Did you know? Over 75 years of History and Innovation - Westin Hotels set the bar for hospitality
DID YOU KNOW? The Westin Brand was born in 1930 as Western Hotels and has had a long history of setting the bar and new initiatives in the hospitality industry. Industry firsts include the first guest credit card, 24-hour room service, credit-card reservation and check-out system, Westin Kids Club ®, Service Express ®, The Heavenly Bed ®, The Heavenly Bath®, The Heavenly Crib ®, WestinWORKOUT ® and much more. Westin was also the first hotel chain to go smoke-free in all its hotels in the North American division and also launched the "Breathe" campaign and other health & lifestyle improvement initiatives to serve it's guests better.
Westin History and Industry Firsts:
- 1930 As luck would have it, two hotel competitors found themselves having breakfast at the same diner in Yakima, Washington. They struck up a conversation, formed an alliance and Western Hotels was born.
- 1946 The first guest credit card is issued by Western Hotels.
- 1947 The "Hoteltype" reservations system is introduced, allowing Western to instantaneously confirm guest reservations.
- 1954 With the addition of a property in Canada, Western Hotels evolves into Western International.
- 1969 Western Hotels is the first to offer 24-hour room service
- 1978 The first in-house hotel training program for Executive Chefs is developed by Western Hotels.
- 1980 The company commemorates its 50th birthday by changing its name to Westin Hotels & Resorts.
- 1983 Westin is the first major hotel to implement a comprehensive credit card reservation and check-out system.
- 1991 Westin guests are offered personal voice-mail service – a first in the hotel industry.
- 1994 "Westin Kids Club®," the first children’s program serving infants, features a broad range of services and facilities for all children under the age of thirteen.
- "Service Express®," the first program of its kind is introduced, allowing guests to request all hotel services with just one call.
- 1999 Westin proudly introduces The Heavenly Bed® and changes the industry paradigm of a superior sleep experience.
- 2001 The heavenly family of innovations grows with the Heavenly Bath® featuring dual shower heads and more elbow room. In addition, Westin’s Heavenly Bath includes spa towels, custom bath amenities, Heavenly Shower Curtains and Egyptian cotton-velour robes.
- The Heavenly Crib® is created to surround babies in comfort and provide them with a superior sleep experience.
- 2003 WestinWORKOUT® Powered by Reebok Gym is introduced as the ideal solution for those dedicated to keeping fit, even when they’re away from home.
- 2004 Fitness equipment is added to guestrooms in response to the growing demand for more personalized workout options.
"This is a story of a little hotel chain that grew from 17 properties in the Northwest to become a world leader. Today, we have over 120 hotels in 24 countries, including some of the world’s most prestigious properties. And all the while, we’ve maintained our commitment to quality, people, consistency, and innovation. Today we’re obsessed with creating unforgettable guest experiences and infusing a spirit of renewal into every aspect of the Westin experience.”
Sue Brush, Senior Vice President, Westin Hotels & Resorts
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