Robb & Stucky Interiors, one of North America’s largest home furnishings and interior design companies, has recently completed the interior design, custom manufacture and installation of furnishings for a unique property with ownership opportunities being offered in both fractional and whole ownership.

With interiors designed by Robb & Stucky, (www.RobbStucky.com) construction of the 19-story The Resort at MarinaVillage at Tarpon Point Marina was recently completed and officially opened with a gala ribbon-cutting celebration in mid-November.  Developed by Grosse Pointe Development Company, Inc., the $150 million resort complex is the first waterfront resort in Cape Coral, Florida.

Located within the 147-acre planned use development of Tarpon Point Marina, The Resort at MarinaVillage rises majestically above the Caloosahatchee River. The Shops at MarinaVillage are located along the promenade overlooking the 175-slip deep-water marina and will be open to the public. Parking is available in the adjacent six-story parting structure.

Robb & Stucky directed the total interior design for 184 two- and three-bedroom units at the Resort at MarinaVillage, ranging from 1,235 to 2,195 square feet in size featuring master suites, grand rooms, guest suites and private dining terraces. Work included turnkey furnishings, bedding, window coverings, artwork, accessories and kitchenware. Additionally, the design team, led by Design Consultant Jan Wallace, assisted in the design of the common areas, ballroom, and lobby, with a unique two-story water feature.

According to Bob Hensley, CEO of Grosse Pointe Development, Inc., “Designing fully-furnished upscale interiors that accommodate the needs and desires of demanding homeowners of both fractional and whole ownership residences was a challenge we were confident Robb & Stucky was capable of handling. Not only did they create custom-designed furnishings, finishes and accessories specifically for our property, resulting in a ‘Florida chic’ design style, they also coordinated every aspect of the manufacturing, shipping and installation process, relieving us from potential headaches associated with such a complex project.”

Added Hensley, “Since both the fractional and whole ownership units are being sold completely furnished and to an upscale market, having the right company to handle the interior design work was an integral element to our success.  We selected Robb & Stucky because we have used them in the past and they always exceeded our expectations. We also chose them because of their impressive credentials and experience with fractionals, their understanding of the shared-use concept and the expectations of this special market.”

Commented Dan Lubner, President of the Resort Division of Robb & Stucky Interiors, “Because of our vertical integration, we were able to custom design and manufacture the perfect product for this property. We are honored to offer our unique services to Grosse Pointe Development and look forward to working with them again in the future.”
The Resort at MarinaVillage is being managed by Fort Myers-based SunStream Hotels & Resorts with both fractional and whole ownership guests enjoying full usage of the resort’s amenities including concierge and spa services, room service, and access to a resort-style pool, spa and deck.  Gary Locke is the General Manager for the property and the Director of Hospitality Operations for SunStream. He adds, “During the entire design and installation process, the Robb & Stucky design team was extremely well organized, methodical, and flexible in adjusting to our changing needs. The staff was most conscientious and easy to work with. Our initial guests tell us that they are truly amazed and delighted at the style and beauty of the furnishings in both the rooms and common areas.”

Tarpon Point Marina features a 175-slip deep-water marina, three luxury high-rise buildings, custom estate homes, as well as coach homes with residences priced from $400,000 to over $7 million. Fractional ownership of the resort residences is available starting at $74,000 for a 1/12 (four-week) share. Upon completion, Tarpon Point Marina will have 976 single-family homes, condominiums, park homes and lake-view residences.

About Robb & Stucky Interiors
Founded in 1915 in Fort Myers, Florida, Robb & Stucky Interiors is a nationally respected interior design and premier furnishings retailer with showrooms in Florida, Texas, Arizona, Nevada and Costa Rica as well as nine Robb & Stucky patio stores and one of the nation’s largest team of licensed interior designers. In 2009, the company was named an Alliance Partner for the internationally respected Preferred Hotel Group, providing interior design services for Preferred Hotel Group’s 700+ member hotels, resorts and fractional properties in more than 70 countries. The Interval International vacation exchange company recently named Robb & Stucky to its prestigious Interval Affiliate Advantage program, making its design services available to Interval International member resorts.  For more information, visit www.RobbStucky.com

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Grand Pacific Resort Services (GPRS),  a privately owned vacation ownership management company located in Carlsbad, CA has announced it will now be known as Grand Pacific Resort Management (GPRM).

