Sheraton Hotels
With your tour guide,
Anne P. Mitchell
| Summary: Sheraton hotels are part of a chain of hotels now owned by the Starwood Hotels and Resorts company. Sheraton hotels have been around since 1937, and have come to be known worldwide for their high quality rooms, services, amenities, and staff. |
Sheraton hotels are part of a chain of hotels now owned by the Starwood Hotels and Resorts company. Sheraton hotels have been around since 1937, and have come to be known worldwide for their high quality rooms, services, amenities, and staff.
The first hotel to be branded with the Sheraton name was located in Springfield, Massachusetts. It was purchased by the two founders of the Sheraton chain, Ernest Henderson and Robert Moore. The following years saw rapid expansion, first into Boston and then across the United States. Rather than build new properties, which was time consuming and costly, Moore and Henderson bought up many existing hotels and refurbished them to meet the quality standards of their brand.
In 1945, the Sheraton name had become so popular that they were the first hotel chain to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange. A combination of effective advertising and truly outstanding service propelled the company into an almost instant success.
By 1949, further expansion saw new properties cropping up in Canada, making Sheraton an international presence. During the 1960’s, their collection grew to include hotels in Latin America and the Middle East. Even with these far-away locations, the Sheraton brand remained synonymous with quality and reliability. In 1965, their 100th property was opened. Three years later, Sheraton Hotels was purchased by ITT, and their official name became ITT Sheraton.
After two more decades of continuous growth, Sheraton became the first branded hotel chain to open a location in the People’s Republic of China. In 1995, a new, lower-priced brand joined the Sheraton Hotels chain. Called Four Points by Sheraton, these properties offered the same quality of service but with limited amenities.
Two other brands eventually became part of the ITT Sheraton chain. St. Regis Hotels and Resorts, and The Luxury Collection both offered more lavish properties and extra services, as well as fine dining and other amenities.
In 1998, ITT Sheraton was acquired by Starwood Hotels and Resorts. Their brands now include Sheraton Hotels, Four Points by Sheraton, St Regis, and The Luxury Collection, as well as Le Meridian, W Hotels, and Westin Hotels and Resorts.
Today, there are Sheraton locations in over 85 countries around the world, including 25 locations in China and hundreds of hotels covering 45 states in the U.S. The quality and high standards have continued throughout the years, making the Sheraton brand one of the most dependable hotel chains in the world.
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