The Westin Bund Center Shanghai has been named as runner-up in the category of “Best Overall Use of Social Media by an Individual Hotel, Global” in the 2nd annual Travel + Leisure Social Media in Travel + Tourism Awards or the SMITTYs in an announcement made on June 3rd, 2013 in New York City. The Westin Bund Center Shanghai is the first hotel in China to ever be recognized by the Travel + Leisure Social Media in Travel + Tourism Awards.

Commenting on the award, Andreas Trauttmansdorff, General Manager of The Westin Bund Center Shanghai said: “We are truly delighted to have received this special recognition. To be the first hotel in China to be recognized in a competitive category by Travel + Leisure Social Media in Travel + Tourism Awards is testimony to our pursuit towards innovation. We are honored by the recognition and will continue to raise the social media bar for everyone in the hotel industry not just in Shanghai but across China.”

The Travel + Leisure SMITTY Awards recognize the most innovative use of social media in the travel industry. This year, sixteen new categories spotlight individual campaigns and the best use of platforms. Nomination submissions from hotels and resorts, cruise lines, airlines, airports, tour operators, convention & visitor bureaus, travel agencies, attractions, car rental agencies, independent journalists and bloggers, and marketing and trade associations were judged by a panel of esteemed social media experts. To view the winners and campaigns from this year’s inaugural SMITTY Awards, visit www.travelandleisure.com/smittys

Boasting a dramatic crown rooftop, the iconic Westin Bund Center Shanghai is centrally located in downtown Shanghai. Just a stroll away is the magnificent Bund architectural site and waterfront. Yu garden, a 400-year-old classical Chinese garden and the popular pedestrian shopping precinct on Nanjing Road are also within short walking distance. Lujiazhui Financial District is a mere 10-minute taxi ride away. Guests will be pleasantly delighted on arrival with the grand atrium lobby featuring a striking cantilevered glass staircase inlaid with delicate rice paper and beautiful soft-glow lighting. With 570 tastefully-decorated guest rooms and suites offered in two towers, other services and facilities include restaurants serving Asian, Italian and international favorites including the city’s famous Sunday Brunch, a Westin Workout fitness centre with indoor swimming pool and Banyan Tree Spa.

The Westin Bund Center Shanghai is located at 88 Henan Middle Road, Shanghai 200002, China. Tel: (86 21) 6335 1888.  Online: www.westinshanghai.com

About Westin Hotels & Resorts

Westin Hotels & Resorts makes the healthiest choices irresistibly appealing, so guests leave feeling better than when they arrived.  With more than 180 hotels and resorts in over 36 countries and territories, Westin is owned by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. Starwood Hotels is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with 1,071 properties in 100 countries and territories with 145,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. Starwood Hotels is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels, resorts and residences with the following internationally renowned brands: St. Regis®, The Luxury Collection®, W®, Westin®, Le Méridien®, Sheraton®, Four Points® by Sheraton, and the recently launched Aloft®, and Element SM.  The company boasts one of the industry’s leading loyalty programs, Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG), allowing members to earn and redeem points for room stays, room upgrades and flights, with no blackout dates.  Starwood Hotels also owns Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., one of the premier developers and operators of high quality vacation interval ownership resorts. For more information, please visit www.starwoodhotels.com.

About Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with 1,134 properties in nearly 100 countries and 171,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. Starwood is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels, resorts and residences with the following internationally renowned brands: St. Regis®, The Luxury Collection®, W®, Westin®, Le Méridien®, Sheraton®, Four Points® by Sheraton, Aloft®, and ElementSM. The Company boasts one of the industry’s leading loyalty programs, Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG), allowing members to earn and redeem points for room stays, room upgrades and flights, with no blackout dates. Starwood also owns Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., a premier provider of world-class vacation experiences through villa-style resorts and privileged access to Starwood brands. For more information, please visit www.starwoodhotels.com.