According to Co-President David Brown, the new name more clearly reflects the company’s core competencies and plans for the future.  “We want to let timeshare resorts and homeowners associations know we have the infrastructure to help them be successful.  Grand Pacific Resort Management has 20 years of experience and can provide all the necessary resources to deliver customized solutions in resort development and management services”.

At the resort level, GPRM offers on-site staffing, preventive maintenance and seamless reservations systems. In addition the company provides high quality preparation and timely distribution of all Monthly Accounting Statements (Profit & Loss statements, Balance Sheets and Cash Projections), Reserve account reports and projections, and the preparation of the annual Budget.  GPRM also prides itself in delivering best in class assessment billing and collection services.  Resorts may also turn to the company for its expertise in Interior Design and as well as FF&E Purchasing.

Grand Pacific Resort Management offers a full spectrum of Resort Management functions.   Its long successful tenure in the industry allows it to tailor services to a resort’s unique requirements and, at the same time, work in partnership with the property to keep expenses low and offset expenses with income.  The blueprint for this framework has been developed over two decades of successful resort development, operations and back office management as well as financial services.

“This change has been years in the making,” says Brown.  “Over time we’ve produced an infrastructure that gives us the capability to work with a single resort, an HOA managing one or many resorts, an older resort going through a refurbishment or a financial institution that finds itself in the position of managing a shared ownership product due to the present economic climate.  Our new name is just a better description of what we’ve been doing all along, and it lets people know we are a premier timeshare and vacation ownership Management Company, as well as a developer.”

Among the resorts currently managed by GPRM are Carlsbad Inn Beach Resort, Carlsbad Seapointe Resort, Coronado Beach Resort, Grand Pacific MarBrisa Resort, Grand Pacific Palisades Resort and Hotel, Indian Palms Vacation Club, Redwolf Lakeside Lodge, Redwolf at Squaw Valley, RiverPointe Napa Valley, San Clemente Cove Resort, Southern California Beach Club and Villa L’Auberge.

Grand Pacific Resort Management is one of the oldest and largest vacation ownership companies based in California. Servicing over 45,000 owner-families every year, it manages 14 properties. For more information visit www.grandpacificresorts.com  or call Sharrie McIntosh at 760-431-8500.

Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa, Ko Olina, Hawai‘i conveys the connection of the new resort to the islands

The highly anticipated Disney destination resort currently under construction on the Hawaiian island of O‘ahu now has an official name and a dynamic new Web site offering an inside look at the project. The resort’s name – Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa, Ko Olina, Hawai‘i – reflects the company’s deep commitment to celebrating the islands’ rich history and traditions. Plans call for the first phase of the resort to open in fall 2011.

Artist's Concept - Proposed

“We want this resort destination to reflect the vibrant culture that surrounds it. The name ‘Aulani’ expresses a connection to tradition and deep story-telling – and its roots are here in this land,” said Joe Rohde, Senior Vice President, Creative for Walt Disney Imagineering. “We’re so grateful to the local Hawaiians who led us to the discovery of this name, and our goal is to live up to its meaning.”

Rohde noted that Aulani translated from the Hawaiian language to English, means “the place that speaks for the great ones” or “the place that speaks with deep messages.”

The Resort
Nearby to historical sites on the western side of O‘ahu, Aulani will be located on 21 acres of oceanfront property in the Ko Olina Resort & Marina development.  The Resort is planned to have 360 hotel rooms and 481 two-bedroom equivalent Disney Vacation Club villas.

Design plans call for amenities to engage every member of the family, a hallmark of a Disney vacation.  Among the recreational highlights planned for the resort are pools and sunset facing hot tubs, a snorkeling lagoon, a variety of kids’ club and other play programs for children, and a river, suitable for tube floating, running through a specially created volcanic outcropping.

