The new youthful-minded lifestyle brand will open in the summer of 2009 in Chicago.

aloha! Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. and its much-anticipated new lifestyle brand, aloft(SM) hotels, today announced plans to open an aloft hotel in Bolingbrook, Illinois, a rapidly expanding suburb of Chicago. Owned by LTD Management, aloft Bolingbrook is scheduled to open in July of 2009. Designed to meet the needs of today's forward-thinking travelers, the new-build hotel will offer 155 rooms, a variety of intuitive technologies and playful public spaces.

aloft Bolingbrook will be ideally located in The Promenade, an open-air town center located on Chicago's southwest side. The Promenade, featuring over 1 million square feet of shopping, dining and entertainment, is a pedestrian-friendly gathering place approximately 30 minutes south of downtown Chicago and just over 30 minutes from both O'Hare International Airport and Chicago Midway Airport.

Nearby attractions include Splashtown Water Park, Harrah's Riverboat Casino and several premium golf courses. Guests will also enjoy easy access to Chicago's leading attractions including the Magnificent Mile shopping district, the Art Institute of Chicago and The Museum of Science and Industry.

"aloft Bolingbrook will appeal to youthful-minded travelers with its urban flair and social interplay," said Brian McGuinness, Vice President of aloft and element hotels worldwide. "Alive with the energy of discovery and interaction, aloft will be a perfect match for this dynamic suburb of the Windy City."

"We are thrilled to introduce aloft to Bolingbrook, as it will bring a combination of sophistication and playfulness to this vibrant community," said Neel Desai, LTD's Managing Partner. "We feel that aloft, with its innovative, fresh perspective on lodging; will provide a welcome alternative for travelers while also becoming an integral part of the pedestrian-friendly Promenade Bolingbrook."

As a Vision of W Hotels, aloft is shaking up the lodging industry with urban-influenced design, accessible technology, style and a social atmosphere. aloft offers a total sensory experience, with guest lofts featuring loft-like nine-foot ceilings and oversized windows to create a bright, airy environment.

The centerpiece of the loft room is the ultra-comfortable signature bed, and large stylish bathrooms complement the guest experience with oversized walk-in showers and amenities created by bliss(R) spa. Each guest loft is also a combination high-tech office and entertainment center, featuring wireless internet access and a one-stop connectivity solution for multiple electronic gadgetry such as PDAs, cell phones, mp3 players and laptops - all linked to a large flat panel HDTV ready television for optimal sound and viewing.

Designed in conjunction with world renowned David Rockwell and the Rockwell Group, aloft stays true to the W Hotel brand's heritage, offering atmospheric public spaces designed to draw guests from their rooms to socialize and make friends.

Guests can read the paper, work on their laptops via hotel-wide wireless internet access, play a game of pool or grab a drink with friends at the re:mix communal lobby area and bar w xyz. The re:charge fitness center and splash, the indoor or outdoor pool, give travelers options to de-stress and re-energize; while re:fuel by aloft, a one-stop food and beverage area, offers sweet, savory and healthy food, snacks and beverages to grab & go, 24-hours a day.