ROMULUS, Mich., March 13 /PRNewswire/ -- In March 2001 ground was broken for The Westin Detroit Metropolitan Airport, and today a ceremonial Topping Out* event will signify that the 11-floor structural framework is completed. The $85.1 million, 404-room hotel is scheduled to open in November 2002 and is located adjacent to the new Edward H. McNamara Terminal / Northwest WorldGateway. The 370,000 square foot property is owned by Wayne County and managed by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. .
Invited guests from metro Detroit's business community will join Wayne County Executive Edward McNamara, Northwest Airlines Vice President of Facilities and Airport Affairs Jim Greenwald and Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. Vice President, New Build & Transition Dave Milus to view the hoisting of an American flag and a Michigan fir tree to the top of the hotel structure. The Topping Out ceremony signifies a major construction milestone on the road to completion. Nearly 350 workers a day and 15 trade unions have already poured 12,000 yards of concrete, erected 1,000 tons of steel and laid 430,000 feet of cables.
We want to provide our passengers with a hotel that is as attractive and convenient as our spectacular new terminal, said Wayne County Executive Edward H. McNamara. With its deluxe accommodations, state-of-the art meeting facilities and convenient access to gateways around the world, The Westin Detroit Metropolitan Airport hotel will set a new standard for first-class, up-scale airport hotels. W Hotels and Westin Hotels & Resorts, two of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. acclaimed brands, swept the Upper- Upscale category of Business Travel News' Annual Top U.S. Hotel Chain Survey (February 2002) by earning the number one and number two positions, respectively.
The Westin Detroit Metropolitan Airport is a welcomed addition to our portfolio of properties, said Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. Vice President, New Build & Transition Dave Milus. This hotel will expand our presence in metro Detroit and provide travelers with the finest amenities every guest expects and deserves.
Hotel features
The new hotel will feature a Westin Executive Club floor with a concierge lounge, 25,000 square feet of meeting facilities, a 7,600 square foot ballroom, a Business Center, an upscale restaurant and bar, a fitness center and heated indoor pool with whirlpool, glass enclosed elevators, a jet ramp observation lounge and an eight-story atrium with a 5,000 square foot reflecting pool. The hotel will create 400 new jobs and will be the second Westin in the Detroit market, joining the 387-room Westin Southfield-Detroit.
Northwest Airlines Vice President - Facilities and Airport Affairs Jim Greenwald indicated that hotel guests will be steps away from ticket counters, curbside entry and the terminal's main concourse. The Westin adds another world-class feature to the new Edward H. McNamara Terminal / Northwest WorldGateway. Our customers will benefit from its easy access for flights and provide a superior facility to conduct business and get a great night's sleep.
Guestrooms
Guestrooms will boast amenities and services that cater to business travelers in Westin style with an oversized work desk, two-line telephone with data port and high-speed Internet access, remote-control television with in- room movies, coffee maker, hair dryer and iron/ironing board; in-room safe, private bar, and the Westin Hotels & Resorts signature Heavenly Bed(R) -- a luxurious all-white bed with a pillowtop mattress, high-thread count sheets, down duvet and down pillows -- and its newest Heavenly Bath(SM) -- a custom designed Speakman dual showerhead that offers a choice of spray options from light mist to massage needles, as well as velour bathrobes, oversized, Brazilian combed cotton bathsheets, curved shower rods to provide extra elbow room, and refreshing and invigorating spa amenities.
The developer for the project is Darryl Berger Companies, Inc., New Orleans. The Atlanta-based PFVS Architects is the architectural firm. The interior design firm, Al Group, Atlanta, will accent the hotel with granite and warm wood finishes. Walbridge Aldinger, one of Michigan's major construction firms headquartered in Detroit, began building the hotel in March 2001.
Part of a public-private partnership between Wayne County and Northwest Airlines, the Edward H. McNamara Terminal / Northwest WorldGateway features 97 gates, 18 luggage carousels, an 11,500 space parking garage and more than 80 shops and restaurants in an open and spacious environment.
Wayne County's Detroit Metro Airport is undergoing one of the most dramatic transformations of any airport anywhere. In addition to the new Edward H. McNamara Terminal / Northwest WorldGateway, the airport recently opened a new 10,000 foot runway, and a new access road (John Dingell Drive) providing a second primary entrance to the airport off of another major interstate highway (I-275). These projects mark the culmination of a multiyear capital improvement program, which is transforming Metro Airport into one of the finest air transportation gateways in the world.
Northwest Airlines is the world's fourth largest airline with hubs at Detroit, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Memphis, Tokyo and Amsterdam and more than 1,400 daily departures. With its travel partners, Northwest serves nearly 750 cities in almost 120 countries on six continents.
Westin Hotels and Resorts, with more than 120 hotels and resorts in 26 countries is owned by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with 750 properties in more than 80 countries and 110,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. With internationally renowned brands, Starwood is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchiser of hotels and resorts including: St. Regis, The Luxury Collection, Sheraton, Westin, Four Points by Sheraton, W brands, as well as Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., one of the premier developers and operators of high quality vacation interval ownership resorts. For more information, please visit www.starwood.com
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