The recommendation is subject to approval by the Wayne County Commission.The body will hear the recommendation as early as next month, and the hotelcould open as early as December 2002.The $1.2 billion Midfield Terminal, featuring almost 100 gates and 80 shopsand restaurants, a silent automated transit system and 11,000 structuredspaces, is due to open in December 2001.

The 350,000-sf hotel will feature an atrium restaurant, a 7,200-sfballroom, an executive conference center, 17 meeting/board rooms, abusiness center, a health club and pool and spa facilities."It is very important for us to provide our passengers with a hotel that isevery bit as attractive and convenient as the new Midfield Terminal," saysWayne County Executive Edward H. McNamara.Starwood owns nationwide hotel chains such as: Westin Hotels and Resorts,Sheraton Hotels and Resorts, The Luxury Collection, Four Points by Sheratonand others. The company has 725 companies in 80 countries.

"We¡Çre exited to have a major first-class hotel integrated directly intothe new Midfield Terminal," says James M. Greenwald, vice president offacilities design and construction for Northwest.Darryl Berger will serve as project developers. The architects will bePortman Fruchman Vinson Sunderland, and Walbridge Aldinger will be theDetroit-based general contractor and construction manager.The county will sell special facility bonds to cover the cost ofconstruction. Hotel revenues will repay the bonds.