The Mclean-based hotel giant has settled a lawsuit in which rival Starwood Hotels & Resorts accused Hilton of using stolen trade secrets to launch a niche brand called Denizen Hotels and advance other Hilton lines such as its Waldorf Astoria Collection.

The settlement, disclosed in a federal court filing Wednesday, calls for the appointment of an independent monitor to make sure Hilton doesn’t take advantage of the documents allegedly purloined from Starwood.

For just over two years, the settlement also prohibits Hilton from creating any hotel brand that would compete “in the lifestyle hotel or branded boutique space.”

There was more to the settlement, but some terms were kept confidential, Hilton said. ” (via  washingtonpost.com) by David S. Hilzenrath and Danielle Douglas

Pointswizard.com Spin: Click here to read the rest of Starwood, Hilton settle trade secret lawsuit

Choose from more than 60 hotels properties in Mexico, Central and South America.

All of Starwood’s brands participate in this campaign – Sheraton, Westin, W Hotels, Le Meridien, St Regis, The Luxury Collection, and Four Points..

Stays completed by December 15, 2010.

• A minimum stay of 2 nights is required.

• For city hotels, guests must arrive on a Thursday, Friday, or Saturday.

• For resort hotels, guests can arrive any day of the week.

• Offer valid if charges are settled with any MasterCard.

• Choose 2 of the  3 :

(1) 2 kids maximum eat free with parents, up to 12 years of age, during full stay.

(2) Two Signature cocktails per person per stay.

(3) In-room amenity of wine with cheese or champagne with a selection of fruit. Amenities vary by hotel.

Pointswizard.com Spin: Click here to get more info or  book – 20% off Starwood hotels in Mexico+Latin America plus get extra rewards when paying with your MasterCard

• Offer is valid for stays booked and completed between May 18, 2010 and December 31, 2010.
• Guests must be Starwood Preferred Guests in order to receive these exclusive rates. Not an SPG member? Enroll now at SPG.com.
• Advance reservations are required and must be made online or by calling 866-716-8141 and requesting Rate Plan SPG50SPC.
• On Oahu, the 35% dining discount applies to Pikake Terrace at the Sheraton Princess Kaiulani; Kai Market and RumFire at the Sheraton Waikiki; Banyan Grill at the Moana Surfrider, A Westin Resort & Spa; Surf Lanai, Mai Tai Bar and the Aha Aina Luau at The Royal Hawaiian, a Luxury Collection Resort. With our “Stay at One, Dine at All” program, the 35% discount applies to all listed outlets when charged to your room, regardless of the Starwood property you are staying at in Waikiki.
• On Kauai, the 35% dining discount applies to lunch at Oasis and dinner at Shells at the Sheraton Kauai; dinner at Nanea Restaurant & Bar at The Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas.
• On Maui, the daily breakfast for two at the Sheraton Maui will be at Keka’a Terrace; at The Westin Maui it will be at Ono Bar & Grill; at The Westin Ka’anapali Ocean Resort Villas it will be at Ocean Pool Bar & Grill.
• On the Big Island, the daily breakfast for two will be at Kai.

Pointswizard.com Spin: Click here for more info or to book it.

You and a guest will each receive one-day VIP passes to serve as Honorary Observers at the AT&T National at the Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, PA – on July 2, 2010, allowing you to see world-class golfers compete from just steps away…

In addition, you’ll receive two weekly badges, valid for grounds admission for Thursday–Sunday, July 1–4, as well as two weekly parking passes… Don’t miss this opportunity to see your favorite players face off at this prestigious PGA TOUR(R) event.

Bid your Starpoints

Pointswizard.com Spin: Click here to get info-Starwood- Be a Honorary Observer at the AT&T Golf National.

Bidding will end in 12 days -check the time left countdown clock at bottom of auction page

Click here for full list 2010 Maxim  Top 100 …

top 5 -Katy Perry, Brooklyn Decker, Zoe Saldana, Blake Lively, and Megan Fox…

——————————————————————————–

(sorry bidding is over.)

Catch more than an eyeful at the Maxim Hot 100 Party in Los Angeles…
You and a guest will be inside the ropes at this exclusive, invitation-only event that draws attractive celebrities from all over the world…

Use your Starwood points to bid…

The Maxim Hot 100 Party package includes:

Apply from April 13 through April 26, new Premier Rewards Gold Card Cardmembers will earn 25,000 Membership Rewards® points after $1,000 spend in 3 months… That’s an extra 10,000 Membership Rewards® points above the standard offer (15,000 Membership Rewards® points after $1,000 spend in 3 months)…

ALSO-Earn Membership Rewards(R) points up to three times as fast: You can earn 3X points on airfare, 2X points on gas and groceries, and 1X points on everything else on The American Express Premier Rewards Gold Card…

-Earn an extra 15,000 bonus points when you spend $30,000 in a calendar year…

-No annual fee for your first year of membership, then $175

-Transfer miles to 17 airlines including Delta, Continental, Southwest and JetBlue and6 hotel programs including Starwood, Hilton and Intercontinental.

