STAMFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE:HOT) and AT&T (NYSE:T) today announced an agreement designating DIRECTV as Starwood’s preferred video and audio provider in the United States, dramatically expanding in-room entertainment options to help Starwood’s always-connected guests to disconnect, making the most of their downtime. By uniting two of the strongest brands in hospitality and entertainment, this agreement provides Starwood’s guests with new access to DIRECTV’s exclusive NFL SUNDAY TICKET, programming for the four major sports leagues and nearly 100 HD channels, greatly enhancing the in-room guest experience by providing more of the comforts of home while on the road.
Beginning today, Sheraton, one of Starwood’s 10 distinctive hotel brands, will immediately begin utilizing the new partnership by upgrading its HDTV experiences and bringing new channels to its U.S. hotels. This commitment to enhance the Sheraton guest experience is part of many initiatives underway to boost Starwood’s largest, most global brand through Sheraton 2020, the all-encompassing plan to make Sheraton the global hotel brand of choice, everywhere. The agreement will also bring new, high-quality experiences to all of Starwood’s brands throughout the U.S., providing unmatched access to one of the world’s most popular TV services.
“Sheraton is taking the lead in dramatically evolving on-property entertainment options to provide guests with an effortless travel experience, allowing them to truly feel as though our hotels are their home away from home,” said Dave Marr, Global Brand Leader, Sheraton Hotels & Resorts. “Now our guests don’t have to miss their favorite shows while staying with us.”
“Our work with Starwood will open up more T.V. channel options for hotels, improving the in-room entertainment experience for guests,” said Eric Boyer, senior vice president, AT&T GigaPower, Commercial and Connected Communities. “We’re providing properties and their guests with the best programming options available in the U.S.”
Starwood properties will have access to DIRECTV’s 2nd generation headend platform and the groundbreaking DIRECTV Residential Experience (DRE). This turns hotel rooms into living rooms with an entertainment experience guests already know and love. Hotel guests at properties providing DRE will benefit from access to nearly 100 HD channels, exclusive sports programing, a user-friendly interactive program guide and select DVR capabilities.
These and other new offerings will be available to current and future guests of Starwood properties subscribing to DIRECTV services through any of DIRECTV’s authorized hospitality dealers.
About Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with more than 1,200 properties in some 100 countries and over 180,000 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®, Element® and the recently introduced Tribute Portfolio™. 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 recently announced plans to spin off its Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc. business, a premier provider of world-class vacation experiences through villa-style resorts and privileged access to Starwood brands, into a standalone public company by the end of 2015. For more information, please visit www.starwoodhotels.com.
About AT&T
AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) helps millions around the globe connect with leading entertainment, mobile, high speed Internet and voice services. We’re the world’s largest provider of pay TV. We have TV customers in the U.S. and 11 Latin American countries. In the U.S., our wireless network has the nation’s strongest 4G LTE signal and most reliable 4G LTE. We offer the best global coverage of any U.S. wireless provider*. And we help businesses worldwide serve their customers better with our mobility and highly secure cloud solutions.
Additional information about AT&T products and services is available at http://about.att.com. Follow our news on Twitter at @ATT, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/att and YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/att.
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Signal strength and reliability claims based on nationwide carriers’ 4G LTE. Signal strength claim based ONLY on avg. 4G LTE signal strength. 4G LTE not available everywhere.
*Global coverage claim based on offering discounted voice and data roaming; LTE roaming; voice roaming; and world-capable smartphone and tablets in more countries than any other U.S. based carrier. International service required. Coverage not available in all areas. Coverage may vary per country and be limited/restricted in some countries.
