NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) - Westin Hotels & Resorts announced that it was becoming smoke-free at 77 hotels in the U.S., Canada and the Caribbean, beginning in January 2006.

As part of the change, the company will deep-clean 2,400 rooms that were formerly designated for smokers.

Westin said that 92 percent of its guests request a non-smoking room when travelling and do not smoke in the hotel.

The company will still permit smoking in designated outdoor smoking areas at the hotels.

Westin has a total of 121 hotels and resorts in 31 countries and territories worldwide.

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