service to Alcatraz Island in San Francisco Bay.  Alcatraz Cruises hosts nearly 1.5 million visitors annually.  Alcatraz Cruises designed, built and operates the first hybrid ferry in the United States.  The Hornblower Hybrid’s revolutionary design has reduced fuel consumption by 75% and has already begun to be implemented in other parts of the country.  For more information visit: www.alcatrazcruises.com/pressroom.

Travelore News: Hilton Will Give More Guests Free Wi-Fi

Yes, even at the Hilton Moorea Lagoon Resort and Spa.

More members of the HHonors loyalty program will get free internet access.

In August, Hilton will start offering free Wi-Fi to loyalty program members who book directly with the company rather than through online travel agencies. While some frequent guests already got free access, this move expands availability. Many other major hotel brands have already announced that loyalty program members would get free access to the internet. Some hotels, it should be mentioned, have gone so far as to give all guests free Wi-Fi all the time. (Boarding Area)

Contributed by Paul Brady, www.cntraveler.com

Follow us on Twitter: @TraveloreReport

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.”

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Luxurious New Banana Island Resort Near Doha

Qatar-based UrbaCon Trading & Contracting, headed by Mohamed Moataz Al-Khayyat, CEO, recently completed construction of the luxurious new Banana Island Resort just off the coast of Doha.

The island resort, which opened with a grand ceremony earlier this year, offers an array of accommodations, all with an ocean view, includes a 96-room hotel, 34 two and three-bedroom poolside villas and 11 Maldives-style villas built above the water on stilts.

The resort offers traditional Qatari hospitality and extensive facilities for families and romantic getaways that include a 800-meter long private beach, a marina with 30 berths, a dive center, a lap pool, a children's pool, a full range of water sports, tennis, beach volleyball, a Balance Wellness Center, an entertainment center with a nine-hole putting golf course, a bowling alley and a VIP cinema theater. Eight dining options offer a choice of Middle Eastern, Italian and international cuisines. The crescent-shaped island is only a 20-minute ferry ride from Doha or a 10-minute helicopter ride from the Doha airport.

The Banana Island resort is one of more than 120 hotels and service apartment blocks under construction in Qatar. The upcoming FIFA World Cup in Qatar in 2022 is playing a major role in this growth and development, as well as Qatar's commitment to become a regional tourism destination.

UrbaCon Trading & Contracting has been involved in several huge projects over the last few years and has become one of the most respected building contractors in Qatar. In addition to the Banana Resort, included among its projects are the Mall of Qatar, the Sheraton Doha Hotel and Convention Center, and the Lekhwiya Stadium at Al Duhail.

UrbaCon is one of 17 companies owned by Mr. Al-Khayyat. The companies include general contracting, commercial and residential developments, building materials, various trading companies, hospitals and restaurants with operations in Syria, Morocco and Qatar. After the start of the Syrian revolution in 2011, Mr. Al-Khayyat joined the Syrian opposition and because of that decision, the regime confiscated all his assets in Syria as well as his family's assets. Mr. Al-Khayyat now operates his enterprises from Qatar. He is committed to fostering and supporting humanitarian efforts in the Near East.