The resort will also include an 18,000-square-foot spa designed with families in mind.  The resort, built adjacent to a crystal blue lagoon and a white-sand beach, is planned to also have two restaurants, a 14,545-square-foot conference center and 48,685 square feet of outdoor venues. Located nearby are the existing Ko Olina Marina and a Ted Robinson-designed, 18-hole Championship Golf course.

The Web Site
Disney has launched a new preview Web site, www.DisneyAulani.com, to provide updates and background information on the resort now under construction.  The site also details some of the adventures and amenities under development, and includes conceptual art, descriptions of resort highlights, regularly updated resort information and photos of Aulani as it nears completion.

“We are looking forward to welcoming guests to Aulani to share the fun, immersive family vacation experiences Disney is known for combined with the beauty and culture of Hawai‘i,” said Djuan Rivers, Vice President, Disney Vacation Club and Resort, Hawai‘i.  “We are turning to the Hawaiian culture for inspiration in everything we are doing at Aulani, and we hope our guests will not only enjoy the Disney experience, but will also embrace the unique culture of Hawai‘i and its diverse people.”

Escapia Releases National 2010 Vacation Rental Industry Report Providing Most Comprehensive Look at the Current State of the Vacation Rental Business

Escapia, Inc. (www.escapia.com) today announced the immediate release of the National 2010 Vacation Rental Industry Report. This complimentary report analyzes data from over $300 million of bookings at tens of thousands of vacation rental homes in 2009, providing unprecedented insights into national industry trends.

While 2009 was a tough year for vacation rental managers, Escapia’s latest report shows that the actual results were not as dismal as many perceived. Early year booking declines of over 25% largely reversed direction by mid-year, with fourth quarter bookings rebounding by 17% compared to a year earlier. The industry also saw notable improvement in key metrics including the average booking size, lead times and length of stay during the fourth quarter of 2009. Topics addressed in the report include:

–  How travelers responded to the ‘Great Recession’
–  Year-to-Year Booking Dollars by Quarter
–  Booking Dollars by Month
–  Booking Dollars by Region
–  Average Length of Stay and Lead Times
–  Average Booking Size by Quarter
–  Bookings by Day of the Week
–  Bookings by Month: When they happened and when they were made

The National 2010 Vacation Rental Industry report offers the most thorough analysis of 2009 vacation rental data to date. “We are thrilled to release our annual report for the industry,” said Bill Furlong, CEO of Escapia. “This report is by far the most comprehensive analysis on the state of the vacation rental business. We hope that giving vacation rental managers this type of information will help them learn from 2009 and make themselves stronger for 2010.” A summary of the report is provided on the Escapia Blog at www.escapiablog.com. The full report is available for free download at Escapia’s web site at www.escapia.com/market_trends.html. 2010 Vacation Rental Reports by Region for select regions are also available upon request by contacting research@escapia.com.

About Escapia
Escapia, Inc., founded in 2000, is leading the Internet revolution in the $24 billion vacation rental industry with a comprehensive Internet business platform and breakthrough online marketing and booking services. Escapia empowers professional vacation rental management companies to reach new customers, manage guest and owner relationships, and perform trust-based accounting, housekeeping, maintenance and other mission critical aspects of their businesses. Seattle-based Escapia can be reached at 1-800-ESCAPIA, info@escapia.com or via the web at www.escapia.com.

The Hideaways Club, a leading international property investment Fund that offers its members the opportunity to invest in and exclusively enjoy an entire portfolio of luxury villas and chalets, announced this week that it has formed an exciting alliance with Banyan Tree Private Collection, Asia’s first and most luxurious global destination club.

The alliance takes the form of an exchange partnership, offering members of both clubs a new and unique holiday experience allowing them the opportunity to enjoy reciprocal usage of each other’s properties.

