Starwood expands Le Meridien Hotels portfolio in the U.S.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts is to open Le Meridien Hotels in two key markets in the U.S. - Philadelphia and Cambridge (Boston). The properties will bring the number of Le Meridien hotels in the United States to five, and to 119 worldwide.

Le Meridien Philadelphia is an adaptive reuse project owned by Arch Street Hotel Partners and is being developed by Development Services Group, Inc., which HEI Hotels & Resorts (HEI) will own and operate upon completion in 2009. HEI also will convert the current Hotel @ MIT to Le Meridien Cambridge  (Massachusetts), following its acquisition later this month.

"One of the main goals for Starwood is to expand Le Meridien brand in the North American market, given the brand's strong positioning and opportunities for growth," said Rip Gellein, president, Global Development Group, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. "We're excited to partner with these high-caliber owners as these two new Le Meridien properties signify the growth potential of Le Meridien brand in North America."

Le Meridien Philadelphia: Originally built as a YMCA in 1912 and designed by famed architect Horace Trumbauer, the 10-story Georgian revival-style building will undergo extensive renovation beginning this month. With the completion of the makeover, Le Meridien Philadelphia is scheduled to open in late spring of 2009. In this dynamic city, guests will enjoy a rich menu of cultural and historical treasures.

Le Meridien Philadelphia will be located in the heart of the city's central business district less than a block from the underway Philadelphia Convention Center expansion, which is scheduled for completion in 2010. The hotel is within easy walking distance to Independence Hall and other historic sites, upscale shopping and world-class dining. In addition to its thriving contemporary arts scene, Philadelphia boasts a collection of world-renowned museums, including Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Rodin Museum, as well as high-profile cultural performances at the Kimmel Center for the Arts.

The 202-room hotel will offer five floors of 4-star accommodations, a 90-seat restaurant with a 30-seat bar and lounge at the lobby level, a state-of-the-art business centre, 5,300 square feet of technology-enhanced meeting space, and a grand ballroom, which will be located on the third floor and feature dramatic views of Philadelphia's architecturally striking City Hall, three blocks away. The hotel also will feature a central atrium courtyard on the fifth floor of the historic building, boasting a skylight at the crown of its 75-foot ceiling.

Le Meridien Cambridge is located at 20 Sidney Street, adjacent to the MIT campus in Cambridge, Mass., and within a short walking distance of Harvard Square, Le Meridien Cambridge will occupy a prime spot in University Park at MIT, a premier office and research complex that includes restaurants, entertainment, and retail shops. HEI expects to consummate its acquisition of the Hotel @ MIT later this week and to convert the hotel to Le Meridien Cambridge by the end of the month. The hotel will also undergo a planned renovation in line with Le Meridien standards. The renovation will be done in phases to minimize disruption to guests.

Le Meridien Cambridge will offer 210 spacious rooms and 7,700 square feet of state-of-the-art meeting space plus a spectacular rooftop terrace garden for outdoor functions. Additional facilities include a full-service restaurant and fitness facility.

Le Meridien Cambridge is just blocks from three of the world's most renowned academic institutions, MIT, Harvard University and Boston University, and close to leading attractions in downtown Boston such as Faneuil Hall, Fenway Park and the Museum of Fine Arts. It is close to the corporate offices of many biotechnology and technology corporations, including IBM, Amgen, Biogen and Genzyme and just 20 minutes from Logan International Airport.

See other recent news regarding: Travel News Asia, Hotels, Starwood, Le Meridien