THE WOODLANDS, Texas — April 28, 2016 — The Howard Hughes Corporation® (NYSE:HHC) and Westin Hotels & Resorts, part of Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Inc. (NYSE:HOT), announced today the opening of The Westin at The Woodlands in Greater Houston. Developed, managed and owned by The Howard Hughes Corporation, the Waterway Square® district anchor redefines hospitality in the region through its architecture, decor, amenities and service levels. The Westin at The Woodlands is the first Westin in The Woodlands® master planned community and the 50th Starwood hotel in Texas.
“We are proud to have created this exceptional hotel that further strengthens The Woodlands’ appeal as a nationally-recognized business and leisure destination,” said David R. Weinreb, Chief Executive Officer of The Howard Hughes Corporation. “The Westin is part of our growing hospitality portfolio in The Woodlands and meets the demand for sophisticated hospitality options in the core of the country’s premier master planned community.”
Over the past decade, The Woodlands has emerged as one of the fastest growing areas in the country, while earning accolades for its pedestrian-centric urban core, architectural standards, preservation of natural resources and quality of life.
“As a leader in hospitality, the Westin fits seamlessly into this burgeoning region, and its opening speaks to the increasing demand for well-being, whether traveling for business or leisure,” said Bob Jacobs, Vice President of Brand Management, North America, Westin Hotels & Resorts. “We are delighted to introduce The Westin at The Woodlands to our global guests and local residents, ensuring that they all leave feeling better than when they arrived.”
The Westin at The Woodlands features 302 well-appointed guestrooms and suites with warm, residential interiors by Dallas-based waldrop+nichols studio. Modern custom furnishings include over-scale lounge seating, millwork headboards and curvilinear desks. In addition to Westin’s renowned Heavenly® Bed and Bath, curated conveniences in each guestroom include one-touch bedside lighting controls plus solar and blackout shades.
Executed in collaboration with Boston-based Elkus Manfredi Architects and the Houston office of Gensler, the 13-story hotel’s crisp stone and glass façade create a modern sense of arrival, while flooding the space with natural light. Inspired by its waterfront location, the hotel’s stunning geometry also reinforces Westin’s design principles, which suggests a connection to nature enhances well-being.
A custom overhead lighting feature flows through the core of the hotel on a meandering path from the entrance to the 15,000-square-foot, waterfront meetings and events level, one floor below. An atrium-like foyer is the focal point of the highly flexible meeting and events level, which opens onto a waterside terrace on one end and the 6,000-square-foot Edgewater Ballroom on the other. Artfully displaying a stunning installation by Texas-based ceramist Kelly Clemons, the foyer leads to seven additional meeting rooms, four of which are waterfront, and a boardroom that faces Waterway Square plaza. The continuous spaces present a myriad of options for weddings and business functions, heightened by culinary experiences created by veteran Hotel Executive Chef Richard Mendoza, showcasing SuperFoodsRx™ selections.
EAT WELL The Westin at The Woodlands features a 150-seat restaurant, lobby bar, full-service Starbucks® and second-level pool deck. CURRENT, a signature concept by The Howard Hughes Corporation, invites guests to enjoy seasonally changing and regionally sourced menus with rising star Chef de Cuisine Nathan Friend at the helm. Oriented around a sculptural tree element flanked by two community tables, the light and airy restaurant encompasses an open kitchen, chef’s table, wine room and private dining room. SideBar is the hotel’s sleek, second-level lounge with an entrance that makes a statement via a grand, glass-walled circular staircase. The lounge opens onto a large terrace surrounding a glass tile, vanishing edge pool with fire feature.
MOVE WELL The 1,200-square-foot WestinWORKOUT® studio is the ideal spot to recharge before and after commitments. The studio offers Life Fitness equipment with individual monitors, mobile workout tracking capabilities, chilled towel service and disposable earbuds. The property further supports the “Move Well” brand pillar with a Run Concierge and Gear Lending program that features clothing, New Balance® shoes and new socks. Immediately adjacent to the studio is an expansive sun terrace with chaises.
IDEAL LOCATION Just under 30 miles from downtown Houston and approximately 20 miles from George Bush Intercontinental Airport, The Westin at The Woodlands places guests steps from Fortune 500 companies and leisure offerings. Connected to a popular public plaza, the hotel spans a prime stretch of The Woodlands Waterway®, a picturesque, tree-lined canal and path system that links a number of key business and leisure attractions. Home to approximately 112,000 residents and over 2,200 businesses, The Woodlands has year-round appeal with a robust calendar of events and a wealth of recreational offerings, including more than 200 miles of hiking and biking trails, 140 parks and 135 holes of golf, making it the premier community in the region.
The Westin at The Woodlands is located at 2 Waterway Square Place. For more information or reservations, call 281-419-4300 or visit westinwoodlands.com.
