OpenThread: Sheraton & Four Points by Sheraton Join the Non-Smoking Hotel Category

Where: United States

2/11/2008 at 12:34 PM
Tags: Starwood Hotels, Hotel News, Sheraton Hotels, Four Points Hotels, OpenThread, Smoking Ban

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Starwood Hotels & Resorts announced the further de-smokification of their brands with 300 Sheraton and Four Points by Sheraton locations in the US, Caribbean and Canada going smoke-free by December 31st, 2008. Previously in January 2006, Sheraton's sister brand Westin went smoke-free throughout the US, Canada and Caribbean - with the properties in Fuji, Australia and Scotland following due to its popularity, and Marriott announced a similar policy in 2006 as well.

What this means is over 8,000 rooms where guests were previously allowed to smoke will undergo extensive cleaning, public spaces will undergo the same process. Not to worry, those who just cannot bear to be away from a smoke will still be able to utilize designated smoking areas at each property.

What will this mean for Sheraton's convention business? Lately Starwood has been repositioning their Sheraton brand as a convention hotel, and according to some of our members who posted on our OpenThread for Marriott's No-Smoking policy, Marriott lost some business due to this change.

What do you think? Will you be more or less likely to book a room in a Sheraton or Four Points because of the non-smoking policy? Does it make a difference to you one way or another? Chime in this OpenThread and let us know!