BURSA,\u00a0Turkey–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Jul. 10, 2013–\u00a0Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.\u00a0(NYSE:HOT) announces the opening of the\u00a0Sheraton Bursa Hotel<\/b>\u00a0and\u00a0Aloft\u00a0Bursa Hotel<\/b>, marking the company’s entrance into Bursa. Owned by\u00a0Faik Celik Holding, the two hotels expand Starwood’s rapidly-growing portfolio to nine hotels across\u00a0Turkey, adding more than 300 rooms to the culturally-charged industrial centre. The opening of the\u00a0Sheraton Bursa Hotel\u00a0fuels the brand’s growth as it remains on track to celebrate the opening of its 500th<\/sup>\u00a0hotel by 2015. Aloft\u00a0Bursa Hotel\u00a0contributes to the phenomenal growth of the mid-market brand as it is poised to grow by 30% in 2013 with its 75th<\/sup>\u00a0hotel to open later this year.<\/p>\n “We are delighted to be working with\u00a0Faik Celik Holdings, the owners of the Sheraton and Aloft Bursa, our first Starwood hotels in this important city in Turkey,” said\u00a0Michael Wale, President,\u00a0Starwood Hotels & Resorts,\u00a0Europe,\u00a0Africa\u00a0and\u00a0Middle East. “Bursa is an emerging metropolitan centre of industry, culture, sport and leisure and we believe this combination of our differentiated lifestyle brands with a new city destination will make a compelling offer to global travellers.”<\/p>\n “The opening of\u00a0Sheraton Bursa Hotel\u00a0and Aloft Bursa marks a milestone in this fast-growing city’s development”, said\u00a0Baran\u00a0\u00c7elik,\u00a0CEO Faik Celik Holding. “We believe that Starwood’s strong global brands will attract international and national travellers as well as local guests.”<\/p>\n Sheraton Bursa Hotel\u00a0and Aloft Bursa are situated in an emerging business and upscale residential area adjacent to the\u00a0Bursa New Cultural Green Parkand upcoming football stadium. Located on the south-east shore of Sea of Marmara, approximately 235 kilometres from\u00a0Istanbul, Bursa is a rapidly emerging city in\u00a0Turkey\u00a0with a young population attracted by opportunities in its textile and automotive industries, as well as the tourism and sports sectors. The city was the first capital of the Ottoman Empire, playing an important role in silk manufacturing, and is today the ‘greenest’ city in\u00a0Turkey\u00a0with easy access to\u00a0Mount Uludag, the country’s prime skiing resort.<\/p>\n Sheraton Bursa Hotel<\/b><\/p>\n Designed to appeal to both business and leisure travellers, Sheraton Bursa offers a vibrant, open atmosphere. Distinct hexagonal elements inspired by the Ottoman Empire are integrated into the design of the spacious lobby where guests can enjoy complimentary wireless internet access with the signature\u00a0Link@SheratonSM experienced with Microsoft\u00ae<\/b>\u00a0experience – a social, technology hub in the lobby where guests can stay connected to what matters most during their stay.<\/p>\n copyright: Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide<\/p><\/div>\n Sheraton Bursa comprises 171 elegant guest rooms, including 10 spacious suites, all equipped with the signature all-white\u00a0Sheraton Sweet SleeperTM<\/b>Bed, designed using the\u00a0AAA Five Diamond\u00a0Award\u00ae criteria. The contemporary and warm interiors feature light Turkish design accents, providing travellers with a comfortable home away from home. Located on the 13th<\/sup>\u00a0floor, the Presidential Suite features a spacious living area, a master bedroom, a kitchen and a cocktail bar, as well as a private whirlpool.<\/p>\n The\u00a0Sheraton Shine Spa<\/b>\u00a0offers a traditional Turkish hammam and three private VIP hammams using natural thermal water from the famous local hot springs, as well as six spa treatments rooms, evoking a lively yet relaxing spa experience. The expansive indoor pool area features impressive two-story mosaic steles designed by local craftsmen while the tranquil relaxation space offers private views over the blue waters. The outdoor pool is nestled in a tranquil garden area which makes for an elegant setting for weddings up to 600 guests. The hotel’s fitness facility features the brand’s revolutionary health and fitness programme,\u00a0Sheraton Fitness Programmed by Core\u00ae Performance<\/b>, designed exclusively for Sheraton guests.