Starwood Hotels & Resorts Introduces Tribute Portfolio™ in Europe with Great Northern Hotel

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE:HOT) today announced the debut of Tribute Portfolio in Europe with the addition of the Great Northern Hotel, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel. Launched this past April as Starwood’s 10^th brand, Tribute Portfolio is a collection of outstanding independent hotels and resorts, promising owners, Starwood Preferred Guest ^® (SPG^®) members and guests alike the ability to “ Stay Independent. ” The signing of the Great Northern Hotel – a historic King’s Cross London landmark – is a significant step in the global roll-out of Tribute Portfolio and reflects the growing global trend for independent, yet dependable high-end travel experiences.

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“We are delighted to welcome the Great Northern Hotel as the first Tribute Portfolio property in Europe,” said Dave Marr, Global Brand Leader for Tribute Portfolio and Sheraton Hotels & Resorts. “The hotel has been designed with such meticulous attention to detail, and we’re excited to partner alongside Mr. Jeremy Robson as he continues to bring his independent vision to life.”

Tribute Portfolio Lands in London
Situated within the new Western Concourse of King's Cross and just 25 meters from the Eurostar terminus at St. Pancras International, the Great Northern is one of the finest upscale boutique hotels in greater London. Having first opened in 1854, the hotel has been exquisitely refurbished and re-designed by Victorian master builder Lewis Cubitt to evoke the glamour and grace of the building’s extraordinary past. The Cubitt rooms feature high ceilings and large twin sash windows, filling the rooms with an abundance of natural light, while the fun and charming Couchette rooms serve as innovative interpretations of a traditional railway carriage car sleeper. The Wainscot rooms, located on the top floor of the hotel, have high mansard style ceilings and are lined with Black American Walnut Wainscot paneling, which, along with deep aubergine paint, create a seductive ambiance.

Guests of the Great Northern can enjoy a variety of dining options that bring to life the ambiance and flavors of English cuisine. Plum + Spilt Milk, located one flight up the hotel’s original grand staircase, offers simple British dishes using seasonal and carefully-sourced ingredients. The restaurant, whose name originates from the lively colors of the dining cars pulled by the Flying Scotsman, features 120 hand blown glass pendants and banquette-based furniture, handmade by Boffi of Milan. Designed with the aim of being one of Europe’s most glamorous railway bars, The GNH Bar opens directly into King's Cross station and features etched mirror ceilings, an organically-shaped pewter and marble bar and two grand crystal chandeliers.

“Since our launch in 2013, the Great Northern Hotel has become one of London’s finest boutique hotels,” said Jeremy Robson, Owner of the Great Northern Hotel, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel. “The restoration of the property was a dream of mine for many years, and together with my excellent team, I am incredibly proud to have created something of real value: a London landmark serving both visitors and Londoners alike. Today, our award-winning hotel joins Tribute Portfolio and the prestigious Starwood collection. We are looking forward to building on our success with this powerful brand whilst maintaining everything that makes the Great Northern Hotel a unique and much-loved property. ”

We Like What We See
As with all of the brand’s properties, the Great Northern Hotel features a noteworthy selection of #ourlikes, a list comprised of distinct moments found at the hotel that illustrate what guests love about “staying independent.” Beyond the typical hotel brochure, these socially-sourced vignettes highlight the secret spots, must-sees and can’t-miss experiences at each Tribute Portfolio property.

The #ourlikes for the Great Northern Hotel include:

• The building’s distinct exterior architecture;
• The luxurious Cubitt Room, named after the hotel’s master builder, featuring Jielde table lamps on either side of the bed;
• The whimsical luggage and door tags, which offer classic line drawings of bellman and other noteworthy hotel features;
• The King’s Cross Kiosk, with delectable must-try roast meat sandwiches;
• The self-serve Pantry located on each floor, which provides guests the perk of feeling right at home;
• Plum + Spilt Milk restaurant, offering fine British cuisine in a decidedly design-focused setting;
• The GNH Bar, with its convivial nightlife in a stylish setting, offering the signature Lady Violet cocktail, paying homage to a former resident from the hotel’s glory days.

“Tribute Portfolio is just the latest example in Starwood’s long history of brand innovation, design leadership and leading global high-end footprint,” said Michael Wale, President, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Europe, Africa and Middle East. “Our mission is to bring great hotels in great destinations to our SPG members who make up more than half of all Starwood stays.”

Independent by Nature
An answer to both guests’ and owners’ desire to Stay Independent, Tribute Portfolio debuted in April 2015 with its first hotel, the Royal Palm South Beach Miami, and recently announced two new future locations including Coral Gables, FL and Ft. Lauderdale, FL. Firmly anchored in the four-star, upper upscale category, Tribute Portfolio allows owners of distinct properties to maintain their independent spirit, while benefiting from Starwood’s powerful distribution, loyalty and sales platforms.

Starwood aims to grow the brand to 100 hotels by 2020, with locations in high-demand destinations and markets where SPG members travel. For more information and to follow along, please visit www.tributeportfolio.com.

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About Tribute Portfolio
New from Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Tribute Portfolio is comprised of exceptional independent hotels around the globe, offering guests and owners the ability to “Stay Independent.” From boutique resorts to urban destination properties, guests can enjoy access to outstanding four star, upper upscale hotels with an indie spirit while benefitting from the award-winning Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) program. Launched in April 2015 as Starwood’s 10th brand and second collection of independent hotels, Starwood plans to grow the Tribute Portfolio brand to 100 hotels by 2020. For more information on Tribute Portfolio, please visit www.tributeportfolio.com. Follow along to Stay Independent: @TributePortfolio on Instagram, @TributePRTFLO on Twitter, www.tumblr.com/TributePortfolio and www.facebook.com/TributePortfolio.

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Contact information

Media Contact:
Julien Guitard, Tel. +32 2 204 5160
Associate Director Communications – Europe, Africa & Middle East
Starwood Hotels & Resorts
Julien.Guitard@starwoodhotels.com
www.starwoodmediacentre.com
or
Nicola McShane, +44 (0) 20 7290 7105
Acting Regional Director Communications – Western Europe
Starwood Hotels & Resorts
Nicola.Mcshane@starwoodhotels.com
www.starwoodmediacentre.com
or
Louise Toye, +44 (0)207 290 7107
Director of Communications – UK & Ireland
Starwood Hotels & Resorts
Louise.Toye@starwoodhotels.com
www.starwoodmediacentre.com
or
Tabitha Russell / Georgia Lowther, +44 (2) 208 600 3600
Sauce Communications
Tabitha@saucecommunications.com / Georgia@saucecommunications.com