Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. announced the opening of Sheraton Silver Spring Hotel, just north of downtown Washington, D.C.  The hotel is ideally located at the heart of the bustling business and entertainment district in Silver Spring, Maryland. Owned by Integrated Capital, the former Crowne Plaza has undergone an extensive renovation and conversion project in excess of $5 million to bring up to Sheraton standards.

“We look forward to opening our first hotel in Silver Spring, Maryland, and invite travelers to come experience the new look and feel of Sheraton in an unbeatable location, just outside the nation’s capital,” said Hoyt Harper, Global Brand Leader, Sheraton Hotels & Resorts. “The Sheraton Silver Spring Hotel will feature all the latest signature Sheraton brand offerings, designed to create community and help guests make connections.”

“The heart of the all-new lobby is the Link@Sheraton® experienced with Microsoft®– a social hub where connections, whether face-to-face or webcam-to-webcam take place,” said Daniel Kurz, partner of Integrated Capital.

All 229 refurbished guest rooms feature an oversized work desk, an ergonomic chair, high-speed Internet, LCD flat panel television, and the all-white Sheraton Sweet Sleeper® bed, designed to meet AAA’s Five Diamond Award® criteria. The property also features a brand-new Club floor lounge.

Sheraton Silver Spring Hotel offers nearly 16,000 square feet of flexible meeting space with all the latest in meetings technology. Additional amenities include a full-service restaurant and lounge, outdoor pool, and fully equipped fitness facility featuring the brand’s revolutionary new health and fitness program, Sheraton Fitness programmed by Core Performance™, designed exclusively for Sheraton guests through its partner Core Performance. By year-end 2012, the hotel will feature a Starbucks® Coffeehouse, which will also open onto Georgia Avenue and service the nearby business community as well.

Just three blocks from Silver Spring Metro Station, The Sheraton Silver Spring Hotel is ideally located to explore all the leading Washington, D.C. attractions including the White House, the Capitol, the Washington Monument, and the Smithsonian Museums. Guests are walking distance from Silver Spring’s revitalized downtown and close to key demand generators, including the headquarters of Discovery Communications, the National Institutes of Health and the Food and Drug Administration. The hotel is also close to the campuses of the University of Maryland - College Park and Howard University.

“We are delighted to raise the Sheraton flag at our hotel, where we offer all of the Sheraton brand’s recently improved amenities and services,” said Managing Partner of Integrated Capital, Kenneth Fearn. “Another benefit of joining Starwood is the ability to connect with travelers via the award-winning Starwood Preferred Guest program.”

Starwood has spent the last few years renovating and rebuilding one of the hotel industry’s most iconic brands and Sheraton now stands stronger than ever with the strongest portfolio in its history. The brand is gaining market share, RevPAR continues to rise, guest satisfaction scores are the highest in the brand’s history and likelihood to return, likelihood to recommend and meeting planner and associate engagement scores are also at all-time highs - signaling that guests are taking notice and rediscovering the new Sheraton.