Jeff Forrest, President of Winter Park Construction

Winter Park Construction (WPC), one of the nation’s most respected general contractors, (www.wpc.com) has announced that the company completed over $7 million in timeshare resort renovations during the past year.

Says Jeff Forrest, President of WPC, “In spite of the economy, our firm stayed very busy throughout the entire year handling large and small renovation projects for the timeshare industry’s major developers. Our clients included Starwood Vacation Ownership, Hilton Grand Vacations Company, Orange Lake County Club, The Berkley Group and Wyndham Vacation Ownership. Their resorts were located in Orlando, Kissimmee and Plantation, Florida, as well as in Myrtle Beach, SC; Newport, RI; Lake Geneva, WI and Cancun, Mexico.”

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Brand Will Remove Eight Additional Hotels that Don’t Meet New Brand Standards

Sheraton Guest Satisfaction Scores Hit New Historic Highs as Starwood Hotels’ Largest Brand Completes $6 Billion Revitalization Effort

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE:HOT) announced today that its global powerhouse, Sheraton Hotels & Resorts, will continue to enhance its portfolio by removing eight additional hotels later this year that do not meet the brand’s new upgraded standards. This will be the final group of “brand detractors” Sheraton will remove as it completes its $6 billion revitalization effort. These hotels are in addition to the 36 “off brand” properties Sheraton has already removed to improve its quality and consistency of the brand, and reflect a significantly enhanced guest experience. As Sheraton removes “off brand” hotels it is increasing its worldwide footprint through a strategic, $5 billion expansion that will add approximately 50 new hotels and more than 20,000 rooms to its global portfolio over the next three years.

Guests Rediscover a New Sheraton – Satisfaction Scores Reach Historic Highs as Brand Gains Market Share
The brand’s multi-billion dollar investment is already paying off with measurable success – for the past four quarters guest satisfaction scores have consistently continued to rise and last month reached new, all-time historic highs. Likelihood to return to the brand, likelihood to recommend and meeting planner scores are also up across the board as the brand begins to see solid growth in market share, signaling that guests are taking notice and rediscovering the new Sheraton.

“The brand’s all-time high guest satisfaction scores is a direct result of the extraordinary work we’ve invested in rebuilding Starwood’s most global and storied brand,” said Hoyt Harper, global brand leader for Sheraton Hotels. “A significant focus of this effort has been improving the quality and consistency of the brand portfolio by removing properties that do not meet the brand’s new standards and the needle is moving in the right direction. And, as the economy rebounds and travelers return to the road en masse, Sheraton will be ready with new flagship hotels, renovated properties and signature brand offerings.”

Making up nearly 50% of Starwood’s total rooms, Sheraton is a key focus for Starwood, especially as the company aggressively positions itself to own the upswing as the economy recovers. As yesterday’s staycations, cancelled meetings and postponed business trips become tomorrow’s pent up demand, travelers will find the newest portfolio in the Sheraton brand’s history.

Hotel Giant Continues Momentum with $5 Billion in New Developments Through 2012
Following on the heels of the revitalization effort Starwood and its partners are investing $5 billion in new hotel openings across four continents. As Starwood’s largest brand, Sheraton currently boasts more than 400 hotels in 75 countries with 92% global awareness among business travelers – the highest of any hotel brand in the world.

Beginning in 2010, the brand will open roughly 50 new hotels over three years in 15 countries and territories, including the United States, Colombia, Greece, India, Russia, Slovakia, Taiwan and Vietnam. Sheraton – the largest international upper-upscale hotel brand in China – will nearly double its footprint in the country with the addition of 24 stunning new properties, including the Sheraton Shanghai Hong Kou Hotel, Sheraton Qingdao and Sheraton Huadu Resort , bringing its total number of hotels there to 50. The brand will also add 10 new resorts to its renowned portfolio, expand its footprint in New York City with new properties in Brooklyn and Manhattan’s Tribeca neighborhood and open several new convention hotels.

Sheraton Hotels & Resorts, like all brands within Starwood’s robust portfolio, is proud to offer the Starwood Preferred Guest(R) program, which made headlines when it launched in 1999 with a breakthrough policy of no blackout dates on Free Night Awards. SPG(R) offers members the ability to redeem awards at more resorts, more luxury properties, more European hotels and more golf properties than any other hotel program.

