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Welcome
Thank you for visiting the WAA website!
From its founding in 1991 the sole purpose of the WAA was to provide means for former Westin associates to stay in touch, i.e. friends keeping in touch with friends. That remains our purpose to this day.
With the purchase by Starwood in 1998 the company, Westin Hotels & Resorts, founded in 1930, ceased to exist, thus the association focuses on the years that Western Hotels operated as a company, namely 1930-1998.
Until May of 2018 membership was restricted to those who had worked in the corporate, regional sales, and affiliate offices such as Westin Service & Supply, which was later named FORMA. Within hotels membership was restricted to General Managers, Executive Assistant Managers and Division Heads.
Then, with the concurrence of the WAA board in March 2018, potential membership was expanded to include those who had worked in any capacity for the company for 5 or more years. The group selected five years as a time period that would allow an associate to learn the history of the company and to understand its culture and values.
Over the years various groups of alums dispersed around the globe have arranged to meet for lunch, dinner or even for a weekend. Events have taken place in Tokyo, Oslo, Denver, Mexico City, Guadalajara, Johannesburg, Vancouver, Ottawa, Seattle, Denver, Phoenix, Washington, D.C., Bellevue (2006) and Las Vegas (2016 & 2019). In the latter three were weekend events that drew hundreds of members from around the globe.
We hope that you will enjoy the history, photos, stories and trips down memory lane as you view the website content.
Western Hotels, later Western International Hotels, Westin Hotels, and Westin Hotels & Resorts was an innovative and storied company populated with outstanding people!Yes, people did make the difference!
Sincerely,
Ray Sylvester
Westin 1965-1998
WAA President -
The AssociationWelcome / Bienvenue / Willkommen / Bienvenido / ようこ
Celebrating 30 years of allowing "friends to keep in touch with friends"; the 14th anniversary of the WAA website!
Established 1991 / 1,020 Members / 25 Member Countries
Did you work for Westin, or one of its affilaite companies for a minimum of five years from 1930-1998? If so, you may qualify for membership.
Where Members Live
Asia / Pacific 35; Canada 76; Europe 40; Mexico 143; Other 21; U.S. 701
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october 2021 reunion cancelled
Wednesday September 8, 2021
Dear WAA Members:
As we mentioned in our January 2021 message we were very aware of the pandemic's reach, but we were also optimistic that things would change with the introduction of vaccines in January and February.
That, unfortunately, has not been the case, and the protocols in place make it difficult for us to conduct a social gathering such as our reunion. Member concerns about getting sick in view of personal health challenges, poor hearing even without face masks, and the inability to freely take photos were all cited as reasons why they would not attend.
The Westin Bellevue knows we want to meet there, however, this is not the right time. We still want to Reconnect, Reminisce and Relive, and we will look for a time that we can do so safely.The payments that a few members made to WAA either by credit card or check will be refunded, and hotel room reservations will be cancelled for the weekend.
We regret any inconvenience this may cause, and hope that you agree that this is the correct decision to be made under the circumstances.
I want to acknowledge the work that Cindi Breen and the hotel team performed on our behalf making it possible to meet at The Westin. Likewise, the involvement of the reunion planning committee of Nancy Peel, Dick Whaley, Brett Magnan, Larry Magnan, Chris Marker, Ron Olstad, Roger Young, Russ Nickel, Dan McClaskey and Chuck Brown made my job that much easier.
Ray Sylvester
WAA President -
Social Media
The closed group Westin Alumni Facebook page with 600 members is not a function of WAA, however all associates who worked for the Company during the years 1930-1998, and who have been vetted may be eligible to join. Visit the page.
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SUPPORT OUR WORK
Support the maintenance of the Westin Collection / Soutenir la maintenance de la collection Westin / Apoye el mantenimiento de la Colección Westin
ウェスティンコレクションのメンテナンスをサポート
Unterstützen Sie die Wartung der Westin Collection -
Edward E. Carlson on Friends
"In my judgement a lifetime with nothing to show other than the accumulation of wealth will never be as fulfilling as a life with vivid memories of the joys and warmth in the wealth of friends. Everyone can enjoy the wealth of friends".
