Starwood Vacation Ownership has broken ground on its newest Hawaii resort, The Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas. Located in Kauai, the oceanfront property comprises 18.5 acres dramatically perched 200 feet above Hawaii’s famous Anini Beach and bordered by both of Princeville’s championship golf courses, The Prince and The Makai. The mixed-use resort includes a two-story clubhouse and seven two- and three-story guest buildings with 179 timeshare villas and six hotel units. The first units are scheduled to open in June 2007. “Starwood Vacation Ownership has a long and positive history in Hawaii, and we continue to build a strong relationship with our neighbors in Hawaii. This follows in the Starwood tradition dating back to the early 1960s, when our corporate parent came here as the first major hospitality brand on the Hawaiian Islands” said Raymond L. “Rip” Gellein, Jr., Chief Executive Officer of Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc. “The Princeville community is one of the most storied and respected in all of Hawaii, and we are excited to be a part of its future with the first Westin-branded timeshare in Kauai.”

Reverend Kahu Nani Hill presided over a traditional ground blessing ceremony held prior to breaking ground on the new resort. An oli chant and kahiko performance were presented by Halau Ka Lei Mokihana. Also participating in the ceremonies were Kelly Hoen, general manager of the Starwood-managed Princeville Hotel, and Keith Vieira, senior vice president and director of operations, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. On behalf of SVO, Serge Rivera, president and managing director of real estate development, presented a check to the Kauai Taro Growers Association in commemoration of the blessing of this exciting new project.

“We’re very pleased to have Starwood Vacation Ownership become a member of the Kauai community. The project will bring valuable jobs and revenue to the island along with enhancing our tourist industry,” said Mayor Bryan J. Baptiste. “We want to congratulate Starwood on an outstanding project design and look forward to the opening of the Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas.”

The classic Hawaiian plantation style of the resort will complement the surrounding Princeville community. The resort features spacious two-bedroom lock-off villas designed to capture the modern luxury and style in keeping with the Westin name. The resort is designed to take advantage of the impressive views of the Pacific Ocean.

Guests and owners of The Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas may avail themselves of the services and amenities available at the Princeville Resort including championship golf, horseback riding and the spa. “We continue to raise the bar by offering a world-class product and first-class service in some of the world’s most sought after destinations. The Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas will set a new standard of excellence,” said Gellein.
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