Launched in 2007, The Hideaways Club is one of the largest clubs of its kind with over 25 multi-million dollar properties throughout Europe, Africa, Mauritius and South East Asia. Banyan Tree Private Collection owns premium villas within Banyan Tree resorts in Thailand, Bali, China and Seychelles as well as standalone private villas and luxury apartments in Italy, France, the United Kingdom and Japan. This alliance allows members of both clubs the opportunity to substantially broaden their holiday horizons at no extra cost to their initial membership or yearly fees. Members of each club will be able to use the spare capacity of the other club which will greatly increase property availability for all members.

Commenting on the alliance Mike Balfour, Chairman and co-founder of The Hideaways Club said,” We are thrilled to have formed this partnership with such a prestigious and internationally recognised company. This is a very exciting time in the growth of The Hideaways Club, and with nine additional properties from which to choose the alliance opens up a whole new area for our members to discover and enjoy. This relationship further endorses our commitment to offering the widest range of holiday options available to members of the Club.”

Marina Kleiman, Managing Director of Banyan Tree Private Collection commented, “The Hideaways Club is a perfect fit for us and totally reflects the luxury, quality and service that our members have come to expect. This will give them the opportunity to visit some of the most exotic and exciting locations around the world in the comfort and style for which the Banyan Tree Private Collection is renowned.”

The properties of both clubs are serviced by their own concierge operation who will handle all reservations and requests thereby removing all the hassles, unforeseen financial pitfalls and headaches associated with booking a holiday in order to ensure a relaxed and memorable experience.

Membership of The Hideaways Club is rapidly becoming recognised as the most financially astute way of investing in overseas property that combines a unique investment with a luxurious lifestyle, offering members a wide variety of holiday options while at the same time benefiting from medium to long term growth on their investment.

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TimeShareWare, the industry leader in providing technology solutions, and Bluegreen Resorts, a leading provider of Colorful Places to Live and Play®, are pleased to announce that TimeShareWare Professional 2009 has been installed at 41 Bluegreen owned or managed resorts across North America. Bluegreen initially installed TimeShareWare for all of their resorts in 2003, and is pleased to upgrade to this latest solution from TimeShareWare.

In TimeShareWare Professional 2009 Bluegreen has selected an advanced technology solution designed to provide data privacy and efficient property management best practices to manage the guest experience of more than 350,000 reservations each year.

For Sheila B. Donahoe, SVP and Chief Information Officer of Bluegreen Corporation, the upgrade to TimeShareWare Professional 2009 marks a significant milestone. “Effectively protecting our owner and guest information is critically important to us. Pro 2009 provides the additional data security we require and is aligned with our PCI compliance objectives. Pro 2009 also arms our resort staff with tools needed to provide exceptional guest service.”

Jerry C. Sandorf, COO of TimeShareWare, followed up Ms. Donahoe’s observations by saying, “Bluegreen is one of the largest and most recognized vacation ownership companies in the world. As a public company, Bluegreen has an extensive responsibility to its owners, its associates, and its shareholders. TimeShareWare is happy to partner with Bluegreen to assist in delivering on these responsibilities.”

About Bluegreen:
Founded in 1966 and headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida, Bluegreen Corporation (NYSE:BXG) is the leader in providing Colorful Places to Live and Play® through its vacation ownership resort and residential real estate business segments. Our more than 3,800 employees are passionate about delivering extraordinary experiences for our owners, travelers, and business partners. Since 1996, Bluegreen has managed, marketed and sold a flexible, real estate-based vacation ownership plan with more than 215,000 owners, over 53 owned or managed resorts, and access to more than 3,700 resorts worldwide. Since 1985, Bluegreen Communities has developed master-planned residential and golf communities primarily in the southern and southeastern U.S., and has sold over 55,000 home sites. Bluegreen also offers a portfolio of comprehensive, turnkey, fee-for-service resort management, financial services, customer generation, and sales solutions to third-party developers and lenders.

