Sunset Key Cottages island hotel upgraded to Starwood’s Luxury Collection
It’s hard to believe the Westin’s Sunset Key Cottages could be any more luxurious than the exclusive island hotel property already is.
With its elegant gentlemen’s launch ferrying guests out to the island just off Mallory Square, private beach with thatched-roof umbrellas and waterfront dining at award-winning Latitudes restaurant, the Sunset Key Cottages have always been an elite destination. Reportedly, Oprah Winfrey once rented out the entire property to celebrate Maya Angelou’s birthday.
But the Cottages are heading higher. Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, which owns nine hotel chains including The Westin, just announced it is upgrading the property to its more prestigious collection of elite properties, the Luxury Collection, giving it a “brand upgrade” in Starwood’s ranking system. Sunset Key Cottages is currently the only resort in Florida and one of 16 properties within North America to become part of Starwood’s Luxury Collection.
“”We’re excited to have become part of Starwood’s prestigious Luxury Collection, a brand luxury travelers recognize and trust, and we believe this new affiliation will help us continue to draw high-end travelers to Sunset Key and Key West,” said Diane Schmidt, general manager for the Sunset Key Cottages and the Westin Key West Resort.
What will change immediately is the name of the property, now “Sunset Key Cottages, a Luxury Collection Resort.” The company has also launched a new website, www.luxurycollection.com/sunsetkey.
More changes are slated for this summer, including a new guest arrival experience. Instead of checking in at the front desk of the Westin Hotel on Front Street, guests will be met by an “Island Ambassador” and taken to the boat ferry in a luxury golf cart. Escorted to the island by the ambassador, guests will check in on the island and then ferried to their cottage.
Upgrades to the cottages themselves will be made this summer and a high-end beach concession will be added. The hotel will also offer a Conch Ice Cream Cycle, a hand-painted tricycle that will roam the property offering free gourmet ice cream and adult beverages to guests.
“All the Luxury Collection properties are recognized for their history, architecture, art and amenities,” said Sunset Key Cottages Marketing Director Lourdes Torbisco. “And they are selected for the rich culture of each property.”
Sunset Key Cottages joins other 15 other Luxury Collection properties in North America, including the Palace Hotel in San Francisco and the art deco Chatwal hotel in New York. Starwood Hotels and Resorts also own the St. Regis, Le Meridien and W Hotels Worldwide hotel brands.
“We are delighted to debut Sunset Key Cottages as a Luxury Collection resort in a destination designed for the new generation of luxury travelers,” said Anthony Ingham, vice president for brand management, the Luxury Collection. The Luxury Collection brand currently operates 75 hotels in 30 countries.
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