The hotel now features a Vertical Garden, which has been added to the lobby. The Vertical Garden improves indoor air quality, as well as creates a calming, and natural environment. With Vertical Garden, Westin has become the first global brand to incorporate these structures in the lobby space throughout its global portfolio.
To build the living wall, Westin partnered with Ambius, a global interior landscaping provider. The company has already installed a green wall at its Westin Gaslamp Quarter in San Diego, California. The company also plans to incorporate more green walls at all its global locations. By the end of 2012, the hotels at Westin Indianapolis, Westin Boston Waterfront, Westin Birmingham, Westin Georgetown and Westin Bethesda will all feature biowalls.
The vertical gardens will range from 100 to 300 square feet and will be custom-designed and integrate wall-mounted plant modules with infill panels of unique textured materials inspired by the interior architecture and the location’s regional identity. Certain biowalls will also be designed with a UV filter, and allow usage of grey water. These feature further make vertical gardens sustainable.
The renovated lobbies of the hotel will feature customised pods, which will be free-standing structures that will replace the outdated hotel check-in desk. The pods have been ergonomically designed with work surfaces at optimum heights and will be more spacious, which will foster more personal guest interaction.
The comfort of the guests will be enhanced by Westin’s signature white tea scent, combined with custom music, calming tonal colours and soft, atmospheric lighting that creates a fresh and soothing ambiance. The lobbies will feature a new back-lit feature wall.
The lobbies will also feature new acoustic and architectural screens that will improve sound control and help create a more intimate setting. Adjacent to the new seating zones at the lobby, the guests will find the Westin Grab & Go Café and the signature Westin retail store.
The Westin Grab & Go Café will vary at each property. It will range from an enclosed café space with a sky light and a central communal table to a transitional café/bar experience. The signature retail store of the brand will offer a curated selection of Westin innovations, such as Heavenly bedding, bath products and white tea scented products for the home.
