Title: Starwood Preferred Guest and St. Regis Hotels & Resorts Sail into San Francisco for the 2013 Annual America’s Cup Races<\/p>\n
Date(s): 7\/1\/2013 8:02 AM STAMFORD, Conn.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Jul. 1, 2013–\u00a0Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.\u00a0(NYSE: HOT) announces today that the Starwood Preferred Guest\u00ae (SPG\u00ae) loyalty program and\u00a0St. Regis Hotels & Resorts\u00a0have joined the 2013 Annual America’s Cup as the\u00a0Official Hotel and Resort. The partnership will offer St. Regis guests and SPG members extraordinary insider access to the world’s fastest boats and the world’s best sailors as well as exclusive experiences at the America’s\u00a0Cup Pavilion\u00a0and The St. Regis San Francisco.<\/p>\n “Starwood’s lifestyle brands attract global travelers with a passion for one-of-a-kind experiences, and we know our SPG members have a deep passion for sports like championship racing,” said\u00a0Chris Holdren, Senior Vice President Starwood Preferred Guest. “With this partnership, our guests and SPG Members now have access to all the excitement and adrenaline that the America’s Cup promises to deliver.”<\/p>\n The 2013 Annual America’s Cup Summer of Racing will take place from\u00a0July 4th<\/sup>\u00a0to\u00a0September 21st<\/sup>\u00a0in\u00a0San Francisco, celebrating the return of the competition to\u00a0the United States\u00a0for the first time in 18 years. As the oldest trophy in international sport and the most storied competition in the professional sailing circuit, the America’s Cup complements the St. Regis brand’s continued commitment to delivering exceptional experiences and bespoke services to global travelers who share the brand’s passion for this timeless sport.<\/p>\n “The St. Regis San Francisco provides the perfect backdrop for this year’s races, and America’s Cup allows St. Regis to celebrate speed and sport along with the heritage of world-class sailing,” said\u00a0Toni Knorr, General Manager, The St. Regis San Francisco. “As the first luxury hotel brand to sponsor America’s Cup, we are honored to host a new generation of luxury travelers and SPG members who share our passion for this memorable event.”<\/p>\n America’s Cup\u00a0Guest Chaser<\/i>\u00a0SPG Moment and Exceptional Experiences<\/b><\/p>\n As part of the SPG Moments platform, the highest bidding SPG member plus a guest will board an Umpire Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB) for all of the day’s races on either\u00a0August 7th<\/sup>\u00a0or\u00a0August 10th<\/sup>\u00a0through the Guest Chaser Moment package. At speeds up to 61 knots (70 mph), the SPG member will participate in a once-in-a-lifetime adventure, racing to keep up with the best sailors in the world as they compete on the\u00a0San Francisco Bay. Bidding for this memorable sailing experience closes\u00a0July 1st<\/sup>.<\/p>\n In addition to the Guest Chaser experience SPG members can bid on a season pass and access to the VIP hospitality club onshore – just meters from the boats as they race on the\u00a0San Francisco Bay.<\/p>\n To view a complete list of SPG Moments at America’s Cup please visit:\u00a0spg.com\/americascup<\/a>.<\/p>\n Additionally, the SPG Experience, located at the America’s\u00a0Cup Park\u00a0on Piers 27\/29 off of San Francisco’s famed\u00a0Embarcadero, will be open to guests each day. There visitors can enroll and learn more about the program. SPG members who show their member card will receive a special gift and any visitor to the SPG Experience will have the opportunity to win a grand prize of a one week vacation to any Starwood around the globe as well as other prizes including free night awards.<\/p>\n St. Regis Creates Bespoke Guest Experiences<\/b><\/p>\n Throughout the America’s Cup, St. Regis will offer the brand’s signature Bloody Mary cocktail, originally created at the King\u00a0Cole Bar\u00a0at The St. Regis New York, in CLUB72. A rotating canap\u00e9 menu featuring seasonal dishes, created by\u00a0Chefs Club\u00a0by FOOD & WINE atThe St. Regis Aspen Resort, will also be offered to VIP guests.<\/p>\n St. Regis will provide its discerning global guests the opportunity to book a limited-edition St. Regis Aficionado experience, which includes access to a private SPG member America’s Cup reception at The St. Regis\u00a0San Francisco\u00a0as well an exclusive meet and greet with a professional America’s Cup sailor.<\/p>\n At The Lobby Bar at The St. Regis San Francisco, the spirit and energy of the America’s Cup will be palpable as guests and locals unwind with\u00a0The Southern Cross\u00a0<\/b><\/i>specialty cocktail, crafted in honor of the 2013 races and named after a constellation that seafarers used before modern maritime navigation to indicate which direction was south. This exquisite cocktail is sweet, balanced, and carefully fashioned with kappa pisco, pineapple juice, hibiscus syrup, and Elizabeth allspice dram liqueur. Available July through September, the Southern Cross specialty cocktail will be offered for\u00a0$16. The St. Regis Lobby Bar is open from\u00a0noon to midnight Sunday\u00a0throughThursday, and from\u00a0noon to 1 a.m. on Friday and\u00a0Saturday.