About Sheraton Hotels & Resorts
Sheraton helps guests make connections at more than 400 hotels in 75 countries around the world. It is owned by and is the largest and most global brand Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with 1000 properties in nearly 100 countries and territories with 145,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. Starwood Hotels is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels, resorts and residences with the following internationally renowned brands: St. Regis(R), The Luxury Collection(R), W(R), Westin(R), Le Méridien(R), Sheraton(R), Four Points(R) by Sheraton, and the recently launched Aloft(R), and Element SM. Starwood Hotels also owns Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., one of the premier developers and operators of high quality vacation interval ownership resorts. For more information, please visit www.starwoodhotels.com.

Hotels under The St. Regis, W Hotels, and The Luxury Collection Brands Earn Starwood More Spots on Prestigious List than Any Other Hotel Group

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE:HOT) today announced that seven of its premier new hotels have earned spots on this year’s Condé Nast Traveler HOT List, more than any other hotel group. Flying the flags of Starwood’s luxury and design-led brands, the hotels that earned spots on the prestigious list include nearly all new St. Regis hotels that opened in 2009, three W Hotels from Washington D.C. to South Beach to Santiago, Chile, and the first Luxury Collection hotel in Peru.

Featured in the May 2010 issue of Condé Nast Traveler, this year’s HOT List consists of 134 hotels and resorts in both familiar and emerging destinations, selected by the magazine’s editorial staff based on style, service, technology and sense of place. The seven Starwood hotels recognized on this year’s list include

* Hotel Paracas, A Luxury Collection Hotel
* The St. Regis Atlanta
* The St. Regis Deer Crest
* The St. Regis Mexico City
* W Santiago
* W South Beach
* W Washington D.C.

Additionally, Station Hollywood at the newly opened W Hollywood was included on the magazine’s Hot Nights list, while Halele’s Spa at The St. Regis Princeville earned a spot on the Hot Spas list.

“We are delighted that so many of our hotels were named to this year’s Condé Nast Traveler Hot list, which is well regarded throughout the travel industry as the authoritative guide to the newest, hottest hotels around the world,” said Phil McAveety, Chief Brand Officer, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. “Having opened more than 80 new hotels in 2009, and on track to reach that same number again this year, our portfolio is the freshest, strongest and most global in our history.”

Three New St. Regis Hotels Make the Hot List
St. Regis opened four new hotels in the past 12 months, nearly all of which earned a spot on the Condé Nast Traveler 2010 Hot list. TheSt. Regis Deer Crest Resort opened in December 2009 in a prime spot on the exclusive slopes of Deer Valley Resort in Park City, Utah. The St. Regis Deer Crest Resort offers a Swiss-crafted dual car funicular with leather seating to whisk guests up the mountain to the resort, where they can enjoy a luxurious European après-ski experience, complete with a multi-tiered, year-round swimming pool, two outdoor hot tubs and a Ski Beach, all set against the stunning backdrop of the Wasatch mountains.

TheSt. Regis Atlanta opened in April 2009 in the elite Buckhead community. Offering a blend of southern charm and modern sophistication, St. Regis Atlanta features spectacular views of the Atlanta skyline, southern estate-style fireplaces and curving banisters, diverse culinary offerings, as well as Georgia’s first Remède Spa, and a 40,000 square foot Pool Piazza with private cabanas, waterfall and Poolside Bar & Café.

The St. Regis Mexico City opened in August 2009 on the historic Paseo de la Reforma Boulevard overlooking Plaza Diana, just a short distance from the city’s famed Polanco area and the bustling financial district. Designed by world-renowned architect Cesar Peilli, St. Regis Mexico rises 492 feet above street level and features bold interiors crafted by Yabu Pushelberg, the city’s first Remède Spa and a private hotel Helipad.

Hotel Category Buster W Hotels Earns Three Spots on List
W Hotels, the industry innovator, transforming into a global powerhouse, had three new hotels named to the Condé Nast Traveler 2010 Hot list. W Washington D.C., the closest hotel to the White House, opened in July 2009 and offers a whimsical blend of Beaux Arts architecture with the edgy yet elegant designs of Los Angeles-based designer Dianna Wong. Hotel guests and Washington’s elite alike enjoy ringside seats at the hotel’s rooftop bar and lounge, P.O.V., which overlooks the White House and many of the city’s historic monuments.

