Starwood Hotels & Resorts (NYSE: HOT) have officially opened the doors of their newest hotel, Le Méridien Philadelphia. A ribbon cutting and grand opening ceremony included special guest speakers such as Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter, Pennsylvania Senator Larry Farnese, HEI Hotels & Resorts Chairman and CEO, Gary Mendell, Starwood Group SVP of North American Development, Paul Sacco.

Located in the heart of Center City Philadelphia, the hotel is housed in the former YMCA building designed by prominent American architect Horace Trumbauer, who also designed Philadelphia’s Union League and Museum of Art, among other well known projects of the Gilded Age. The historic adaptive reuse property was developed for HEI Hotels & Resorts, who will be the owner and operator of the hotel. Le Méridien, the Paris-born brand with an international presence of 105 hotels and resorts, will increase its North American footprint to nine properties with the opening of this newest hotel. Le Méridien Philadelphia will serve as a U.S. flagship for the hotel group, joining Le Méridien Chambers Minneapolis, which recently joined the brand’s portfolio in February 2010.

“We are excited about our debut in Philadelphia, a city that shares Le Méridien’s passion for art, culture and creativity,” said Eva Ziegler, Global Brand Leader, Le Méridien and W Hotels Worldwide. “With its vibrant arts scene, rich history and modern sophistication, Philadelphia is an ideal fit for Le Méridien as we continue to strategically open new hotels in primary, urban markets, cultural capitals and resort destinations across North America and globally.”

Le Méridien Philadelphia provides an integrated contemporary lifestyle experience, including 202 guestrooms and suites; a signature restaurant, the French brasserie Amuse; stylish lobby bar, serving coffee by day; and 5,000 square feet of flexible meeting space, including a 200-seat Ballroom and the Abele Library, a 1,300 square foot reception space overlooking City Hall. The hotel is adjacent to the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts and just one block from the Pennsylvania Convention Center. Love Park’s gardens and fountains, the Avenue of the Arts, and the boutiques and restaurants that line Benjamin Franklin Parkway – Philadelphia’s Champs Elysees – are all located within walking distance of the hotel.

Le Méridien has soared under Starwood since its acquisition in 2005, plugging into the company’s industry-leading centralized services as well as the group’s expertise of building world-class lifestyle brands. Le Méridien has been fully redefined and has earned global recognition for creating a curated, art driven guest experience from the moment of arrival. In November 2009, Le Méridien arrival experience was awarded “Most Innovative Concept in the Upscale Hotel Industry” at the 10th Annual Worldwide Hospitality Awards in Paris.

For hotel reservations and more information about Le Méridien Philadelphia, please visit www.lemeridien.com/philadelphia.

About Le Méridien
Le Méridien, the Paris-born hotel brand currently represented by 105 properties in more than 50 countries, was acquired by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) in November 2005. Since then, Le Méridien has gone through a brand re-launch, which included a major portfolio consolidation through renovating, opening, and exiting off brand hotels. As part of the new brand direction, French arts provocateur Jérôme Sans was appointed cultural curator to support in transforming numerous guest touch points and bringing unique and interactive experiences to its guests. With close to 80 of its properties located in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific, Le Méridien provides a strong international complement to Starwood’s primarily North American holdings. Plans call for dynamic expansion of Le Méridien hotels and resorts within the next five years, globally. Le Méridien recently opened new hotels in Dallas; Panama City, Panama; and Qingdao, Xiamen and Chongqing, China and will open in Oran, Algeria; Xi’an, China; Taipei, Taiwan; and Philadelphia in the coming months. Le Méridien has recently signed new hotel deals in Bangkok, Doha, Saigon, Lagos, Cairo, and Mahabaleshwar and Lonavala, India. For more information, please visit www.lemeridien.com.

Design Miami’s Renowned Designers of the Future Award is Renamed for the First Time, “W Hotels Designers of the Future Award”

As a reflection of design leadership and innovation, W Hotels Worldwide, the hotel category buster, announced a partnership with Design Miami/ Basel, the most prominent and substantive forum for international design. This new alliance kicked off this morning at Salone del Mobile in Milan, where Design Miami/ Basel announced its annual Designers of the Future Award, which is now known for the first time as the “W Hotels Designers of the Future Award.” The renowned Award, launched by Design Miami/ Basel in 2006, recognizes young, emerging designers whose work reflects exceptional innovation and beauty in limited-edition design. It is the perfect pairing for W, whose history is rooted in innovative design and who is dedicated to searching and showcasing what’s new and next in design. With the support of W Hotels, Design Miami/Basel is able to expand the benefits the Award brings to the winners’ works, which will now live on after the fair in various W Hotels globally.

“Design is at the core of W Hotels and is a source of innovation that has and will continue to set us apart from other brands,” said Eva Ziegler, Global Brand Leader of W Hotels Worldwide and Le Méridien. “We are very excited to partner with Design Miami/Basel to work together in identifying and collaborating with rising stars in design.  Salone del Mobile, where the best of the best – including some of W’s notable design partners – gather to exchange and celebrate new design ideas, is the perfect setting to announce this all.”