About TimeShareWare & CondotelWare:
TimeShareWare provides the most advanced resort technology in the industry and has created a state-of-the-art software platform to provide best-of-breed, superior software solutions to shared-ownership, mixed use resorts around the world. Since 1993, TimeShareWare serves all sizes and types of vacation ownership associations, fractional ownership properties, and timeshare resorts including multi-site, single-site, and points-based clubs. The advanced technology provides critical functionality to the Vacation Ownership, Vacation Club, and Vacation Rentals industries. The TimeShareWare software platform includes solutions for lead and tour management, contract processing, sales and marketing, owner accounting, loan servicing, property management, reservations, and web-based owner servicing.

CondotelWare is the first full-service software solution designed specifically for condominium residences and hotels. The software helps owners and operators master all aspects of condo-hotel/residence management and administration, including owner accounting, billing, rental rotation, inventory management, reservations, owner relations, reporting, and more.

Helps Us to Provide “Great Customer Service” Says Sr. VP

Cory Phelps, Senior VP of The San Francisco Exchange Company (SFX) says the recent selection of CustomerCount© is influential in providing “Great customer service and helped in helping customers with their travel needs.”

The CustomerCount© program, developed initially by Mobius Vendor Partners for its client RCI, collects and measures customer feedback through branded, customized surveys formulated to measure the quality of the entire customer experience from reservations and sales through to the vacation stay itself. CustomerCount tracks three primary components:  the reservation experience, the contact sales experience and the vacation experience.

SFX has over 100,000 members and operates a worldwide exchange network of the industry’s highest rated resorts, aligning itself with the most strategic and respected brand name resorts in the timeshare industry. Regardless of any resorts exchange company affiliation, individual timeshare Owners own the rights to their time and may request the service of any exchange company willing to accept their weeks for exchange. SFX allows owners to exercise this right to its fullest.

In fact, it is SFX’s affiliation with numerous properties and networks that make the CustomerCount© survey extremely important as a real time monitoring system. Phelps says “the system helps us stay consistent and give our members all the information they need to enjoy their vacations. Several times, it has helped in finding out about things happening at a specific resort, such as closure of amenities due to construction or weather.  In one instance, it also alerted us to new fees that we needed to make our guests aware of. “

SFX Preferred Resorts Mayan Palace

CustomerCount© is fully transparent to members, owners and guests.  The process begins with Email invitations and reminders and continues through to on-line reporting and analysis 24/7. It may be customized for use by shared ownership resort developments, as well as other businesses.

Bill Morris, Managing Partner of Mobius Vendor Partners, says “it took four years for us to develop a core system with sound software. That allows us to customize the product according to the needs of the client.  In the case of SFX, they are primarily based on the vacation and reservation experience.  Other clients focus more on the sales experience. The web based, real time reporting helps management keep flexible, which is more than important in today’s business climate.”

Mobius Vendor Partners is a ten year old business process design and management company specializing in servicing the needs of the timeshare industry.  Mobius principals are active in ARDA through sponsorships and committee memberships.  Robert Kobek RRP is a member of the Board of Trustees of the ARDA International Foundation.
For more information visit www.mobiusvp.com or call 317-816-6000.

Perspective International, a PR & media company specializing in the timeshare and fractional ownership industry and publishers of Perspective Magazine and Owners Perspective Magazine, has announced that Perspective Chief Executive Officer Paul Mattimoe will speak at the 2010 Ragatz Associates Fractional Interest Conference, which will take place March 29 through 31 at the Fairmont San Francisco.

“Ragatz Associates is fortunate to have Paul Mattimoe of Perspective International be one of the featured speakers at our forthcoming 10th Annual Fractional Interest Conference,” says Richard L. Ragatz, Ph.D., president of Ragatz Associates. “Paul is widely recognized as an expert on the topic on a global basis in regard to industry trends, supply and demand conditions, and most active companies. He is expected to be a major addition to this year’s conference.”

