The Westin will be the fifth Starwood hotel in the Denver metro area, says Greg Mount, vice president of operations for the southwest region for Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Westin's parent.

''Denver has truly become a global player, and as business gets back to doing business, Denver International Airport, one of the busiest in the country, is a critical component of our future growth,'' Mount says. ''Smart growth must provide a balance of infrastructure to meet the requirements of business travelers. First-class accommodations and meeting space located at the airport are vital.''

So far, 35% of the hotel's design is completed. It will take another six to seven months to complete the design and produce construction documents necessary to bid for the construction. It will take at least 24 months to construct it.

The hotel will include 40,000 sf of meeting, exhibition and ballrooms; a fitness center and a lap pool; a full-service restaurant and a coffee shop; a business center and valet parking.

It's anticipated that 85% of the guest will be arriving form the airport and 15% will be local arrivals.

The city will enforce a ''card check'' agreement that requires a strict neutrality provision between the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees and other unions.

Under this provision, employees of the new hotel will be able to decide if they want to be represented by HERE and other labor groups.