Westin Hotels Curates Wellness Store for Amazon.com - Becomes the First Hotel Brand to Launch Online Storefront for Retail Giant

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., Feb. 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Today, Westin Hotels & Resorts announced the launch of the first hotel branded storefront for Amazon.com.  Known for its history of innovation and dedication to preserving wellness on the road, Westin Hotels has curated a collection of wellness focused products including merchandise from like-minded brands such as Gaiam, Kate's Paperie, Tea Forte and Riedel. The digital storefront will also retail signature Westin products including the iconic 10-layer Heavenly Bed®, Heavenly Bath amenity collection and signature line of White Tea scented candles and diffusers.  The launch of the Westin Wellness storefront also represents the latest extension of the Westin brand's retail experience.  Westin jump-started the hotel-retail phenomenon in 2000 following tremendous guest feedback to the launch of the now-iconic Heavenly Bed.  To date, nearly 40,000 Heavenly Beds, 100,000 pillows, more than 32,000 sheets, and more than 10,000 signature Heavenly spa amenities have been sold.

To view the multimedia assets associated with this release, please click: http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/westin/42238/

(Photo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100222/MM57841)

To celebrate the launch of this industry first, Westin guests who stay twice mid-week from February 22nd through May 13th, 2010 will receive a $100 Amazon.com gift card. To be eligible, guests must register at westin.com/balance prior to booking.  

With the start of a new decade, Westin Hotels is renewing its dedication to helping consumers ease the wear-and-tear of traveling and everyday life by offering a digital retail experience geared towards restoring balance and living well. The online retail store, www.amazon.com/westin will combine the brand's premium aesthetic with Amazon.com's infrastructure and e-commerce engine.

The online wellness retail hub offers a range of handpicked merchandise including must-have lifestyle products, fitness gear, healthy snacks, home décor, wellness books and workout DVDs. As the most popular retail online destination in the United States, Westin will tap into Amazon.com's 90 million customers and 200 million monthly visitors.

"We are excited to partner with America's largest online retailer and help our guests continue to live well beyond the in-hotel experience," said Brian Povinelli, Vice President Brand Management, North America, for Westin Hotels & Resorts.  "This collaboration was designed to drive Westin's mid-week business while extending the brand's balanced living platform. It gives today's digitally connected business traveler a personal reward of $100 toward healthy lifestyle solutions for use at home and on the road."

This partnership joins a host of initiatives aimed at wellness recently introduced by Westin Hotels & Resorts. In late 2009, the brand launched a sleep study and sleep hotline with National Sleep Foundation aimed at helping travelers troubleshoot common sleep problems. In the fall of 2007, Westin partnered with SuperFoods Partners LLC to become the first hotel brand to create a SuperFoods-focused menu. In 2006, the brand introduced Breathe Westin and became the first in the industry to go smoke-free and offer guests a healthy, 100% smoke-free hotel experience.

About Westin Hotels & Resorts

Westin Hotels & Resorts, with 169 hotels and resorts in more than 31 countries and territories, is owned by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT).  Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with 992 properties in nearly 100 countries and 145,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. Starwood Hotels 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 Meridien®, Sheraton®, Four Points® by Sheraton, and the recently launched Aloft®, and Element(SM).  Starwood Hotels also owns Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., one of the premier developers and operators of high quality vacation interval ownership resorts. For more information, please visit www.starwoodhotels.com.

SOURCE Starwood Hotels & Resorts