Westin Hotels and Resorts introduced a new signature social experience, Unwind… A Westin Evening Ritual, featuring the tastes, sights and sounds of each destination. From lessons on mixing a Bellini in Venice to learning about fine Scottish Whisky in Scotland, to whipping up guacamole in Tucson, to a tai chi lesson in Beijing, each of the Westin brand’s 129 hotels worldwide have carefully planned social experiences which are rolling out in hotels over the next month.

Designed to bring new energy to its hotels, the Westin Unwind events transform each lobby into a gathering spot, encouraging guests to socialise, helping to combat the loneliness many travellers can experience on the road. A recent study by Westin Hotels & Resorts found that that 34 per cent of frequent travellers feel lonely while away from home.

Experience Unwind

From chocolate and wine pairings to live jazz and rotating art exhibits, the Westin Unwind rituals feature a rich array of experiences. The following selection provides a snapshot of Unwind experiences around the world:

A performance of the Lali, a traditional Fijian wooden Drum, at the Westin Denarau Island, Fiji Resort & Spa, Fiji;

A lesson in mixing a perfect Bellini, paired with a sampling of traditional Italian foods at the Westin Excelsior, Venice Lido, Italy;

A session by a specialist waiter on the history of tapas, including information on Spanish wine growing regions and a wine tasting at the Westin La Quinta Golf Resort, Spain;

A live performance by a traditional bagpiper and lessons on fine Scottish whisky at the Westin Turnberry Resort, Ayrshire, Scotland – sipping encouraged;

Rotating art exhibits featuring local artists at the Westin Long Beach, California, USA;

A sampling of Chinese traditions, including a candle-lighting ceremony, tai chi, watercolour painting and treats prepared with fruits and herbs indigenous to China at the Westin Beijing, Financial Street, China;

Instruction in whipping up a perfect batch of guacamole at the Westin La Paloma Resort and Spa in Tucson, Arizona.

“By transforming our lobbies from a place guests pass through to an inviting social and sensory setting, Westin hopes to provide a richer guest experience, where guests can indulge, socialise and maybe even learn a new skill to bring home from each destination,” said Sue Brush, senior vice president, Westin Hotels and Resorts. “If we can provide our guests with a place to relax at the end of the day, lift their spirits and perhaps meet new people in a warm environment, we believe we are doing our job well.”

Hotels Transform from Day to Night…

In order to set the stage for its signature evening rituals, the Westin lobbies evolve from day to evening through a variety of subtle sensory cues - everything from music, to scent, to lighting. Warm, natural lighting is dimmed at the start of the evening while scented candles are lit and carefully placed around the lobby. Westin music moves from the background to the foreground with musical cues and selections that change from day to night. Westin has partnered with eMusic, the world’s largest digital retailer of independent music, to develop the custom soundtracks for Unwind.

Westin is rolling out the Unwind experience in all of its properties globally in the first quarter of 2007, following a successful three-month pilot in 20 hotels last year. For more information on the Westin brand’s Unwind ritual and local Unwind experiences please visit www.westin.

com/unwind.