W South Beach, which also opened in July 2009, is in a prime beachside location in the arts and entertainment district of Miami Beach. This oceanfront landmark on the shores of Florida’s most fashionable beach is the product of renowned designers and artists and features the city’s hottest night spot, Wall, as well as celebrity dining hotspot Mr. Chow. The hotel also features Solea, an indoor/outdoor Spanish-style restaurant; Miami’s first Bliss(R) spa; WET pool deck and more than 10,000 square feet of ultra-modern meeting and event space.

Marking the W brand’s debut in South America, W Santiago opened in August 2009 in the Isidora 3000 lifestyle center in the fashionable El Golf district of Chile’s capital city. Surrounded by the peaks of the Andes, W Santiago marries the designs of New York designer Tony Chi with those of native Chilean Sergio Echeveria. The hotel is also home to Whiskey Blue, the sizzling night club on the fourth floor, and Red2One, a rooftop bar with breathtaking mountain views, both from nightlife gurus The Gerber Group.

Landmark Luxury Collection Hotel in Peru is Named to the HOT List
Also on the Hot List is Hotel Paracas, a Luxury Collection Hotel, which debuted in January 2010. It was the first of three Luxury Collection hotels slated to open in Peru in the next two years and boasts a prime location on Peru’s southern Pacific coast. Surrounded by the Paracas National Reserve, the resort offers private yacht and jet excursions to view natural and historic wonders, a 5,000 square foot spa, two outdoor pools and a range of diverse culinary experiences. Indigenous textiles and ceramics pay homage to Peru’s heritage, while modern conveniences include Wi-Fi Internet access and iPod docking stations.

About Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with 1000 properties in nearly 100 countries and territories with 145,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. Starwood Hotels is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels, resorts and residences with the following internationally renowned brands: St. Regis(R), The Luxury Collection(R), W(R), Westin(R), Le Méridien(R), Sheraton(R), Four Points(R) by Sheraton, and the recently launched Aloft(R), and Element SM. Starwood Hotels also owns Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., one of the premier developers and operators of high quality vacation interval ownership resorts. For more information, please visit www.starwoodhotels.com.

Westin Hotels Introduces New Product Offerings on Amazon.com Storefront

Heavenly Bed? Check. Yoga ball? Got it. Jonathan Adler designs? Absolutely! One month after the successful launch of its wellness storefront on Amazon.com, Westin Hotels is expanding its product offerings to include merchandise from acclaimed designer Jonathan Adler, Brookstone and Kate’s Paperie.

Since the March 1st launch of the brand’s curated wellness store on Amazon.com, Westin Hotels beloved Heavenly products have been the most popular with consumers, accounting for more than 90% of the products sold on www.amazon.com/westin. The sites top sellers include Westin’s White Tea Candle ($36) and Westin’s White Tea Aloe Shampoo ($12), as well as the brand’s iconic Heavenly Bed.

Beginning on today, the online retail store will debut various Jonathan Adler products including his signature Platinum Belly Vase and Platinum Piggy Bank. For weary travelers in need of a quick pick-me-up, the site will retail Philips goLITE BLU energy light, designed to naturally increase energy and boost your mood. For fitness fanatics, Westin shoppers can purchase Brookstone’s SmartStep Pedometer, which tracks estimated steps, distance and calories burned, and other Brookstone products. For the first time on Amazon.com, Westin’s digital retail storefront will sell products from Kate’s Paperie, the iconic New York paper store. Items will include signature Kate’s Paperie Exclusives such as a recycled folio and a 100% post-consumer waste paper notebook.

To celebrate the launch of Westin’s wellness site, Westin guests who stay twice mid-week through May 13th, 2010 will receive a $100 Amazon.com gift card. To be eligible, guests must register at westin.com/balance by April 30th prior to booking. Since launching, nearly 30,000 consumers have registered for the Amazon.com gift card promotion.

