hospitalitystyle.com

(November 2009) posted on Tue Nov 03, 2009 EST

Steiner Leisure pays $100 million for brand

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. has signed an agreement to sell the Bliss spa and product company to Steiner Leisure Ltd. for $100 million. As part of the transaction, Bliss and Remede spas and amenities will remain exclusive to Starwood in the hotel category, at W Hotels and St. Regis Hotels respectively.

“This sale is illustrative of our long term strategy to focus purely on our growing and increasingly global hospitality business,” said Frits van Paasschen, Starwood's president and ceo. “At the same time, we are delighted that we will continue our business relationship with Bliss, which has provided a distinct point of view to our amenities and spas in our W and St. Regis hotels.”

Steiner Leisure's operations include spas and salons on 126 cruise ships and in 51 resort spas and two luxury day spas. Its clients include Carnival Cruise Lines, Celebrity Cruises, Crystal Cruises, Harrah's Entertainment, Hilton Hotels, Holland America Line, InterContinental Hotels and Resorts, Kerzner International, Loews Hotels, Marriott Hotels, Nikko Hotels, Norwegian Cruise Line, Planet Hollywood, Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean Cruises, Seabourn Cruise Lines, Sofitel Luxury Hotels, Starwood Hotels and Resorts and Westin Hotels and Resorts.

“Bliss' accomplishments over the years have resulted in the creation of a very distinct, clever, unpretentious brand in the beauty industry, introducing a lively approachable, fun atmosphere to the spa arena,” said Leonard Fluxman, Steiner's president and ceo. “We are very excited for the opportunity to introduce Bliss products and broaden the appeal of the brand through our distribution channels.”