Le Meridien Hotels & Resorts Continues North American Expansion with May 2010 Grand Opening Today in City Center Philadelphia

Starwood Hotels & Resorts today officially opened the doors of their newest hotel, Le Meridien Philadelphia. A ribbon cutting and grand opening ceremony included special guest speakers such as Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter, Pennsylvania Senator Larry Farnese, HEI Hotels & Resorts Chairman and CEO, Gary Mendell, Starwood Group SVP of North American Development, Paul Sacco. Located in the heart of Center City Philadelphia, the hotel is housed in the former YMCA building designed by prominent American architect Horace Trumbauer, who also designed Philadelphia's Union League and Museum of Art, among other well known projects of the Gilded Age. The historic adaptive reuse property was developed for HEI Hotels & Resorts, who will be the owner and operator of the hotel. Le Meridien, the Paris-born brand with an international presence of 105 hotels and resorts, will increase its North American footprint to nine properties with the opening of this newest hotel. Le Meridien Philadelphia will serve as a U.S. flagship for the hotel group, joining Le Meridien Chambers Minneapolis, which recently joined the brand's portfolio in February 2010.

"We are excited about our debut in Philadelphia, a city that shares Le Meridien's passion for art, culture and creativity," said Eva Ziegler, Global Brand Leader, Le Meridien and W Hotels Worldwide. "With its vibrant arts scene, rich history and modern sophistication, Philadelphia is an ideal fit for Le Meridien as we continue to strategically open new hotels in primary, urban markets, cultural capitals and resort destinations across North America and globally."

Le Meridien Philadelphia provides an integrated contemporary lifestyle experience, including 202 guestrooms and suites; a signature restaurant, the French brasserie Amuse; stylish lobby bar, serving coffee by day; and 5,000 square feet of flexible meeting space, including a 200-seat Ballroom and the Abele Library, a 1,300 square foot reception space overlooking City Hall. The hotel is adjacent to the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts and just one block from the Pennsylvania Convention Center. Love Park's gardens and fountains, the Avenue of the Arts, and the boutiques and restaurants that line Benjamin Franklin Parkway -- Philadelphia's Champs Elysees -- are all located within walking distance of the hotel.
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