Edward D. Baten

Ed is the Complex General Manager of the highly-anticipated dual-branded development consisting of 755 rooms and 45,000 square feet of event space that will be home to both W Philadelphia and Element Philadelphia. W Philadelphia will be completed in Summer of 2021 and will have 295 rooms, including 39 suites, and will be located in Center City Philadelphia with sweeping views of the surrounding area.

A 30-year-veteran of the hospitality industry, Ed has spent 25 years with Starwood and Marriott International. As a student at Howard University, he planned to join the U.S. State Department as a Foreign Service Officer, however, he fell in love with hospitality as a summer intern as a Guest Relations Agent at the Imperial Hotel in Arlington, VA and never looked back.

Ed first joined Starwood in 1996, where he held various positions in hotel and resort operations related to acquisition and disposition. During his tenure at Starwood, Ed became known as a driven leader of high performance teams which led to overseeing some of the company's most high-profile properties with revenue streams in excess of $75M: W Chicago - City Center and W Chicago - Lakeshore, W New York - Times Square and W Washington DC. Additionally, as one of Starwood's most innovative strategists and operators, he was sought after to assist in complex owner relations disputes and strategic asset planning.

Ed studied International Business and Finance at Howard University in Washington, DC, earned a Certificate in Hotel Real Estate Asset Management from Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, and most recently completed the Columbia University Business School Advanced Management Program earning a Certificate in Business Excellence. He lives in Philadelphia with his wife, young daughter and dog, Gus.