STAMFORD, Conn.—Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide announced that its Aloft brand is set arrive in Raleigh, N.C., in 2015. Aloft Raleigh is owned by a joint venture between the Bernstein Companies and Bell View Partners, and will feature 135 rooms. It will be the brand’s fifth hotel in North Carolina.
“We are delighted to debut Aloft in Raleigh and expect the hotel will emerge as a hotspot among savvy travelers, area professionals and students in this dynamic university town,” said Brian McGuinness, senior vice president, specialty select brands for Starwood. “Just five years since it launched, Aloft recently opened its 75th hotel and is coming online in new markets all the time.”
The design of Aloft Raleigh will pay tribute to North Carolina State’s heritage and its future. One side of the hotel will feature a brick façade inspired by the NC State campus, while the other side will make use of glass and steel to create a modern look. A 55-foot sculpture created by Raleigh artist Thomas Sayre will join the two sides together.
“We have the utmost respect for the history of NC State University and the Bell Tower and have worked hard to design a project that will fit in with its surroundings,” said Mark Andrews of Bell View. “This is the type of project that will make a positive and lasting impact on the community, and we are looking forward to this vision coming to fruition.”
Aloft Raleigh will feature its signature W XYZ Bar, a Splash outdoor pool, and more than 1,000 square feet of flexible meeting space. In addition, there will be two retail storefronts on Hillsborough Street and an outdoor space on the second floor that extends over the Hillsborough Street sidewalk to create an inviting and engaging atmosphere. A parking deck will be situated behind the hotel and hidden from view.