The 2010 Ragatz Associates Fractional Interest Conference will mark its 10th anniversary. What started as a small seminar with 50 participants has grown to be one of the most widely recognized and respected conferences on the fractional interest and private residence club industries on a global basis. This year’s conference is especially important to anyone currently in the industry, or anticipating being so. Recent and probable future changes in the national and global economies are creating both challenges and opportunities. The conference agenda is designed to reflect these changes and how best to respond to them. Over 60 speakers will discuss critical implications for consumer decision making, marketing, sales, financing, etc. They will represent existing participants in the industry, as well as experts and advisors from related industries.

Additional conference details and registration instructions are available at Ragatz Associates.

About Ragatz Associates
Ragatz Associates has long been internationally recognized as the leading consulting and market research firm in the resort real estate industry. Since being formed in 1974 by Dr. Richard Ragatz, the firm has conducted more than 2,500 studies in over 70 countries.  It specializes in feasibility analysis and consumer research. Almost 500 assignments have been in the fractional and private residence club industry. Clients represent the private sector (from small, individually owned companies, to international corporations) and the public sector (from small municipalities to national governments).

To learn more about the services offered by Ragatz Associates, visit www.ragatzassociates.com.

About Perspective International Ltd
Perspective International Ltd is a PR & Media company specializing in the timeshare and fractional ownership industry. In addition to its media, marketing and advertising services, Perspective International Ltd produces two industry publications: Perspective Magazine – the most-read independent B2B publication for the shared ownership industry globally (www.perspectivemagazine.com); and Owners Perspective Magazine – the consumer version of the above which offers a unique platform for brand awareness and lead generation. (www.ownersperspective.com).

Perspective Magazine is the most read independent B2B publication for the shared ownership industry globally, offering exclusive interviews, news and reviews on all aspects of timeshare, fractional ownership, private residence clubs and resort real estate. Winner of two Innovative Marketing Awards and Media Sponsor of 18 major industry conventions around the globe with official distribution to all delegates at each event just adds to the highly targeted print and online subscription base of more than 20,600 industry professionals and the additional online exposure offered through its network of news and press release sites.

Perspective Magazine is officially distributed to all conference delegates, making it a prime advertising opportunity. For more information on advertising and editorial opportunities, call +1 407 792 2343 (USA) or +44 191 250 3501 (UK), or visit our online media center at www.perspectiverates.com.

Starwood and Hersha Hospitality Management Bring Outdoor-Inspired Design and Eco-Friendly Features to Mercer County

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) today announces the opening of its first ElementSM hotel in New Jersey and the seventh Element hotel globally, Element Ewing-Hopewell in Ewing, New Jersey, just 10 minutes outside Princeton. The hotel is owned through a joint venture between American Properties Realty, Inc. and Hersha Hospitality Management, L.P., which is also the manager of the hotel.

Element, Starwood’s green trailblazer, made history when it launched as the only major hotel brand to mandate that its properties pursue the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification for high-performance buildings. With 127 guest rooms and more than 2,000 square feet of meeting space, Element Ewing delivers a no-compromise, eco-chic experience with inviting and inspiring public spaces, modern amenities and smart design. As an example of the hotel’s commitment to sustainable operations, Element Ewing will offer a curbside charging station for electric vehicles for local residents and guests alike.

Element Ewing provides a refreshing new choice for Mercer County business and leisure travelers alike. The hotel is strategically located between Princeton and Trenton, and Ewing and the surrounding area is home to corporations including Merrill Lynch, Bristol-Myers Squibb , Johnson & Johnson, Medeikon, Solar Energy Corporation, Redpoint Bio, Thermo-Temp Corporation, and Educational Testing Services, along with the Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton at Ewing.

“In a region where business thrives on fresh ideas and bold thinking, we’re pleased to introduce Element’s inspiring, invigorating guest experience,” said Brian McGuinness, Senior Vice President of Specialty Select Brands for Starwood. “Whether they’re staying for three nights or three weeks, guests will appreciate the energizing atmosphere they’ll find at Element Ewing.” The hotel’s opening will also bring more than 35 new – and green – jobs to Mercer County, McGuinness added.

