Starwood and the City of Phoenix have announced the start of construction on the new 1,000-room hotel in downtown Phoenix. Located one block from the new convention center, the Sheraton Phoenix Downtown Hotel will provide more than 80,000 square feet of flexible meeting space, making it a perfect venue for groups. The Sheraton will stand 360 feet high with 31 floors and will provide street vibrancy and connectivity with its ample views into the hotel’s restaurants, lobby, and ballrooms. The publicly financed hotel is scheduled to open in late 2008 and will be managed as a Sheraton, Starwood’s most global hotel brand. The $350 million dollar project is considered vital to the $600 million dollar expansion project of the Phoenix Convention Center.

“This new hotel is a perfect addition to Sheraton’s impressive global portfolio of large convention and meetings hotels,” said Joe Gelchion, senior vice president of Sheraton Hotels & Resorts Worldwide. “We are eager to offer a warm Sheraton welcome to those traveling to the great city of Phoenix and also look forward to complementing Starwood’s strong presence of destination resorts in the state of Arizona.”

“We are defining the future of Phoenix for decades and generations to come,” said Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon. “Breaking ground on this new Sheraton, tripling the size of our convention center, implementing a light rail system, bringing 15,000 college students into the heart of Phoenix and everything else we’re doing is turning heads in both hemispheres. I always say that Phoenix is on the rise. Today, so is our downtown Sheraton.”

The exterior colors of the hotel will include red and gold hues signifying the connection to the desert landscape as well as beautifully sculpted shading louvers on the south face of the building. Guest rooms will be furnished in Sheraton’s own chic “Riverside” design featuring a color palette of warm, rich creamy tones and textures, subdued Damask patterns mixed with faded floralsand highly polished honey-colored woods. All guest rooms will feature Sheraton’s signature Sweet Sleeper Bed, an expansive 14-square-foot work area; wireless Internet and 32-inch LCD TV’s. Other guest services will include the Sheraton Club Level with upgraded room amenities and an exclusive Club Lounge.

The hotel will boast a 15,000-square-foot ballroom, and a nearly 30,000-square-foot senior ballroom. Also included will be an additional 28 meeting rooms for a total of 80,000 square feet of meeting space.
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