Recollections of a Lucky Fellow 1989
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friends keeping in touch with friends
Bayshore alums gather for Ciaran Kelly's visit to Vancouver, October 2021
From Left: Patrick Murphy, Bill Roddie, Trevor Newton, Ciaran Kelly, Denis Forristal, Heinz, Lenger, Stan Yip, Daphne Hampson, Anne Sheppard, Keith S. Stefanko
October 2021: San Sebasitan del Oeste, Mexico
First row: Elsa (Jose Luis Toledo’s wife), Eric Bacmeister, Sue (Santiago Gutiérrez’ spouse), Santiago Gutiérrez.Second row: Jose Luis Toledo, Alejandra Zubiria, Katina Lombardo, Carlos Del Castillo, Laura Stringel.In between 2nd & 3rd row: Gabriela Bonilla3rd row: Jose Manuel Rossas, Mely Nilsson, Norma (Carlos Del Castillo’s wife), Dolores Avalos, Damaris (Carlos Behnsen’s wife).4th. Row: Susana Araujo, Gabriela Tinoco & German Ongay.Upper row (all standing up): Silvio Berron, Alvaro Narvaez, Ana Bañuelos, Arturo Garzón & Carlos Behnsen.
December 2019: Annual reunion of Camino Real Hotel, Mexico City.Dolores Avalos, Ana Bañuelos, Silvio Berron, John & Anna María Berthelot,Carlos & Norma del Castillo, José Jové, Jorg & Elfi Neuenhaus, Germán & Gaby Ongay, Annabelle Ramos, Martha Remberg, José Manuel Rossas, Lorena Ruvalcaba, Laura Stringel, Alejandro Watson, Alejandra Zubiria.
August 9, 2019: Huge group of fomer associates commemorate the 25 years since the opening of the Westin Tokyo
April 29, 2019: The usual suspects were at the Seattle-area lunch.William D. Ellis, David Evans, Brian McGinnis, Richard Whaley, Larry magnan, Frances Vitulli and Dan McClaskey
March 1, 2019: WAA Rocky Mountain group broke bread today in Denver.Linda Swearingen, Tom Hosea, Bill Dougherty, Dean Tinker, Mike Micketti, Ulrich Schwartz, Bill Slawson
October 1, 2018: Dallas a few Texas alums broke bread in Farmer's Branch
standing L to R: Joe Champ, Victor Gielisse, Larry Scheerer; seated L to R: Ray Sylvester, Larry Dustin, Bill Godgrey
July 2018: Ottawa the hotel celebrated its 35th anniversary. On hand, among the 240 who attended the Saturday banquet, were:L to R: Michel Geday, Vignan Chandra, John Finamore, Jan Connor, Timothy Whitehead, Pat Kelley, Liam Lambert.
June 2018: Hans Bruland, Bill Moyer, Jim France and Bob Wilhelm met for lunch at the Old Dominion Yacht Club in Alexandria, VA.
May 2018: Bayshore bunch met at the H2 Rotisserie & Bar in Vancouver.
From the window side clockwise:Stan Yip, Jack Tillar, Heinz Lenger, Keith Stefanko, Jack Harding, Bruno Patassini, Amy Ng, Denis Forristal, Daphne Hampson, Steve Holliday, Jerry Pokocky
November 2017: Westin Houston Alumni met at the Hilton Hotel on the University of Houston campus. Following lunch, Dr. Mark Young, Director, Hospitality Industry Archives toured the group through the archives where the entire Westin Collection will eventually be housed.
From left: Bill Godfrey, Fernando Cuellar, Patti Voss, Ray Sylvester, Paul McDonald, Larry Dustin, Michael L. Horrocks, Stan Soroka, Zee Kereshi, Mary Monaco, Tom Snodgrass, Maria Guadalupe Trevino, Susan Trevino, Becky Bratton.
April 2017: Oslo, Norway: Over 30 alums from SAS Scandanavian Hotel Oslo which opened in 1975 met at Posthallen Restaurant Bar and Cafe to celebrate friendships!
1st row.
