STAMFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.® (NYSE:HOT) today announced that its sizzling Aloft brand is ramping up portfolio growth in California with a new hotel planned for Rancho Bernardo, an upscale community in San Diego North. Owned by HP Investors, LLC and managed by Azul Hospitality Group, Aloft Rancho Bernardo will be the sixth property in California when it opens in mid-2016. The new-build Aloft will feature over 140 spacious, loft-like rooms, state-of-the-art meeting space and a buzzing, social atmosphere.
“Aloft Rancho Bernardo will be a great match for this bustling, high-tech hub and likely emerge as a leading choice among savvy travelers and young professionals with its distinctive design aesthetic and lively social scene,” said Brian McGuinness, Senior Vice President, Specialty Select Brands for Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. “Aloft expects to reach the 100th hotel milestone within the next year, fueled by its loyal following among next gen travelers worldwide.”
A short ride from downtown San Diego and the San Diego International Airport (SAN), the new Aloft will be situated at the entrance of the Rancho Bernardo corporate park, home to the regional offices for Sony, Hewlett-Packard, BAE Systems, Northrup Grumman, Teradata, Cymer, Millennium Laboratories, and many other companies. Guests will be close to several golf courses, the Bernardo Winery, San Diego Zoo Safari Park, shopping areas and outdoor recreation. Aloft Rancho Bernardo will offer more than 3,000 square feet of market-leading meeting space, a rooftop “Splash” pool, fitness center and underground parking.
“Aloft Rancho Bernardo will energize the mid-market category in this fast-growing area,” said Allison Reid, Senior Vice President of America Development for Starwood. “Aloft offers an experience that is different by design and is proliferating in markets across North America, driven by its popularity among youthful-minded travelers.”
Aloft’s innovative and exclusive initiatives set it apart – from technology-forward Smart Check-In, the only mobile check in that allows guests to completely bypass the front desk, to its design-led focus, including a recent exclusive partnership with Design Within Reach (DWR), and the Live at Aloft Hotels music programming in the W XYZ™ bar - Aloft delivers an authentic and vibrant guest experience.
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 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 nearly 1,200 properties in 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 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.
About HP Investors, LLC
HP Investors is a San Diego based owner and investor of commercial real estate assets in major urban markets. The firm invests in multiple asset classes with a focus on Urban Retail and Hospitality assets. HP Investors was founded in 2009 and currently manages over 500,000 square feet of retail assets in San Diego, Los Angeles, New York and other urban markets. Aloft San Diego will be the firm’s second hotel in San Diego. The firm is a managing partner and co-owner of the Sofia Hotel in Downtown San Diego. For more information, please visit www.hpinvestors.com.
About Azul Hospitality Group
Azul Hospitality Group, a Preferred Management Company for the Aloft brand, has a robust infrastructure of industry professionals with extensive experience in all aspects of hotel management and development services. The company’s primary focus is on upscale hotels and resorts, with unique destination and product attributes. Other recent projects with Starwood Hotels and Resorts include the Aloft Cupertino in Cupertino, California, the Le Meridien Indianapolis in Indianapolis, Indiana, the Sheraton Carlsbad Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, California, and the Sheraton Redding at Sundial Bridge in Redding, California.