Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide will open Aloft Sarasota, its first Aloft branded property in Sarasota, Florida, in August 2015.
The new property will be owned by a joint venture between JWM One Palm Avenue and iStar Financial and will feature 139 rooms.
Aloft Sarasota will be located at One Palm Avenue, which is in close proximity to the Florida Studio Theatre, Sarasota Opera House, Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, the Florida State College of Medicine – Sarasota campus, as well as numerous shops and restaurants.
The new property will also offer easy access to the city’s beaches and leading attractions including the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art and Mote Marine Aquarium.
Amenities at the hotel will include an outdoor splash pool, W XYZ bar, 24hr fitness centre and 610ft² of flexible meeting space for business meetings and social gatherings.
Starwood Specialty Select Brands senior vice president Brian McGuinness said the group looks forward to introducing Aloft to Sarasota, its seventh Aloft in the state.
"Aloft is on track to open its 100th hotel in 2014, fueled by rising demand among savvy travellers who appreciate the brand’s distinctive design, innovative programmes and partnerships and buzzing social scene," McGuinness added.
The hotel also features Smart Check In technology, a mobile check-in option allowing guests to completely bypass the front desk; an exclusive partnership with Design Within Reach (DWR); and the W XYZ bar experience featuring live acoustic music.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts North America development senior vice president Allison Reid said that Aloft Sarasota will offer travellers a new option on Florida’s Gulf Coast, as the company continues to accelerate the brand’s growth in cities across North America.
"The Aloft brand has cultivated a loyal fan base among the next generation of travellers with its distinctive style and innovative offerings, all at an affordable price," Reid added.