-Gold Card Destinations: Enjoy special travel packages and upgrades

-Gold Card Events Access to Preferred Seating, pre-sale tickets, and more

Pointswizard.com Spin: Click here to apply for New Amex Gold Card – FREE for 1st. Year + spend bonuses

It seems ludicrous, but it’s true. That’s because Starwood, which owns the combination hotel/residence property at Hollywood and Vine, contracted a slew of hotel services out to third parties…

Drai’s, a Las Vegas nightspot promotion outfit, opened on March 17, and was charged with nightlife at the W, too, presumably because the hotel wanted to purchase some off-the-shelf cachet with hipsters rather than earning it through the merits of the product…

I found this out, of course, the worst way a guest can: By staying there, and being denied access to a swim. On a recent 85-degree Sunday, I tried taking the elevator to the rooftop pool (called WET) for some of those famous California rays.

After all, my room on the 11th floor was literally thumping with the beats coming through the ceiling, and I wanted to enjoy a little of this party that I had to put up with despite paying $230 a night.

But the 12th-floor button wouldn’t light up. Down in the lobby, I was directed to a line of early 20s hipsters who were waiting to be admitted to the pool deck themselves. I was informed by a doorman that although “the general public” (that would be me: a paying hotel guest) was not permitted upstairs today, I was welcome to join everyone in the line if I wished, or he would “introduce” me to someone inside who “might be able” to get me on the guest list.

As I walked away, he called after me, eyeing my clothes. “Don’t forget, sir. Appropriate pool attire.”

I’m a reporter at heart, though, and undeterred, I skulked up a service elevator with a friend. I paid $10 to bribe a staff member to let us into what Drai’s publicizes as a “sexy poolside affair with House music and Hollywood’s elite.”

Drai’s is dreadful. There wasn’t a spare inch. A DJ blasted beats, pneumatic girls danced laconically as they stood on the cushioned lounge chairs, and shirtless boys in fedoras smoked cigarettes in the pool while they scoped the girls’ bikini bottoms from shin level. My friend glanced around and proclaimed it “a douche-tacular.

” Nearby was a big empty table marked “reserved.” We were told we couldn’t be seated there because “it’s the owner’s table.” It was like this all day, from 10am to 10pm, exclusive of guests unless they greased the right palm.

A luxe L.A. hotel without a pool is like a wedding without a cake. A banquet without forks. A pretentious product without a shred of class. ” (via  gadling.com) by Jason Cochran

Pointswizard.com Spin: Click here to read more about Starwood has another problem.

This resort is less than 2 years old and it seems to still be in a shakedown mode…

Here were some of the problems…

-There is a need for more huts on the beach so one can be out of the sun..

-Both wired and wireless Wi-Fi was spotty at times, and wireless was a big problem in villa.

-The pool temperature needs to be hotter (it was chilly with few guests in the pool). Before our arrival we called 2 times and were told the pool was heated ( reviews on tripadvisor.com and tugbbs.com have pointed out the water seems not to be heated much)

-The water leak on to bathroom floor from shower has not been corrected. it is a very dangerous situation.

-The hot water was a problem every day for the shower-/sometimes hot sometimes cold-called front desk they said to run sink hot water at same time-it only worked to make it hot 1/2 of the time

-A number of times the operator took 20-30 rings to answer phone.

-When we entered room dishwasher had dishes and silverware in it.

-The breakfast buffet is a bit overpriced at 280 pesos for the selection of food that is being offered.

-The first 2 days the elevator closest to our room was down- no sign on it to tell you that it’s not working.

We wrote to the hotel to complain and they didn’t please us with their reply which was next time you come -”let us know whenever you have you reservation made so that we can take special care of your room assignment, cleaning and welcome amenity at your arrival”

When you stay at a resort for  8 days/7 nights you expect a better answer than that. Perhaps a refund of monies spent at resort or a complementary stay.

The resort is beautiful but problems like the above take away from the enjoyment of a vacation.

This property is part of Starwood Vacation Ownership (timeshare)but can be booked by anyone thru Westin or if you have a timeshare with Interval International.

added-

comment on this post on timeshareforums.com by GrayFal

“These are the SAME complaints owners have been making since day ONE.

Starwood – put a pool heater in, will ya!

Someone is going to kill themselves falling in the bathroom on those wet floors (at least they will die in a beautful but wet bathroom)

POOL Heater…..it is a no brainer – and you might want to heat the jacuzzi/whirlpool tubs as well.”