Starwood’s new lifestyle brand, aloft hotels, is partnering with TCC Land Leisure Ltd. a wholly owned subsidiary of TCC Land, to open an aloft hotel in Bangkok. The aloft Bangkok-Silom will be the first among ten hotel projects, both domestic and overseas that TCC Land Leisure and Starwood mapped out following an MoU signed last month.

The 130-room aloft Bangkok-Silom, scheduled to open in early 2009, will be located off Silom Road, one of the main thoroughfares in the central business district of Bangkok, surrounded by corporate headquarters and department stores. The hotel will also provide travelers easy access to the commercial and entertainment districts of Bangkok with its close proximity to the Bangkok Skytrain station.

“aloft has the distinction of being the most successful global hotel brand launch in the industry, with over 50 contracts signed in the first year of its introduction,” said Miguel Ko, President of Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Asia Pacific. “We have worked closely with key developers and guests across Asia Pacific to create an efficient product that guests will love. Bangkok’s wealth of cultural, landscape and entertainment options consistently make it a very attractive travel destination. We are thrilled to be introducing another aloft hotel in Bangkok.”

As a vision of W Hotels, the aloft brand was formally launched in Asia Pacific at the Hotel Investment Conference (HICAP) in Hong Kong in late 2006. aloft offers a total sensory experience, with guest lofts featuring loft-like nine-foot ceilings and oversized windows to create a bright, airy environment. The centerpiece of the loft room is the ultra-comfortable signature bed, and large stylish bathrooms complement the guest experience with oversized walk-in showers and amenities created by bliss spa. Each guest loft is also a combination high-tech office and entertainment center, featuring wireless internet access and plug & play, a one-stop connectivity solution for multiple electronic gadgetry such as PDAs, cell phones, mp3 players and laptops - all linked to a large flat panel HDTV ready television for optimal sound and viewing.

Designed in conjunction with world renowned David Rockwell and the Rockwell Group, aloft Bankok-Silom will stay true to the W Hotel brand’s heritage, offering atmospheric public spaces designed to draw guests from their rooms to socialize and make friends. Guests can read the paper, work on their laptops via hotel-wide wireless internet access, play a game of pool or grab a drink with friends at the re:mix communal lobby area and bar w xyz. The re:charge fitness center and splash, the indoor or outdoor pool, give travelers options to de-stress and re-energize; while re:fuel by aloft, a one-stop food and beverage area, offers sweet, savory and healthy food, snacks and beverages to grab & go, 24-hours a day.

The first aloft hotels are targeted to open in 2008
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