Starwood Unveils SE-STO on Arno Rooftop Restaurant at the Westin Excelsior in Florence

Robert Koren, Vice President and Regional Director of Operations for Starwood Hotels Italy and Central Mediterranean, comments: "We are delighted to re-open SE-STO on Arno at the Westin Excelsior in Florence. With a contemporary point of view on Italian and Mediterranean cuisine and spectacular views of Florence, we are confident that SE-STO on Arno will be extremely popular among our international guests and local residents alike."

Set atop the Westin Excelsior Florence and made almost entirely of glass, SE-STO on Arno offers a dedicated bar for the Italian aperitivo ritual as well as a vibrant restaurant, both surrounded by two spacious terraces. SE-STO on Arno also features designs inspired by the Sixties era with oversized windows, warm and colourful interiors enriched with wooden floors and ceilings, and a curved bar made of wood and alabaster, backlit with bronzed steel inserts.

Open daily for lunch and dinner, SE-STO on Arno features an innovative Mediterranean-style menu offering guests a wide selection of dishes made with fresh seasonal products and accompanied by a prestigious new wine list offering a selection of Italian and international wines. All dishes are creatively curated by Executive Chef Enziana Osmenzeza, a young and dynamic chef who has worked alongside some of the world's most renowned Michelin-starred chefs including Chef Gualtiero Marchesi, Chef Fulvio Pierangelini and Chef Alain Ducasse.

Whether indoors or outdoors, SE-STO on Arno offers the perfect place for guests and local residents to unwind from a long day and enjoy the beautiful surroundings of the city while dining, sipping a glass of wine or enjoying a variety of signature cocktails.

Formerly a 13^th century mansion, the hotel combines eight centuries of Florentine history with contemporary accommodations with the full suite of Westin signature amenities and services. The sensory-rich environment at Westin offers a respite from the rigors of travel and sets a welcoming tone. Westin's innovative programs and instinctive service transform every aspect of a guest's stay into a revitalizing experience with a better you in mind. All guestrooms feature the world-renowned Westin Heavenly^(R) Bed - an oasis of lush sheets, down and a patented pillow-top mattress, which cradles and contours to the body for complete comfort. Signature services including exclusive SuperFoodsRX(R) menus, the industry-leading WestinWORKOUT(R) and the Heavenly(R) Bath enhanced with the brand's Heavenly(R) Shower, Heavenly(R) Robe and White Tea Aloe bath amenities have been designed to ensure guests stay relaxed, refreshed and leave feeling better than when they arrived. In-room, high-speed Internet access and an ergonomic work space offer travelers convenience and productivity in a tranquil setting.

Westin Hotels & Resorts, like all brands within Starwood's robust 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. SPG^(R) 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.

For reservations, call +39 055 27151 or email [email protected]. For further information, please visit www.westinflorence.com.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts currently has 27 hotels in Italy under six of its nine brands, including the recently opened St. Regis Florence and Sheraton Milan Malpensa Airport Hotel and Conference Centre, the soon-to-reopen Gritti Palace, a Luxury Collection Hotel in Venice, as well as the historic St. Regis Rome and The Westin Palace in Milan.