<\/p>\n On the ground floor,\u00a0Prusa<\/b>\u00a0offers international cuisine and local specialities such as the famous Iskender Kebab, which originates from Bursa and is a must-try when visiting the city. Guests may also dine at the hotel’s Mediterranean restaurant,\u00a0Narr<\/b>\u00a0featuring grilled specialties. Both restaurants offer beautiful wooden outdoor terraces where guests can enjoy the soothing Turkish climate and city views.<\/p>\n Situated on the top floor of the hotel, the exclusive\u00a0Sheraton Club Lounge<\/b>\u00a0serves breakfast, refreshments and light snacks all day, evening drinks and hors d’oeuvres, alongside spectacular city views from the 14th<\/sup>\u00a0story vantage. Guests staying in the\u00a0Sheraton Club\u00a0rooms will enjoy complimentary in-room wireless internet access, as well as in the\u00a0Club Lounge. A terrace with breath-taking views, ideal for exclusive receptions and cocktails is connected to the club. The adjacent\u00a0Executive Board Room\u00a0provides an inspiring space for meetings with views of the city. Sheraton Bursa offers more than 2,800 square metres of extensive indoor and outdoor meeting and event facilities, including a large ballroom and pre-function area, five conference rooms and a fully-equipped business centre.<\/p>\n Aloft\u00a0Bursa Hotel<\/b><\/p>\n Set to shake up the Turkish mid-market segment,\u00a0Aloft Bursa Hotel\u00a0delivers high style at an affordable price with 133 spacious guest rooms, all featuring the brand’s signature loft-like ceilings, oversized windows and ultra-comfortable platform beds, as well as large walk-in showers with Bliss Spa\u00ae amenities. Each room is also equipped with wireless internet access and a one-stop plug-and-play connectivity solution for multiple electronic gadgets such as PDAs, mobile phones, mp3 players and laptops – all linked to a large flat panel HDTV ready television, turning the room into a high-tech office as well as an entertainment centre.<\/p>\n copyright: Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide<\/p><\/div>\n Featuring the brand’s signature loft-like style aesthetic and buzzing scene, Aloft Bursa offers vibrant public spaces where savvy travellers and locals can mix and mingle in a relaxed social atmosphere, read the paper, work on laptops, play a game or grab a drink with friends at the\u00a0re:mix<\/b>SM<\/b><\/sup>\u00a0lounge<\/b>\u00a0or\u00a0w xyz<\/b>SM<\/b><\/sup>bar<\/b>. A glass-covered fireplace connects the inside spaces with the hotel’s spacious terrace. Designed with the digital generation in mind, Aloft Bursa offers free wireless internet access throughout the whole hotel.<\/p>\n The\u00a0re:charge<\/b>SM<\/b><\/sup>\u00a0fitness centre and the\u00a0Splash<\/b>SM<\/b><\/sup>\u00a0pool<\/b>\u00a0give travellers the opportunity to de-stress and re-energise, while\u00a0re:fuel<\/b>SM<\/b><\/sup>\u00a0by Aloft offers a convenient deli option for guests on the go, with an array of food and beverages, 24 hours a day. For work meetings, training courses and presentations, the hotel’s three Tactic meeting rooms are equipped with the latest generation of audio-visual hardware, providing the perfect creative space for groups of up to 15 people.<\/p>\n Starwood in\u00a0Turkey<\/b><\/p>\n Starwood has nine hotels in\u00a0Turkey\u00a0under five of its distinct lifestyle brands. This includes four hotels in\u00a0Istanbul\u00a0–\u00a0Sheraton Istanbul Maslak Hotel,\u00a0Sheraton Istanbul Atakoy Hotel,\u00a0W Istanbul\u00a0and Le M\u00e9ridien Istanbul Etiler. Outside of\u00a0Istanbul, Starwood has the\u00a0Sheraton Cesme Hotel, Resort and Spa,\u00a0Sheraton Ankara Hotel & Convention Centre, The Lugal, A Luxury Collection Hotel,\u00a0Ankara\u00a0and the two new hotels in Bursa. Later this year, Starwood will open a 10th<\/sup>hotel in\u00a0Turkey\u00a0with the\u00a0Sheraton Adana Hotel, making\u00a0Turkey\u00a0one of the largest markets for the Sheraton brand in\u00a0Europe.<\/p>\n About\u00a0Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.<\/b><\/p>\n![\"Sheraton](\"http:\/\/first2board.com\/verygoodpoints\/files\/2013\/07\/Sheraton-Bursa-300x201.jpg\")
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