The new digital storefront joins a host of wellness initiatives recently introduced by Westin Hotels & Resorts. In late 2009, the brand launched a sleep study and sleep hotline with National Sleep Foundation aimed at helping travelers troubleshoot common sleep problems. In the fall of 2007, Westin partnered with SuperFoods Partners LLC to become the first hotel brand to create a SuperFoods-focused menu. In 2006, the brand introduced Breathe Westin and became the first in the industry to go smoke-free and offer guests a healthy, 100% smoke-free hotel experience.

About Westin Hotels & Resorts
Westin Hotels & Resorts, with 169 hotels and resorts in more than 31 countries and territories, is owned by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT). Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with 1000 properties in nearly 100 countries and 145,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. Starwood Hotels is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels, resorts and residences with the following internationally renowned brands: St. Regis(R), The Luxury Collection(R), W(R), Westin(R), Le Méridien(R), Sheraton(R), Four Points(R) by Sheraton, and the recently launched Aloft(R), and Element SM. Starwood Hotels also owns Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., one of the premier developers and operators of high quality vacation interval ownership resorts. For more information, please visit www.starwoodhotels.com.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) announced today that it will release the Company’s first quarter financial results prior to market open on Thursday, April 29, 2010, followed by a conference call at 10:30am EDT. The conference call will include a brief discussion of the quarter followed by questions and answers. The call will be moderated by Jason Koval, Vice President, Investor Relations.

Participants may listen to the simultaneous webcast of the conference call by logging onto the company website http://www.starwoodhotels.com and choosing Investor Relations within the Corporate Information section of the website at 10:30am EDT or by calling 706-758-8744 fifteen minutes prior to the call. In addition, a replay has been arranged, which will air from Thursday, April 29, 2010 at 1:30pm EDT through Thursday, May 6, 2010 at 12:00 midnight. The replay will be available on the Company’s website or by dialing 706-645-9291 (Pass code 57051808).

About Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with 992 properties in 100 countries and approximately 145,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. Starwood(R) Hotels is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels and resorts with the following internationally renowned brands: St. Regis(R), The Luxury Collection(R), Sheraton(R), Westin(R), Four Points(R) by Sheraton, W(R), Le Méridien(R), and the recently announced AloftSM and ElementSM. Starwood Hotels also owns Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., one of the premier developers and operators of high quality vacation interval ownership resorts. For more information, please visit www.starwoodhotels.com.

Hotel Giant’s Longtime Chief Financial Officer Recognized for Impact and Contribution to the Company

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE:HOT) announced today that the company has named its Chief Financial Officer, Vasant Prabhu, Vice Chairman, in recognition of his extraordinary contributions to the company. Starwood’s President and Chief Executive Officer, Frits van Paasschen, made the announcement following the company’s recent Board of Directors meeting.

“Vasant’s leadership and strategic vision were in sharp relief in 2009 as Starwood navigated the toughest year our industry has endured since the Great Depression,” said van Paasschen. “His efforts and collaboration ensured that Starwood did not just survive the global economic crisis, but actually emerged stronger, with our financial house in order, well poised to take advantage of opportunities we expect will arise.”

According to van Paasschen, the company significantly cut costs in 2009, raised over $1.6 billion in cash from a broad range of transactions, reduced its debt by over $1 billion and paid down debt maturities from 2010 through 2013.

Prabhu, whose new title is Vice Chairman and Chief Financial Officer, will continue to report to van Paasschen. In his new role, he is not a member of the Company’s Board of Directors.

Prabhu, 50, joined Starwood in 2003. Prior to joining Starwood, he served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for Safeway Inc., one of North America’s largest food retailers. He also served as President of Information and Media Group for The McGraw Hill Companies and Senior Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial Officer for Pepsi Cola International where he was responsible for the company’s franchise and owned operations in more than 100 countries.

Prabhu holds an M.B.A. in Marketing and Finance from the University of Chicago and a B.S. in Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology in Bombay, India. He and his family reside in Greenwich, Connecticut.

About Starwood Hotels & Worldwide, Inc.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with more than 960 properties in approximately 97 countries and 145,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. Starwood Hotels is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels, resorts and residences with the following internationally renowned brands: St. Regis(R), The Luxury Collection(R), W(R), Westin(R), Le Méridien(R), Sheraton(R), Four Points(R) by Sheraton, and the recently launched AloftSM, and ElementSM. Starwood Hotels also owns Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., one of the premier developers and operators of high quality vacation interval ownership resorts. For more information, please visit www.starwoodhotels.com.

