NAPA, CA— Starwood Hotels Resorts Worldwide, Inc. and Intrawest ULC have broken ground for the Westin Verasa Napa Residences. The property is owned by Intrawest and will be managed by Intrawest Hospitality Management Division under a long-term management agreement. The Nov. 4th groundbreaking comes just 10 weeks after the 160-unit full-service development was unveiled to Napas civic and business leaders, as well as potential property buyers. The Westin Verasa Napa will serve as a cornerstone for the development of a new district in downtown Napa. The Oxbow Public Market, located next to the development, broke ground in September. The 40,000-square-foot marketplace, which includes an outdoor deck with seating along the Napa River, will feature a diverse tenant mixture of local food vendors, artisan cafes and organic farm stands. Construction on the hotel will begin this year, with a planned opening in 2008. The Westin Verasa Napa will reportedly be the first full-service property to come to Napa in nearly five years. The property will also add 5,320 square feet of conference space to the Napa Valley.
