Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has announced the debut of its world-renowned Westin® brand in Portland, Maine following the strategic conversion of a landmark property in the heart of the city’s Arts District. Owned by Rockbridge and managed by New Castle Hotels & Resorts, The Westin Portland Harborview is the state’s first Westin hotel, featuring 289 guest rooms and suites, two dining outlets, a day spa and all of the brand’s distinctive signature amenities. Formerly known as the Eastland Hotel, The Westin Portland Harborview completed an 18-month, $50 million restoration and renovation project prior to raising the Westin flag. Built in 1927 and widely considered to be Portland’s “grand dame,” The Westin Portland Harborview was stripped to its earliest “bones” of concrete, bricks and steel and restored with an eye toward preserving the historical integrity of the hotel and its façade, while incorporating all the Westin brand’s distinctive services and amenities. The project was financed, in part, through historic tax credits provided by U.S. Bancorp Community Development Corporation.
As part of the renovation project, the public spaces at The Westin Portland Harborview were redesigned to reflect their earliest incarnation. The ballroom, host to the city’s most prestigious events and social occasions, has been restored right up to its soaring vaulted ceiling and mezzanine spaces. The famed Top of the East rooftop lounge, with its panoramic views of the harbor and downtown Portland has been restored and expanded to so it can reclaim its position as the top local gathering spot. Even the hotel’s iconic, oversized lobby chandelier has been reimagined for the present.
The sensory-rich environment at The Westin Portland Harborview offers a respite from the rigors of travel and sets a welcoming tone. The Westin brand’s innovative programs and instinctive service transform every aspect of a guest’s stay into a revitalizing experience. All guestrooms and suites reflect the elegance of the original, while embracing contemporary comforts including the world-renowned Westin Heavenly® Bed and the Heavenly® Bath enhanced with the brand’s Heavenly® Shower, Heavenly® Robe and White Tea by Westin® Aloe bath amenities, in-room and high-speed Internet access. The hotel also will offer the Westin brand’s signature SuperFoodsRX® menu, which includes nutrient-rich and delicious options to tempt every palate.
The Westin Portland Harborview is home to the city’s newest day spa, Akari, as well as a signature a WestinWORKOUT® gym, complete with New Balance gear lending and running maps. The hotel offers two restaurants including C2, named for the hotel’s Congress Square location and the historic significance of the neighborhood, and Top of the East, the highest point in the city, open nightly for cocktails and light fare.
Located at 157 High Street in the heart of Portland’s vibrant art district and directly across the street from the Portland Museum of Art, The Westin Portland Harborview is within easy walking distance of the city’s best dining, shopping, and art galleries, as well as the Old Port District. Recently ranked the fifth hippest city in the U.S. by Travel & Leisure magazine readers and the #1 Foodiest small town by Bon Appetit, Portland is celebrated for its live music scene, fine dining, independent boutiques and eco-friendly lifestyle.