“Rediscover Sheraton” Campaign Invites Consumers to See What a Difference $6 Billion Makes

70,000 New Guestrooms, 300 New Lobbies and 100,000 Beds Part of Three-Year Makeover

Sheraton Hotels & Resorts announced today the launch of a new $20 million dollar, multi-media marketing campaign created to highlight the brand’s $6 billion revitalization effort. Launching today, the “Rediscover Sheraton” campaign encourages travelers to take a new look at Sheraton, which features an enhanced guest experience following a three-year, global brand overhaul. This is the first new marketing campaign to debut for Sheraton in two years.

The “Rediscover Sheraton” campaign showcases key elements of the $6 billion enhancement, including 300 new lobbies, 70,000 new guestrooms, 100,000 new beds and the brand’s unique wired lobby lounge called the “Link@SheratonSM experienced with Microsoft®.”

A key insight that directed the creative vision for the campaign is the growing trend of travelers seamlessly blending business and leisure – also known as “bleisure”- and the demand for socially driven designed spaces and amenities. As part of the brand’s overhaul, every aspect of the new Sheraton guest experience was designed to promote social interaction and bring people together. The campaign depicts this through clever headlines and striking imagery that blur the lines of business and leisure and unite seemingly disparate concepts to capture attention, build intrigue and encourage consumers to reconsider the brand: “Who brings business suits and bathing suits together” is paired with an image of a conference room table that’s been seamlessly connected to the image of a business executive lounging poolside with a laptop. Other headlines include “Who brings power walks and power talks together” and “Who brings bottom lines and bottom ups together.”

The multi-million campaign marks the first Sheraton campaign to be designed in-house by the company’s global brand design team, led by Phil McAveety, Chief Brand Officer for Starwood. “Rediscover Sheraton” will launch across a multimedia platform that integrates consumer, trade and online and Sheraton will focus a significant portion of its buy on non-traditional media.

“The focus on non-traditional media marks an exciting new direction for Sheraton,” said Phil McAveety. “What sets this campaign apart is the fully integrated, multi-platform approach and how the work uses non-traditional media to convey the new Sheraton experience. Every brand touch-point of the campaign is strategically aligned, across all executions including print, online, mobile, promotional and experiential event activities.”

The campaign will run on key websites, including TripAdvisor.com, NYTimes.com, Kayak.com, BizJournals.com and CNN.com. Print ads will run in USA Today and other key business and travel titles.

Sheraton is completing a three-year, multi-billion global brand overhaul that encompasses more than $4 billion in new hotels, renovations and signature brand initiatives in North America and another $2 billion in new hotels overseas. Highlights include:

* 70,000 new or newly renovated guestrooms — 50,000 in North America alone
* More than 300 new lobbies featuring the brand’s innovative Link@SheratonSM experienced with Microsoft®
* More than 100,000 brand new Sheraton Sweet Sleeper all-white, high thread count beds in 211 hotels and 83,000 guestrooms worldwide
* 98 renovated properties, nearly half of Sheraton’s North American portfolio, including high profile gateway properties like the Sheraton Denver, Sheraton Boston, Sheraton Seattle Hotel & Towers and Sheraton Montreal and Sheraton Waikiki.
* Sheraton has opened more than 60 new hotels worldwide since 2007 including new flagships such as the Sheraton Puerto Rico Convention Center Hotel & Casino and the Sheraton Phoenix Convention Center Hotel.

About Sheraton Hotels & Resorts
Sheraton helps guests make connections at more than 400 hotels in 75 countries around the world. It is owned by and is the largest and most global brand of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with 966 properties in more than 100 countries and 145,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. Starwood Hotels is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels, resorts and residences with the following internationally renowned brands: St. Regis®, The Luxury Collection®, W®, Westin®, Le Méridien®, Sheraton®, Four Points® by Sheraton, and the recently launched Aloft®, and Element SM. Starwood Hotels also owns Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., one of the premier developers and operators of high quality vacation interval ownership resorts. For more information, please visit www.starwoodhotels.com.

