Starwood Hotels’ design-led Aloft brand to debut in Raleigh

STAMFORD, CONN. - Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. announced that its sizzling Aloft brand is set to arrive in Raleigh, North Carolina. Aloft Raleigh is slated to open in mid-2015 on Hillsborough Street, across the street from North Carolina State University’s iconic bell tower. Owned by a joint venture between the Bernstein Companies and Bell View Partners, Aloft Raleigh will feature 135 spacious, loft-like rooms, tech-forward innovation and a buzzing social atmosphere. It will be the brand’s fifth hotel in North Carolina.

“We are delighted to debut Aloft in Raleigh and expect the hotel will emerge as a hotspot among savvy travelers, area professionals and students in this dynamic university town,” said Brian McGuinness, Senior Vice President, Specialty Select Brands for Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. “Just five years since it launched, Aloft recently opened its 75th hotel and is coming online in new markets all the time.”

The design of Aloft Raleigh will pay tribute to NC State’s heritage and its future. One side of the hotel will feature a brick facade inspired by the NC State campus, while the other side will make use of glass and steel to create a more modern look. A 55 foot sculpture created by renowned Raleigh artist Thomas Sayre will join the two sides together.

“The art is a visible representation of how the sound of a bell is created,” said Sayre. “It is extraordinary how much importance the development team has placed on merging public art and building design together in order to create a memorable threshold to the campus.”

“We have the utmost respect for the history of NC State University and the Bell Tower and have worked hard to design a project that will fit in with its surroundings,” said Mark Andrews of Bell View. “This is the type of project that will make a positive and lasting impact on the community, and we are looking forward to this vision coming to fruition.”

The Bell View project has received positive feedback from university leaders and members of the surrounding community. “This project is another positive step forward in the revitalization of Hillsborough Street,” said Jeff Murrison, executive director of the Hillsborough Street Community Service Corporation. “Everyone has been pleased with the attention to detail that has gone into this project and the way it will fit into our neighborhood.”

Aloft Raleigh will feature its signature W XYZ Bar, a Splash outdoor pool and more than 1,000 square feet of flexible meeting space, perfect for business meetings and social gatherings. In addition, there will be two retail storefronts on Hillsborough Street and an outdoor space on the second floor that extends over the Hillsborough Street sidewalk to create an inviting and engaging atmosphere. A parking deck will be situated behind the hotel and hidden from view.

Walking distance to a variety of clubs, restaurants, and the North Carolina State Capitol building, Aloft Raleigh will also be close to the Raleigh Convention Center, the BTI Performing Arts Center, Research Triangle Park and Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU).

Pioneering initiatives in music, design, and technology have positioned Aloft as a must-have brand for the next generation of travelers. Aloft has reported consistently high guest satisfaction scores since launch, reflecting the success of its modern and vibrant design at an affordable price point.