About Me

aloft hotels, the much-anticipated new lifestyle brand from Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., has created an advance look into their new hotels – and they’re taking it on the road, go-go style. The aloft a-go-go, a vintage Airstream trailer outfitted in the spirit of the unique aloft concept, will attend iconic American events, including film festivals, award shows and sporting events nationwide. Spearheading the journey is Corbin Kappler, who will be driving the classic chrome-finished stainless steel camper beginning April 2007.

Kappler will drive cross-country in the go-go, bringing aloft’s loft-inspired design, technological innovations and stylish urban attitude directly to consumers in an interactive way. The trailer contains flat panel TV’s, aloft styling (wheatgrass, lemons, votives, pillows, etc.), a workstation and a sampling of the design materials that will be found in aloft hotels. Kappler will be on hand to help people experience the hotel’s unique features and teach them how aloft plans to refresh the select-service category.

aloft handpicked Kappler from the Welcome Desk of the W Hotel in San Diego; after management realized Kappler had a serious case of wanderlust, they knew he would be the perfect journeyman for the job. Traveling has always been a part of Kappler’s everyday life and he looks forward to starting what he calls “the ultimate job” on the road. Unsurprisingly, Kappler is accustomed to living his active life in mobile situations - he lived in an RV for one year during college, taught alpine skiing and worked as an EMT – so living life behind the go-go wheel should be a breeze. Kappler also spent a year working at a summer camp in Davis, Oklahoma where he was the Trip Director, responsible for planning and executing trips for children across the country (we can only imagine what the postcards home looked like).

Two of Kappler’s biggest passions in life are travel and the great outdoors. His love for both began at a young age as he attended sleep-away camp for boys and then went on to be a counselor. During his years at camp he discovered an interest in photography, biking and kayaking.

Kappler spent his college years as a Psychology major at the University of Mississippi, where he followed his passion for the outdoors by backpacking through Mexico for college credits. He also participated in a one-year Wilderness Therapy program, where he went on several 70-day expeditions to help troubled children. These expeditions combined outdoor living, physical activity, and extensive psychotherapy sessions. He now refers to the experience as “go-go boot camp”.

As a Vision of W Hotels, aloft is shaking up the lodging industry with urban-influenced design, accessible technology, style and a social atmosphere. aloft offers a total sensory experience, with guest lofts featuring loft-like nine-foot ceilings and oversized windows to create a bright, airy environment. The centerpiece of the loft room is the ultra-comfortable signature bed, and large stylish bathrooms complement the guest experience with oversized walk-in showers and amenities created by bliss® spa. Each guest loft is also a combination high-tech office and entertainment center, featuring wireless internet access and plug & play, a one-stop connectivity solution for multiple electronic gadgetry such as PDAs, cell phones, mp3 players and laptops - all linked to a large flat panel HDTV-ready television for optimal sound and viewing.

The first aloft hotels are targeted to open in first quarter, 2008, with locations expected to be anytown/anywhere… For more information on aloft, please visit www.alofthotels.com.