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Sheraton(R) Hotels & Resorts to Showcase Windows 7 Before Official Launch

By: Sheraton Hotels |  0 Shares     97 Reads

Global Hotel Leader's "Link@Sheraton experienced with Microsoft" Among the First Locations Where Consumers Can Experience Windows 7 Before Official October 22 Launch

Hands-on Digital Guest Experience with New HP Next-Generation TouchSmart PCs

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Sheraton Hotels & Resorts continues to solidify its position as an industry powerhouse by working closely with Microsoft Corp. to showcase Windows 7, the software company's new operating system, prior to its official public launch on October 22. Sheraton Hotels has also partnered with HP to feature Windows 7 on HP's next-generation, touch-enabled Business TouchSmart PCs at select Sheraton properties. The new state-of-the art offerings are part of a $6 billion worldwide effort to revitalize the iconic Sheraton brand, including an investment of $2.3 billion in new hotels, $1.5 billion in renovations and $400 million in signature brand initiatives throughout North America.

Sheraton has deployed Windows 7 in its "Link@SheratonSM experienced with Microsoft®," a unique lobby lounge that enables guests to stay connected using Windows-based computers that feature Microsoft Office, Bing, Microsoft's new decision engine, Bing Maps, Internet access and Microsoft LifeCam webcams for emailing video postcards. Windows 7 will be available at more than 50 hotels in North America before its official public launch, including Sheraton New York, Sheraton Seattle, Sheraton Boston, Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers, Sheraton Toronto, Sheraton Vancouver and the Sheraton Phoenix. At several hotels, the exclusive offering will be enhanced with new 22-inch HP Business TouchSmart computers – powerful, touch-enabled PCs that enable guests to simply tap on the screen to open documents, navigate the Internet and browse photos. HP's Business TouchSmarts provide Sheraton guests with immersive touch technology that brings interaction, connectivity and play to the Link@Sheraton – the heart of the Sheraton brand's new lobby experience.

"Sheraton's alliance with Microsoft and HP to deploy Windows 7 on HP Business TouchSmart computers prior to its public launch further solidifies our brand as the choice for travelers who want to stay connected using the latest in cutting edge technology," said Hoyt Harper, Senior Vice President, Global Brand Management for Sheraton Hotel & Resorts. "Sheraton recognizes the premium value our guests place on having access to the smartest, most current technology during their stay at our properties. Through our multi-billion revitalization effort, we've made a long-term investment in the Link@Sheraton and are proud to offer Windows 7 as a unique way to heighten the guest experience and ensure our customers stay connected."

The Link@Sheraton is a signature virtual and physical lobby lounge space that enables Sheraton guests to work, relax and remain connected with friends, family and colleagues during their travels in a social environment. Designed to serve the needs of Sheraton core guests who are social individuals seeking to balance work and play in a communal environment, the Link@Sheraton invites guests to interact with each other while they check their email, research local attractions and even print boarding passes using free Wi-Fi and Internet-enabled computer stations. A key feature of the Link@Sheraton experience is Microsoft branded webcams, allowing guests of all ages to easily email video postcards back home. The Link@Sheraton experience also features televisions, daily newspapers and The Link Café.

Sheraton is completing a three-year global brand overhaul, which includes an investment of more than $4 billion in new hotels, renovations and signature brand initiatives in North America and another $2 billion in new hotels overseas. Highlights include:

• 70,000 new or newly renovated guestrooms -- 50,000 in North America alone
• More than 300 new lobbies featuring the brand's innovative Link@SheratonSM experienced with Microsoft
• More than 100,000 brand new Sheraton Sweet Sleeper all-white, high thread count beds in 211 hotels and 83,000 guestrooms worldwide
• 98 renovated properties, nearly half of Sheraton's North American portfolio, including high profile gateway properties like the Sheraton Denver, Sheraton Boston, Sheraton Seattle Hotel & Towers and Sheraton Montreal and Sheraton Waikiki.

Sheraton Hotels & Resorts, like all brands within Starwood's robust portfolio, is proud to offer the Starwood Preferred Guest® program, which made headlines when it launched in 1999 with a breakthrough policy of no blackout dates on Free Night Awards. SPG® offers members the ability to redeem awards at more resorts, more luxury properties, more European hotels and more golf properties than any other hotel program.

About Sheraton Hotels & Resorts

Sheraton helps guests make connections at more than 400 hotels in 75 countries around the world. It is owned by and is the largest and most global brand of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with 966 properties in more than 100 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.

Source: Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.

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