“We are very excited to launch the first Element Hotel in New Jersey and to offer a newly built and smartly designed longer stay alternative for business and leisure travelers in the Ewing-Hopewell market,” said Naveen P. Kakarla, Executive Vice President of Hersha Hospitality Management. “We designed this hotel along with our partners at American Properties Realty with renewed focus on improving energy and environmental performance metrics, including energy savings, water efficiency, CO2-emissions reduction and improved indoor environmental quality. Our development objectives align closely with our ongoing operational initiative on the environment and sustainable hotel operations across approximately 70 hotels under management,” Kakarla added.

Smart from the Start
Element Hotels’ unique design philosophy is evident the moment a guest arrives at Element Ewing-Hopewell. After passing through the hotel’s signature portal, guests are greeted with an energizing environment of clean design and a large open space flooded with natural light from a multi-storied window wall. The vitality of the interior lobby is matched by the energy of the hotel’s outdoor fire pit, barbecue and soothing water feature.

In guest rooms, multi-purpose, modular furniture, swiveling flat-screen televisions, large desks with open shelving and custom-designed closets allow guests to customize their space. Guest rooms feature the signature Westin Heavenly(R) Bed, and each morning guests will be recharged in the spa-inspired shower. Perfectly suited for longer-stay guests, all rooms offer a fully equipped kitchen that features modern, ENERGY STAR-rated appliances and all the utensils necessary to prepare a gourmet meal.

A signature complimentary Rise breakfast offering, free wired and wireless Internet access, 24-hour Restore gourmet pantry, state-of-the-art Motion fitness center, chlorine-free pool and uninterrupted indoor/outdoor public spaces delivers everything guests need to work, relax or socialize on their schedule.

Green from the Ground Up
At Element, green features are cleverly designed to be as aesthetically appealing as they are eco-friendly, so guests never compromise on style and comfort. Eco-friendly materials are used whenever possible and natural light is maximized throughout the hotels. To reduce waste, guest room bathrooms are equipped with amenity dispensers, kitchens are supplied with silverware and glassware instead of plastic utensils and paper cups, and filtered drinking water is available rather than plastic water bottles. Recycling bins are available in guest rooms and public areas. Element hotels conserve water and energy with low-flow faucets and fixtures, compact fluorescent light bulbs, and energy-efficient appliances. Even the ubiquitous “Do Not Disturb” sign has been replaced with an environmentally-friendly magnet. For more information, please visit www.elementhotels.com.

Element Hotels, like all brands within Starwood’s portfolio, is proud to offer the Starwood Preferred Guest(R) program, which made headlines when it launched in 1999 with a breakthrough policy of no blackout dates on Free Night Awards. To learn more, please visit www.spg.com.

About American Properties Realty, Inc.
American Properties is a fully integrated development, investment and management company operating in New Jersey for over 40 years. American Properties has constructed over 10,000 homes, apartments and condominiums. In addition, it has completed over 1,000 hotel rooms and 3 million square feet of office space. The company has active projects in Ewing, Chesterfield, Matawan, and Eatontown. The company is headquartered in Woodbridge, New Jersey. It is one of the first building companies in New Jersey to obtain LEED certification and has received awards from the NJ DEP for its development practices. Many of its communities have received the highest awards from the NJ Builders Association.

About Hersha Hospitality Management
Hersha Hospitality Management currently operates approximately 70 hotels in the nation’s leading markets, including six hotels in the Princeton-Trenton corridor in New Jersey. The company provides turnkey hotel management and asset management for properties with leading brand affiliations, including Starwood, Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt, and InterContinental Hotel Group, and a newly launched “Independent Collection” (www.independentcollection.com). Including hotels under construction, HHM operates hotels under 20 brands. The company’s clients include publicly traded companies, joint ventures, institutional real estate owners and private investors. Additional information about HHM may be found at www.hershahotels.com.

About Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with 960 properties in 97 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(R), The Luxury Collection(R), W(R), Westin(R), Le Méridien(R), Sheraton(R), Four Points(R) by Sheraton, and the recently launched Aloft(R), 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. For more information, please visit www.starwoodhotels.com.

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