Leading timeshare companies and service providers have thrown their chips in to be Signature Sponsors of the 2010 American Resort Development Association (ARDA) Convention and Exposition at Venetian Resort Hotel Casino in Las Vegas. The annual convention, from March 14–18, will feature an impressive line-up of speakers and entertainers, including keynote speaker Andy Sernovitz. Sernovitz is considered the guru of the word-of-mouth marketing movement, helping countless companies understand the radical changes brought by blogs, MySpace, and consumer-generated media.

The 2010 Signature Sponsors include American Express, Equiant Financial Services, Holiday Inn Club Vacations, Holiday Systems International (HSI), International Cruise and Excursions, Inc. (ICE), Interval International, iTravel Companion, RCI, Redweek.com, ResortCom International, Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., and VacationGuard, Inc.

The convention offers companies prime exposure to top vacation ownership industry professionals who gather to network, learn the latest industry trends, and visit hundreds of industry suppliers on the exhibit floor. Thanks to the generosity of the Signature Sponsors, the ARDA Convention has become the number-one annual resource, providing networking for industry leaders, timely educational programming, and exposure for sponsors, exhibitors, and attendees.

“We are grateful for the support we receive from our Signature Sponsors,” said Howard Nusbaum, ARDA president and CEO. “These companies enable us to offer the high-quality events our members need, while getting great visibility among the attendees.”

RCI is once again sponsoring the RCI/AIF Open Golf Tournament at Bear’s Best Las Vegas golf club. Interval International is hosting its annual “Party with a Cause” with ticket proceeds benefiting industry research and education. Equiant Financial Services is providing the “smart car fortwo” for the AIF Auto Driveaway contest. The ARDA Awards Gala, sponsored by Holiday Systems International (HSI), will include a cocktail reception, elegant dinner, presentation of the annual ARDA Awards and live entertainment by the Rhythmics.

Companies interested in participating as sponsors or exhibitors at the timeshare industry’s premier annual event may contact Bob Craycraft at 202-371-6700, or bcraycraft@arda.org. Visit www.ARDA.org for more information about the 2010 convention.

The American Resort Development Association is the Washington D.C.-based professional association representing the vacation ownership and resort development industries. Established in 1969, ARDA today has over 1,000 members ranging from privately held firms to publicly traded companies and international corporations with expertise in shared ownership interests in leisure real estate. The membership also includes timeshare owner associations (HOAs), resort management companies, and owners through the ARDA Resort Owners Coalition (ARDA-ROC).

Starwood and Hersha Hospitality Management Bring Outdoor-Inspired Design and Eco-Friendly Features to Mercer County

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) today announces the opening of its first ElementSM hotel in New Jersey and the seventh Element hotel globally, Element Ewing-Hopewell in Ewing, New Jersey, just 10 minutes outside Princeton. The hotel is owned through a joint venture between American Properties Realty, Inc. and Hersha Hospitality Management, L.P., which is also the manager of the hotel.

Element, Starwood’s green trailblazer, made history when it launched as the only major hotel brand to mandate that its properties pursue the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification for high-performance buildings. With 127 guest rooms and more than 2,000 square feet of meeting space, Element Ewing delivers a no-compromise, eco-chic experience with inviting and inspiring public spaces, modern amenities and smart design. As an example of the hotel’s commitment to sustainable operations, Element Ewing will offer a curbside charging station for electric vehicles for local residents and guests alike.

Element Ewing provides a refreshing new choice for Mercer County business and leisure travelers alike. The hotel is strategically located between Princeton and Trenton, and Ewing and the surrounding area is home to corporations including Merrill Lynch, Bristol-Myers Squibb , Johnson & Johnson, Medeikon, Solar Energy Corporation, Redpoint Bio, Thermo-Temp Corporation, and Educational Testing Services, along with the Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton at Ewing.

“In a region where business thrives on fresh ideas and bold thinking, we’re pleased to introduce Element’s inspiring, invigorating guest experience,” said Brian McGuinness, Senior Vice President of Specialty Select Brands for Starwood. “Whether they’re staying for three nights or three weeks, guests will appreciate the energizing atmosphere they’ll find at Element Ewing.” The hotel’s opening will also bring more than 35 new – and green – jobs to Mercer County, McGuinness added.