<\/p>\n For those wishing to indulge after an exciting day of America’s Cup races, Rem\u00e8de Spa at The St. Regis San Francisco will offer a variety of nautical-inspired spa treatments. The\u00a0All Hands On Deck Massage<\/b><\/i>\u00a0(60 minutes,\u00a0$330) will help guests unwind through the expertise of two Rem\u00e8de spa massage therapists who have created a soothing treatment for those who have trouble completely letting go and relaxing. The\u00a0Seafarer’s Serenity Treatment<\/b><\/i>\u00a0(120 minutes,\u00a0$350) is ideal for those seeking deep cleansing and revitalization. The\u00a0Relaxation Regatta Treatment<\/b><\/i>\u00a0(120 minutes,\u00a0$320) includes a calming sea salt bath followed by a 90-minute Swedish massage that combines cranio sacral work and foot reflexology to release tension and restore vitality. Exclusive to\u00a0St. Regis Hotels & Resorts, the luxurious Rem\u00e8de Spa is San Francisco’s only\u00a0Forbes Four Star-rated spa. To book a treatment at Rem\u00e8de Spa, please call 415-284-4060 or email\u00a0remedespasf@stregis.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n Sailing fans can also participate from afar online using\u00a0#BringMeSPG\u00a0<\/b>for the chance to win Club72 tickets to the America’s Cup Finals care of SPG or a\u00a0St. Regis On the Water\u00a0<\/b><\/i>experience including two nights at a beachfront property such as\u00a0The St. Regis Princeville Resort, The St. Regis Monarch Beach, or\u00a0The St. Regis Punta Mita Resort.<\/p>\n About\u00a0St. Regis Hotels & Resorts<\/b><\/p>\n Combining classic sophistication with a modern sensibility, St. Regis is committed to delivering exceptional experiences at 30 luxury hotels and resorts in the best addresses around the world. Since the opening of the first St. Regis Hotel in\u00a0New York City\u00a0over a century ago by\u00a0John Jacob\u00a0Astor IV, the brand has remained committed to an uncompromising level of bespoke and anticipatory service for all of its guests delivered flawlessly by signature St. Regis Butler Service. From\u00a0Bal Harbour\u00a0to\u00a0Bangkok,\u00a0Saadiyat Island\u00a0to\u00a0Shenzhen, the St. Regis brand caters to a new generation of luxury travelers and continues to thoughtfully build its portfolio in the most sought after destinations at the heart of today’s grand tour. Plans for the brand to expand its legacy include much-anticipated\u00a0St. Regis Hotels & Resorts\u00a0in the Riviera Maya and in\u00a0Asia, where St. Regis has announced plans to open hotels in\u00a0Changsha,\u00a0Chengdu,\u00a0Jakarta,\u00a0Kuala Lumpur, Lijiang,\u00a0Nanjing,\u00a0New Delhi,\u00a0Qingshui Bay, and Zhuhai. In the\u00a0Middle East, St. Regis will continue to expand in\u00a0Abu Dhabi,Amman,\u00a0Cairo\u00a0and\u00a0Dubai. For more information on\u00a0St. Regis Hotels & Resorts\u00a0please visit\u00a0stregis.com<\/a>, to explore our recent debuts visit\u00a0stregis.com\/newgrandtour<\/a>\u00a0and for the privilege of residential ownership please visit\u00a0stregis.com\/residences<\/a>. Connect with St. Regis on\u00a0instagram.com\/stregishotels<\/a>,\u00a0facebook.com\/stregis<\/a>\u00a0pinterest.com\/stregishotels<\/a>, and\u00a0youtube.com\/stregishotels<\/a>.<\/p>\n About Starwood Preferred Guest<\/b><\/p>\n Starwood Preferred Guest\u00ae (SPG\u00ae) is an innovative, award-winning frequent traveler program that unites each of Starwood’s 9 distinctive hotel brands and includes more luxury hotels in more destinations around the world. SPG reinvented the hospitality loyalty landscape when it launched in 1999 with its breakthrough policy of no blackout dates, and over the years has continued its tradition of innovation with enhancements such as Cash + Points, SPG MomentsSM<\/sup>, and most recently Your24TM<\/sup>\u00a0and SPG LifetimeTM<\/sup>. In addition to Free Night Awards at over 1,100 hotels and resorts and Award Flights on over 350 major airlines without blackout dates, the Starpoints\u00ae that members earn through SPG can be redeemed for access like to no other to experiences in music, sports and the arts through SPG Moments. SPG also has an ongoing commitment to digital innovation to meet the needs of today’s connected global traveler – from\u00a0the SPG app for iPhone that utilizes state-aware technology to create a more personalized hotel stay to Starwood’s Best Rate Guarantee on SPG.com, to SPG’s integration within various social media platforms. Offerings such as these have helped SPG build a passionate member base among the world’s most frequent travelers. Learn more at\u00a0spg.com<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0spg.com\/moments<\/a>\u00a0and connect with us ontwitter.com\/spg<\/a>,\u00a0instagram.com\/spg<\/a>,\u00a0facebook.com\/spg<\/a>,\u00a0foursquare.com\/spg<\/a>,\u00a0pinterest.com\/spglife<\/a>, and\u00a0youtube.com\/spg<\/a>.<\/p>\n About\u00a0Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.<\/b><\/p>\n
\nAs\u00a0Official Hotel & Resort\u00a0of the 34<\/i>th<\/i><\/sup>\u00a0America’s Cup, SPG Offers the Exhilarating Opportunity to be a Guest Chaser on an Official Umpire Boat and more<\/i><\/p>\n