PORTLAND, ME—Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. debuted its Westin brand here following the conversion of a property in 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.
The hotel features 289 guestrooms and suites, two dining outlets, a day spa and all of the brand’s 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.
“As one of the oldest and most prominent landmarks in Portland, we are excited to revitalize the hotel and reintroduce it as a Westin while maintaining its rich history,” stated Jim Merkel, Rockbridge CEO. “The Westin Portland Harborview will be a top lodging destination along the eastern seaboard and will serve as the anchor for downtown Portland’s historic Arts District.”
Built in 1927, 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.
“For nearly a century, the Eastland was a beacon of hospitality in this port city, and we believe it was worth the extra effort that comes with restoration to ensure that The Westin Portland Harborview would remain a distinctive part of Portland’s tourism landscape,” stated Gerry Chase, president and COO of New Castle. “The result is a hotel that will feel familiar to Westin guests, but is still uniquely Portland. I am confident that this is exactly the right combination to ensure the hotel’s success for the next chapter in its storied history.”
As part of the renovation project, the public spaces at The Westin Portland Harborview were redesigned. The ballroom, which includes vaulted ceilings and mezzanine spaces, has been restored. The Top of the East rooftop lounge, with its panoramic views of the harbor and downtown Portland has been restored and expanded.