Sheraton Opens First 5-Star Hotel in Korea's Songdo City

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(News Source: Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide)

(INCHEON, KOREA) -- The much anticipated Sheraton Incheon Hotel officially opens its doors this week. The opening of the hotel was graced by The Honorable Ahn Sang-soo, Mayor of Incheon, Chairman Park, ChanBub of KUMHO Asiana Group and Mr Lothar Pehl, Regional Vice-President, Starwood Hotels & Resorts for Japan/Korea/Guam region.   The opening is timely as it coincides with debut of one of the largest conventions at Songdo City, which takes place at Songdo Conventia, right next to Sheraton Incheon Hotel.

Sheraton Incheon Hotel sits at the heart of Korea's most exciting business development: the Incheon Free Economic Zone.  Sheraton Incheon Hotel celebrates its opening today with a number of 'firsts' in the industry in Korea which includes Songdo's first international deluxe five-star hotel, the first LEED rated (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) hotel in Korea and the first fully non-smoking hotel in Korea and - the entire hotel is built using eco-friendly methods

The Sheraton Incheon Hotel's opening celebrations also includes welcoming its first check-in guest on August 1. The guest is presented with a commemorative framed photograph of his visit to the Sheraton Incheon Hotel.

"We're extremely excited to introduce this brand new Sheraton hotel in the heart of Incheon Free Economic Zone' said Alain Rigodin, the General Manager of the Sheraton Incheon Hotel. He added: 'Songdo, once a sleepy island, is now set to become the world's most beautiful, functional and environmentally-friendly city. The Sheraton Incheon offers deluxe service and facilities that welcome business executives to a comfortable, eco-friendly and completely smoke-free environment."

The Sheraton Incheon is also unveiling Sheraton brand's signature 'Link@Sheraton™' for the first time in Korea. The Link - at the heart of the hotel lobby - is designed as a communal space where guests can socialize for business or leisure, work or simply relax. As well as being a social environment, The Link also allows guests to check their email, research local attractions and even print boarding passes.

In addition, the first Sheraton Fitness facility in Korea makes its home at the Sheraton Incheon, and it is part of Sheraton's initiative to bring its community alive. Designed to be more than just a hotel fitness center, Sheraton Fitness operates 24 hours and offers themed workout programs (designed by Core Performance) that provide all the facilities for business travelers on the go.
 
Exuding modern sophistication and equipped with the state-of-the-art technology - and with the Songdo Conventia and the city's green oasis, Central Park right next door - the hotel is only 20 minutes away from Incheon International Airport via the new Incheon Bridge - which opens later this year.
 
The design approach to the Sheraton Incheon was based on the notion of a 'Return to Utopia' with its style a delicate blend of the modern Sheraton language, traditional Korean patterns and graphics and the meaning of Songdo: "pine tree island."
 
Over 300 non-smoking guest rooms offer our famous Sheraton comforts including the signature Sheraton Sweet Sleeper Bed, a spacious bathroom with separate bathtub and 'rainforest' shower, and a Sheraton coffee maker. Amenities and facilities are designed to meet the needs of every traveler and each room features high ceilings and large windows as well as a 32-inch LCD television, a generously-proportioned work desk and high-speed WIFI and broadband access.
 
Sheraton, the largest brand of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc (NYSE:HOT) has more than 394 hotels in 65 countries. Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with 960 properties in 97 countries and 145,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. Starwood Hotels is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels, resorts and residences with the following internationally renowned brands: St. Regis, The Luxury Collection, W, Westin, Le Méridien, Sheraton, Four Points by Sheraton, and the recently launched Aloft, and Element SM. Starwood Hotels also owns Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., one of the premier developers and operators of high quality vacation interval ownership resorts.

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