$30 MILLION BRAND CAMPAIGN UNDERSCORES HOW WESTIN TACKLES THE TRAVEL & WELLNESS TRENDS UNVEILED IN NEW GLOBAL SURVEY

The hotels have so much to offer to you today. For example: Westin Hotels & Resorts, part of Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR), today unveiled its first global brand campaign in more than five years, taking on the disruptions, distractions and unpredictability of travel and empowering travelers to embrace well-being as a way to regain control of their routines and be their best while on the road. The $30 million dollar, integrated advertising campaign – called Let's Rise – communicates Westin's commitment to its guests' well-being before, during and after their stay. Beginning today, the Let's Rise campaign will be featured in broadcast, digital, radio and out-of-home channels, with print placements to follow later this year. The Let's Rise mantra will also serve as an anchor for the wellness programs and partnerships that roll out for guests and associates throughout the year. 

Westin's Let's Rise campaign is inspired by and illustrative of the wellness and travel trends fueling the future of both industries, as articulated in a new global study conducted in partnership with StudyLogic that surveyed travelers in North America, Mexico, the United Kingdom, Germany, the United Arab Emirates and China. The results show a seismic shift in the way today's travelers prioritize their well-being. With less time and more disruptors on the road, they are reinventing business and leisure travel to put things like fitness first with new vigor to pursue mindfulness and adventure.

"Let's Rise is perfectly positioned to connect with travelers as more of a rally-cry than a brand campaign, given today's over-scheduled and always-on culture," said Brian Povinelli, Global Brand Leader, Westin Hotels & Resorts. "Around the world, we are seeing travelers realigning their priorities to put their well-being first, and Westin is proud to empower our guests to rise to the occasion and be their best selves on the road."

Brand Campaign Challenges Travelers:
"Will You Get Up, or Will You Rise?"

Westin worked with San Francisco-based Venables Bell & Partners to develop the multi-faceted campaign, consisting of multiple executions in which travelers take control of their well-being.  Illustrating guests enabled to wake up early for a run, stay on track with healthy eating goals, and find time to revitalize with an incredible night's sleep, the campaign aims to connect consumers to the signature programs inherent in Westin's DNA – from the iconic Westin Heavenly Bed to its workout Gear Lending program in partnership with New Balance® – all designed to embody the brand's Six Pillars of Well-being: Sleep Well, Eat Well, Move Well, Feel Well, Work Well, and Play Well. 

Because morning is the first and best opportunity to take control of the day ahead, the campaign uses morning light as a consistent creative device to speak to the potential that the morning holds. Overall, the campaign calls consumers to answer a simple question, "Will you get up, or will you rise?"

Global Study Shows Seismic Shift in Travelers' Well-being:

1. Unpredictability of Travel Sees Stress Skyrocket in 2017:
   Guests around the Globe Turn to Wellness to Regain Control

In the last three years, rising wealth and digital connectivity have prompted a significant spike in global travel and the unpredictability that accompanies it.  It is no surprise then that nearly 3 in 4 travelers report they have trouble maintaining their routine on the road. More than 60% say they sleep less, 65% say they exercise less, and 15% report increased stress levels on vacation, a time traditionally thought of as downtime for rest and relaxation.

Westin continues to evolve its programs in lockstep with the increasing global demand for well-being and the holistic role it plays in peoples' lives.

• This year, hotels around the world will unveil updates to the signature 24/7 WestinWORKOUT^® fitness studios, reflecting how people are exercising today with more stretching, strength and core equipment.
  
  
• The brand will continue to grow its Gear Lending partnership with New Balance, giving guests access to workout gear without the hassle of packing it, and introduce additional RunWESTIN™ Concierges, who encourage runners of all levels to grab a running map and join them on scenic routes through cities, along beachfronts and amid rural landscapes.
  
  

2. High Octane or Balanced Breathing:
   Mindfulness & Adventure Travel Meet as the Next "Tribe Workout"

Once reserved for a select few, mindfulness and adventure travel have become increasingly popular as a way for guests to disconnect, reconnect and explore a destination. Globally, the number of travelers who will plan adventure excursions in the next 12 months has doubled in the last 3 years. In Mexico, it has tripled. And surprisingly, more than 50% of global respondents say they plan to seek mindfulness opportunities to clear their minds and center themselves during the chaos of travel.

Propelled by these trends, Westin continues to introduce programs, partnerships and hotel positions that cater to this growing guest demand.  

• Recently the brand saw a new crop of concierges emerge, who are experts in high-octane activities from heli-skiing to kite-surfing at hotels from The Westin Turtle Bay Resort & Spa in Mauritius to The Westin Resort & Spa in Whistler, B.C.
  
   
• Surprisingly, many Westin hotels have also seen a spike in travelers fusing meditation with more physical activities and approaching mindfulness with a similar communal or tribe workout mentality. Yoga and meditation have been incorporated into high-intensity hikes and cycling classes by popular demand at Westin hotels in cities like Atlanta and resort destinations like Bear Mountain.