"We're excited to work with the Four Points by Sheraton on this pilot program and to offer their guests access to our popular Web brands and services," said Kevin Conroy, Executive Vice President of AOL. "From getting up-to-date information on what's happening in New York to experiencing AOL's latest online video content and services on large-screen televisions, AOL is pleased to provide guests of the Four Points by Sheraton with the best that the Web has to offer."
"At Four Points by Sheraton our goal is to provide travelers with an honest value, uncomplicated comfort and fun! Through our strategic relationship with AOL, guests at our Chelsea property will have free access to industry-leading on-line content anytime during their stay," said Hoyt Harper, Senior Vice President, Four Points by Sheraton. "From music and movies to videos and news, this pilot provides our guests with one of the richest entertainment experiences available."
The Four Points by Sheraton-branded AOL.com(R) portal will serve as the home page for guests accessing the Internet through the Chelsea hotel's high-speed network - and at Four Points, Internet access is always free. Through this portal, a wide range of content available from the AOL(R) service - including videos, news, music, movies and more - as well as communication tools such as email and the AIM(R) service, will be accessible to guests, enabling them to enjoy a rich array of information and high-quality entertainment.
Instead of stuffy, staffed concierge services, Four Points uncomplicates the self-sufficient traveler's local planning by providing courtesy computers featuring the Four Points by Sheraton-branded AOL(R) CityGuide home page. A one-stop destination for people who want to know where to go and what to do, this specially designed home page features the city's top restaurants and attractions along with special program offerings available at the hotel. AOL CityGuide also allows guests to get directions, access editorial recommendations and purchase movie and event tickets online.
In the Four Points brand's signature, comfortable Family Room, guests can sit back, relax and enjoy the AOL(R) Video "10 foot" Digital Family Room experience, which combines the powerful capabilities of the PC with the familiar face of TV. Through the AOL Video experience, AOL Video's online library of more than 40,000 on-demand videos - including movies, full-length TV shows, music videos, concerts, and more - is delivered from the Web to a large screen television via an Intel Viiv technology-based PC. Intel Viiv technology is Intel's premium brand for in-home media optimized PCs. The technology helps connect the PC to TV, and enables consumers to manage, share and enjoy a broad array of digital entertainment with the energy-efficient performance delivered by the Intel Core(TM) 2 Duo processor. The technology is widely supported by a number of PC and consumer electronics manufacturers, as well as content and service providers such as AOL.
About AOL
AOL is a global Web services company that operates some of the most popular Web destinations, offers a comprehensive suite of free software and services, runs the country's largest Internet access business, and provides a full set of advertising solutions. A majority-owned subsidiary of Time Warner Inc. (NYSE: TWX), AOL LLC is based in Dulles, Virginia. AOL and its subsidiaries also have operations in Europe, Canada and Asia. Learn more at
www.AOL.com.
About Four Points by Sheraton
Four Points by Sheraton understands the needs of their customers by delivering a set of values that are both honest and uncomplicated and that offer a new kind of style and comfort. The brand's current global expansion and development includes choice urban and resort markets such as Soho Village (New York City); Chicago, Illinois; Levis, Quebec, Canada; Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; Shenzhen, China; Cocoa Beach, Florida; and Puerto Rico. The most recent Four Points by Sheraton property to open in Canada was the Four Points by Sheraton Quebec.
Four Points by Sheraton, with more than 130 properties in 22 countries, is owned by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE:HOT). Starwood Hotels & Resorts is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with approximately 850 properties in more than 95 countries and 145,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. Starwood(R) Hotels is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels and resorts with the following internationally renowned brands: St. Regis(R), The Luxury Collection(R), Sheraton(R), Westin(R), Four Points(R) by Sheraton, W(R), Le Meridien(R) and the recently announced Aloft(SM)and Element(SM) Hotels. 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.
Note: This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of federal securities regulations. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance or events and involve risks and uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated at the time the forward-looking statements are made. These risks and uncertainties are presented in detail in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Although we believe the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, we can give no assurance that our expectations will be attained or that results and events will not materially differ. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
