STAMFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.® (NYSE:HOT) today announced it will introduce its fast growing Aloft brand to Durham, North Carolina. Aloft Durham Downtown will break ground later this year with an opening scheduled for May 2015 in the revitalized American Tobacco Historic District, which celebrates its 10th anniversary next year. Owned by Davidson & Jones, the newly constructed Aloft hotel will cater to the next generation of travelers with 134 spacious, loft-like rooms, techforward innovation and a buzzing, social atmosphere in a prime downtown location between the Durham Performing Arts Center (DPAC) and the Durham Bulls Athletic Park.
“The leading-edge design and social vibe offered by our Aloft brand is a terrific match for the revitalized American Tobacco Historic District, an exciting mixed-use complex that has helped accelerate the redevelopment of downtown Durham,” said Brian McGuinness, Senior Vice President, Specialty Select Brands for Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. “Aloft just reached its 75th hotel milestone, driven by robust demand in dynamic markets across the globe.”
Aloft Durham Downtown will be ideally located at the intersection of Blackwell and Vivian Streets, offering direct access to Durham Bulls’ baseball games and top theater performances at DPAC. The new Aloft will be a key component of the American Tobacco Historic District, which launched a massive redevelopment and restoration project in 2004 to transform the iconic American Tobacco Company’s campus into a unique mixed-use development complex with local and national corporations, restaurants and event venues. The hotel will also be convenient to the Durham Convention Center, Duke University and Medical Center and Research Triangle Park – one of the nation’s most prestigious high-tech and biotech hubs. Just five miles from the Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU), Aloft Durham Downtown will offer amenities including an outdoor Splash pool, W XYZsm bar, Re:charge 24-hour gym, private parking and approximately 2,230 square feet of flexible meeting space for both business meetings and social gatherings.
“Since the rebirth of the American Tobacco Campus almost ten years ago, we have envisioned a complete experience with a full array of services and attractions,” said Michael Goodmon, Vice President of Real Estate for Capitol Broadcasting Company, which owns American Tobacco. “While the vision to develop a one-of-a-kind destination has always been there, we’ve spent countless hours looking for the right plans and partners. By partnering with globally acclaimed Starwood Hotels & Resorts and respected regional powerhouse Davidson & Jones, we’re ready to create an environment worthy of dynamic Durham and the Triangle.”
“We are proud to expand our partnership with Davidson & Jones to debut our popular Aloft brand in Durham, where the American Tobacco Historic District has emerged as a national model for the redevelopment of a bustling urban center,” said Allison Reid, Senior Vice President of North American Development for Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. “Aloft Durham Downtown will help meet the pent-up demand for high-caliber lodging generated by the Durham Performing Arts Center, Durham baseball and numerous nearby music festivals.”
“With the Durham Bulls so close to the Aloft, this deal is a home run. As a businessman, it’s a privilege to be part of a team that consists entirely of world-class players. Every aspect of what’s coming has been carefully planned to make this community proud -- and that makes it a winner,” said Russ Jones, President of Davidson & Jones.
Pioneering initiatives in music, design and technology have positioned Aloft as a must-have brand for the next generation of travelers. Aloft has reported consistently high guest satisfaction scores since launch, reflecting the success of its modern and vibrant design at an affordable price point.
About Aloft Hotels
With more than 75 hotels in 14 countries around the world, Starwood’s Aloft brand delivers a fresh approach to the traditional staid hotel landscape. For the “always on” next generation of traveler, the Aloft brand offers a tech-forward, vibrant experience and a modern style that is different by design. For more information, please visit www.alofthotels.com. Aloft, like all brands within Starwood's portfolio, is proud to offer the Starwood Preferred “Guest(R) program”, the industry’s richest loyalty program. To learn more, please visit www.spg.com.
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 Méridien®, Sheraton®, Four Points® by Sheraton, Aloft®, and Element®. The Company boasts one of the industry’s leading loyalty programs, Starwood Preferred Guest(R) (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.
American Tobacco offers one million square feet of premium office space in a historic factory setting bustling with restaurants and businesses as well as the Durham Performing Arts Center and Durham Bulls Athletic Park. Featured in US News & World Report as the national model for urban revitalization, the campus serves as a bridge from Durham’s past as one of the Tobacco capitals of the world to its present and future as a knowledge, science and medical capital. ATC owner Capitol Broadcasting Company, Inc. is a diversified communications company which owns and/or operates WRAL-TV, WRAL Digital, WRAZ-TV, WRAZ Digital, WRAL-FM, WRAL-HD2, WCMC-FM, WCMC-HD1, WDNC-AM, WCMC-HD2, WCMC-HD3, WCLY-AM, WCMC-HD4, Microspace, CBC New Media Group and Wolfpack Sports Properties (a joint venture with Learfield Sports) in Raleigh, NC; WILM-TV and Sunrise Broadcasting in Wilmington, NC and The Durham Bulls Baseball Club in Durham, NC.
About Davidson & Jones
For more than 75 years, Davidson and Jones has been a trusted partner to its investors, customers and community. The company has built and managed more than 7,000 hotel rooms, currently manages Sheraton Imperial in RTP and Marriott Courtyard at Triangle Town Center and will manage the Aloft at American Tobacco upon its completion in 2015. Davidson and Jones' current real estate investment portfolio totals more than 730,000 square feet of lease space and more than 1,000 acres of land to be developed. The company also manages the Seby B. Jones Family Foundation which has contributed more than $14,000,000 to the Triangle community.