Starwood to open Birmingham's first five-star hotel

Birmingham is set to gain its first five-star hotel in early 2010 when Starwood Hotels & Resorts introduces its Westin brand to England.

The 198-room Westin Birmingham will be located at Snow Hill, a one million sq ft mixed use development in central Birmingham.

It will feature a spa, gym, two restaurants, a bar and lobby lounge as well as meeting and convention facilities.

Property developer Ballymore Properties is working with Starwood on the hotel.

Michael Wale, director of operations for North West Europe at Starwood, said: "We are thrilled to be opening the first Westin property for England in Birmingham.

"The city has become one of the UK's key cities for corporate, meetings and incentive business and there is strong demand for a brand like Westin to establish a presence in the region."

There are 150 Westin hotels and resorts in more than 30 countries. The first UK property was the Westin Turnberry Resort in Ayrshire, Scotland, the venue for the British Open in 2009.

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By Daniel Thomas

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