Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide Inc has announced that its largest brand - Sheraton Hotels and Resorts - is to get a $3.7bn (£1.5bn) makeover.
This will include new designs for hotels' lobbies and guests rooms - $1.3bn will be spent on renovations, $400m on brand initiatives and $2bn on new properties.
Sheraton will upgrade 100 hotels in the US, nearly half of its North American portfolio, renovating 50,000 rooms and redesigning more than 100 lobbies. But the brand intends to differentiate the guest experience at all of its 406 hotels across 71 countries.
”We are leveraging Starwood's proven history of building great lifestyle brands to enhance the entire guest experience for the company”s most global, recognised brand,” said Sheraton Hotels and Resorts senior vice president, Hoyt H Harper.
The 100 new lobbies will be updated to include a new communication hub called ”Link @ Sheraton” which will enable guests to work online with free Wi-Fi and internet-enabled computer stations, allowing them to email and print boarding passes.
A connection zone designed to facilitate working will provide meeting space and desks.
Guestrooms will feature built-in flat screen TVs, and charging station enabling guests to charge electronic devices.