“We are very excited to launch the first Element Hotel in New Jersey and to offer a newly built and smartly designed longer stay alternative for business and leisure travelers in the Ewing-Hopewell market,” said Naveen P. Kakarla, Executive Vice President of Hersha Hospitality Management. “We designed this hotel along with our partners at American Properties Realty with renewed focus on improving energy and environmental performance metrics, including energy savings, water efficiency, CO2-emissions reduction and improved indoor environmental quality. Our development objectives align closely with our ongoing operational initiative on the environment and sustainable hotel operations across approximately 70 hotels under management,” Kakarla added.

Smart from the Start
Element Hotels’ unique design philosophy is evident the moment a guest arrives at Element Ewing-Hopewell. After passing through the hotel’s signature portal, guests are greeted with an energizing environment of clean design and a large open space flooded with natural light from a multi-storied window wall. The vitality of the interior lobby is matched by the energy of the hotel’s outdoor fire pit, barbecue and soothing water feature.

In guest rooms, multi-purpose, modular furniture, swiveling flat-screen televisions, large desks with open shelving and custom-designed closets allow guests to customize their space. Guest rooms feature the signature Westin Heavenly(R) Bed, and each morning guests will be recharged in the spa-inspired shower. Perfectly suited for longer-stay guests, all rooms offer a fully equipped kitchen that features modern, ENERGY STAR-rated appliances and all the utensils necessary to prepare a gourmet meal.

A signature complimentary Rise breakfast offering, free wired and wireless Internet access, 24-hour Restore gourmet pantry, state-of-the-art Motion fitness center, chlorine-free pool and uninterrupted indoor/outdoor public spaces delivers everything guests need to work, relax or socialize on their schedule.

Green from the Ground Up
At Element, green features are cleverly designed to be as aesthetically appealing as they are eco-friendly, so guests never compromise on style and comfort. Eco-friendly materials are used whenever possible and natural light is maximized throughout the hotels. To reduce waste, guest room bathrooms are equipped with amenity dispensers, kitchens are supplied with silverware and glassware instead of plastic utensils and paper cups, and filtered drinking water is available rather than plastic water bottles. Recycling bins are available in guest rooms and public areas. Element hotels conserve water and energy with low-flow faucets and fixtures, compact fluorescent light bulbs, and energy-efficient appliances. Even the ubiquitous “Do Not Disturb” sign has been replaced with an environmentally-friendly magnet. For more information, please visit www.elementhotels.com.

Element Hotels, like all brands within Starwood’s portfolio, is proud to offer the Starwood Preferred Guest(R) program, which made headlines when it launched in 1999 with a breakthrough policy of no blackout dates on Free Night Awards. To learn more, please visit www.spg.com.

About American Properties Realty, Inc.
American Properties is a fully integrated development, investment and management company operating in New Jersey for over 40 years. American Properties has constructed over 10,000 homes, apartments and condominiums. In addition, it has completed over 1,000 hotel rooms and 3 million square feet of office space. The company has active projects in Ewing, Chesterfield, Matawan, and Eatontown. The company is headquartered in Woodbridge, New Jersey. It is one of the first building companies in New Jersey to obtain LEED certification and has received awards from the NJ DEP for its development practices. Many of its communities have received the highest awards from the NJ Builders Association.

About Hersha Hospitality Management
Hersha Hospitality Management currently operates approximately 70 hotels in the nation’s leading markets, including six hotels in the Princeton-Trenton corridor in New Jersey. The company provides turnkey hotel management and asset management for properties with leading brand affiliations, including Starwood, Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt, and InterContinental Hotel Group, and a newly launched “Independent Collection” (www.independentcollection.com). Including hotels under construction, HHM operates hotels under 20 brands. The company’s clients include publicly traded companies, joint ventures, institutional real estate owners and private investors. Additional information about HHM may be found at www.hershahotels.com.

About Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with 960 properties in 97 countries and 145,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. Starwood Hotels is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels, resorts and residences with the following internationally renowned brands: St. Regis(R), The Luxury Collection(R), W(R), Westin(R), Le Méridien(R), Sheraton(R), Four Points(R) by Sheraton, and the recently launched Aloft(R), and Element SM. Starwood Hotels also owns Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., one of the premier developers and operators of high quality vacation interval ownership resorts. For more information, please visit www.starwoodhotels.com.

Starwood Extends Its Lead as Asia Pacific’s Largest Upper-Upscale and Luxury Hotel Company with the Opening of the ITC Royal Gardenia, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Bengaluru

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) reaches another key milestone with the opening of its 150th hotel in Asia Pacific – the ITC Royal Gardenia, a Luxury Collection Hotel in Bengaluru. The opening of the 292-room hotel in India underscores Starwood’s long-term strategic growth plans in Asia Pacific, where it has executed 23 new deals in 2009. This year, Starwood has also opened seven hotels prior to the opening of ITC Royal Gardenia with another seven slated to open by year end.

“Reaching our 150th hotel in Asia Pacific is an important next step for Starwood as we progress on the journey to open our 1,000th hotel and resort worldwide,” said Frits van Paasschen, President and CEO of Starwood. “The growth opportunities in Asia Pacific are unsurpassed perhaps anywhere in the world. And we are working with our best-in-class partners to further extend our position as the region’s largest upper-upscale and luxury hotel company, while strengthening our place as the industry innovator in the select service segment.”

China and India Fuel Starwood’s Growth in Asia Pacific
Starwood’s 150 high-caliber hotels can be found in 20 countries throughout its Asia Pacific Division, with the most significant growth occurring in China and India.

“Starwood has responded to Asia Pacific’s acute need for lodging by working to open top quality conversion and new-build properties throughout this dynamic market.” said Simon Turner, President of Global Development, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. “In particular, China and India are fertile ground for Starwood as developers look to partner with world class brands that offer compelling guest experiences and are backed by powerful centralized sales and marketing systems.”

Within China, Starwood is set to double its current footprint to 100 hotels by 2012. So far in 2009, the company has signed 18 new deals and opened three hotels. Among the four hotel openings in China for the remainder of the year are Le Meridien hotels in Qingdao and Chongqing, a Westin hotel in Tianjin, and a Four Points by Sheraton hotel in Lianyungang. Next year, W is expected to strengthen its presence with the opening of W Guangzhou, and the Luxury Collection brand will make its Chinese debut.

India is now home to 23 Starwood hotels, with another 15 under development. This year, Starwood made significant gains in the market with the debut of the Four Points by Sheraton brand in Mumbai and Jaipur. Meanwhile, developer and consumer favorite, Westin Hotels & Resorts, is set to welcome guests to and within India with three new hotels coming on board later this year in Mumbai, Hyderabad and Pune. And looking ahead to 2010, Starwood will launch its Aloft brand in India, opening the first three of its five hotels in the pipeline.

Starwood Breaks New Ground Throughout Asia Pacific
Beyond China and India, this year Starwood is opening its second Sheraton in Korea and will soon be opening its first Sheraton resort in Vietnam. Starwood also recently signed new deals for a Sheraton resort and spa in New Caledonia and a Le Meridien in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. In 2010, the St. Regis brand will debut in Tibet, Thailand and Japan, while W makes its mark in Thailand and Indonesia. Starwood’s midscale brand, Four Points by Sheraton, is also meaningfully expanding with its first opening in Malaysia in 2009 and its first in Thailand in 2010.

“Starwood has become the hotel industry’s most global company – a position we assumed by remaining focused on working with the right partners in the right places on the right properties,” said Miguel Ko, Chairman & President of Starwood’s Asia Pacific Division. “Starwood continues to closely track both established and emerging markets throughout Asia Pacific to ensure our distinct and compelling brands are everywhere our guests want to be.”

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with 966 properties in more than 100 countries and 145,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. Starwood Hotels is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels, resorts and residences with the following internationally renowned brands: St. Regis®, The Luxury Collection®, W®, Westin®, Le Méridien®, Sheraton®, Four Points® by Sheraton, and the recently launched Aloft®, and Element SM. Starwood Hotels also owns Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., one of the premier developers and operators of high quality vacation interval ownership resorts. For more information, please visit www.starwoodhotels.com.