Tom Fossengen, Anne Wallin Rødven, Ulla Mark Løvstrøm, Hanne Hagen, Kersi Porbunderwalla, Guri Lauritzen, Inken Lundgård, Judith Espeskog, Turid Kvalheim Flinder,
2nd row:
Johan Zinsli (profile), Eivind Dalvang, Sidsel Haavardtun, Lykke Bogen, Nina Kase, Rita Rasmussen, Sølvi (Knotten) Paulgaard, Kirsti Johansen
Last row 3 and 4:
Steinar Hansen, Kristoffer Breivik, Morten Fure, Truls Becker, Therese Klaveness, Liv (Herud) Becker, Karin Schanke, Edgar Valdmanis, Anna Thorud Hammer, Pål Gjelseth, Kirsten Månum Gløersen, Bjørn Solberg (just behind Kirstien), Thorleif Solstad
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The Company
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first & last management conferences
Western Hotels Managment Conference
July 18, 1931
Multnomah Hotel
Portland, Oregon
Front l to r: Frank Bruce, Harold Dupar, Troy Himmelman, Earl McInnis, S.W. Thurston, Peter Schmidt, Jimmy Sells, Frank Dupar
Middle l to r: Harry Butler, Tom Gildersleve, Bud Zimmerman, Clyde Damaski, John Rowe, George Hogendobler, Harry Himmelman, Adolf Schmidt, A.D/ Ballinger
Back l to r: Ray Clark, Don Utley, Joe Hurley, Bill Hudson, Thad Pierce, Dolf Edmiston, Carl Morck
Westin Hotels & Resorts Managment Conference
1990
Walt Disney Swan Hotel
Orlando, Florida
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Leadership
Western Hotels, Inc
Western International Hotels
Westin Hotels
Westin Hotels & Resorts
1930-1998
Founders
S.W. Thurston
1885-1968
First Company President
1930-1955
Frank A. Dupar
First Treasurer
Early Partners
Harold E. Maltby
First Company Vice President
Peter Schmidt, Sr.
First Company Chairman
&
President Olympia Brewing Co.
Adolph Schmidt
The Schmidts were looking for other investments after to the closing of the brewery due to prohibition
After the repeal of prohibition in 1933 Peter and Adolph Schmidt reopened the brewing company
From the FRONT Magazine celebrating the 30th Anniversary
of Western Hotels, Inc.
Second Generation
Edward E. Carlson
1911-1990
Chairman
Lynn Himmelman
Chairman
Gordon Bass
Vice-Chairman
Third Generation
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Harry Mullikin
CEO & Chairman
Fourth Generation
Larry Magnan
CEO & President
The Westin Building
Seattle, WA
Westin Hotels & Resorts
Corporate Headquarters
1981 - 1999
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Seattle World's Fair 1962
Here, U.S. Senator Warren G. Magnuson (seated one in from the right) examines a fair poster along with officials of the fair. Next to him on the right is Edward Carlson, chair of the World's Fair State Commission and promoter of the Space Needle. James Douglas, Vice President for Site and Building Development, sits at the far end.
1962 Seattle World's Fair Opening Day
Expo Chairman Edward Carlson, Joseph Gandy, Senator Warren Magnuson, Vice president Lyndon Johnson, Governor Albert Rosellini, unknown. Joh Glenn, unknown
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Photo Albums
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Front Magazine
Take a look at some of the past Front magazine covers. Jay Aven saved 59 Front magazines and has contributed them to the Westin Collection.
Prior to May of 1941 the Western Hotels employee communication publication was WHEM, Western Hotels Employees Magazine. In April of 1941, a company-wide contest was conducted to select a new name for publication. FRONT was the winning entry.
The Hospitality Industry Archives (HIA) at the University of Houston has over 330 of the combined publications.
The annual message to members indicated the Board's decision to begin a project, in conjunction with the HIA, to digitize these publications. On February 6, 2019 WAA Treasurer, Michael Horrocks, presented a check for $2,500 to HIA Director Dr. Mark Young as a first installment to begin this process.
The outcome will be the ability for any interested party to go on line and connect to the U . of H. servers to explore the history of the Company.
Click here for a sample FRONT Magazine in digitized format.
Your donation of $100 will help to make this a reality. Send your check to: WAA | 5130 Chevy Chase Drive| Houston, TX 77056 THANK YOU!