The 2010 “W Hotels Designers of the Future Award” looks beyond pure product and furniture design to embrace work that is even more conceptually and technologically vanguard, bridging multiple areas of practice, including art, sociology, science and experiential design. The 2010 Award winners include: Berlin-based studio Beta Tank; British artist Graham Hudson; London and Berlin-based studio rAndom International; and American post-industrial design studio Zigelbaum Coelho. The selection committee was comprised of Ambra Medda, Director, and Wava Carpenter, Associate Director, Design Miami/; Marcus Fairs, Editor-in-Chief, Dezeen.com; and Mike Tiedy, SVP, Global Brand Design & Innovation, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc, W’s parent company.

“We are tremendously pleased to welcome W Hotels into the Design Miami/ community of exceptional brands and partners,” said Design Miami/ Principal Craig Robins. He adds, “Design Miami/ and W Hotels share a common respect for quality and innovation, and together we will be able to grow the scope and prestige of the Designers of the Future Award.”

When W opened its first hotel in New York in 1998, it created a new era of hotel design and established itself as the clear leader in the contemporary lifestyle hotel space.  Every W Hotel demonstrates a passion for cutting-edge design, rooted in its location and interpreted in a contemporary cool way that is brought to life through unique collaborations with upcoming as well as renowned third party and in-house designers. From the Ottoman-referenced glam of W Istanbul to the design inspired by the dual personality of the British man at the upcoming W London – Leicester Square (Fall 2010), each new W Hotel begins with a design philosophy formed by Starwood’s in-house design team and is then fueled and delivered by a unique collaboration between the designers, architects, graphic designers, and W’s Global Fashion and Music Directors.

W’s rapid and unrivaled global growth brings opportunities for new design partnerships with established as well as upcoming designers.  For W St. Petersburg, which will mark the debut of W Hotels in Russia when it opens this Fall, W has partnered with acclaimed architects and designers Antonio Citterio & Partners to blend contemporary style with Russia’s elegant traditions, while the innovative and award-winning Dutch design firm Concrete has created a design that parallels the personas of the English at work and at play for the soon-to-open W London – Leicester Square. W’s first hotel in Paris, W Paris – Opera will debut in early 2011 with interiors by Rockwell Group Europe (RGe).  Diego Gronda, Managing and Creative Director of RGe, the Madrid satellite office of New York’s Rockwell Group founded by David Rockwell, is leading the design, which takes its inspiration from Paris, the City of Light, combined with the energy of New York, where W was born.

These new hotels will join W’s already prestigious European and Middle Eastern portfolio, which includes W Istanbul by architect/designer Geomim and W Doha Hotel & Residences, which merges traditional Arabian imagery with W’s signature contemporary cool, by London-based United Designers. W’s European flagship and first hotel in Western Europe, W Barcelona, was designed by Ricardo Bofill in the shape of a giant sail and has already become a modern day landmark of the Barcelona design-scape.

Rounding out W’s roster of current designer partners are Clodagh (W Fort Lauderdale); Tony Chi (W Santiago); Glamorous Corp. and g+a (W Hong Kong); Graft (W New York – Downtown); Yabu Pushelberg (W New York – Times Square renovation); Thom Filicia (W Atlanta – Buckhead and W San Diego and W Los Angeles – Westwood renovations); Patricia Uriquola (W Retreat & Spa – Vieques Island); and Patrick Jouin (W’s experimental Extreme WOW Suite of the Future installation).

About W Hotels Worldwide®
W Hotels is an innovative, contemporary, design-led lifestyle brand and the hotel category buster with 37 hotels and retreats in the most vibrant cities and exotic destinations around the world. Inspiring, iconic, innovative and influential, W Hotels provides the ultimate in insider access to a world of “Wow.” Each hotel offers a unique mix of innovative design and passions around fashion, music and entertainment.  W Hotels offers a holistic lifestyle experience that is integrated into the brand’s sensibility through contemporary restaurant concepts, glamorous nightlife experiences, stylish retail concepts and signature spas.  With more than 10 years of proven success, W Hotels is on track to more than double its footprint by 2011. W Hotels and W Retreats have been announced for Downtown New York, London, Paris, St. Petersburg, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Bali, Koh Samui, and Verbier, among other international destinations. For more information, visit www.whotels.com.

About Design Miami/Basel
Design Miami/Basel is the most prominent and substantive forum for international design, representing a convergence of commerce and culture. Its annual shows in Basel, Switzerland (June) and Miami, USA (December) bring together the most influential designers, collectors, dealers, curators and critics from around the world. For more information please visit www.designmiami.com.

A New Star Rises Above the Hollywood Walk of Fame

W Hotels Worldwide, the hotel category buster and industry innovator, recaptures the spirit of Hollywood glamour with the unveiling of W Hollywood Hotel & Residences.  Located at the historic intersection of Hollywood Boulevard and Vine, this $350 million complex, developed by Gatehouse Capital and owned in a joint venture by HEI Hotels & Resorts and Gatehouse Capital, in affiliation with the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transit Authority (Metro), offers W’s jet-setting guests, residents and Hollywood’s fashionable locals a fully integrated contemporary lifestyle experience.   The opening of W Hollywood kicks off another year of international growth for W Hotels, which is on track to more than double its global portfolio by 2011.

“Opening in Hollywood, the epicenter of pop culture, marks a true milestone in W’s global expansion into the world’s most exciting and vibrant destinations,” said Eva Ziegler, Global Brand Leader, W Hotels Worldwide and Le Méridien.  “W Hollywood further demonstrates our passion for entertainment as well as our leadership in cutting-edge design, which sets the stage for W’s unique lifestyle programming that will make W Hollywood the coolest place in town.”

“The opening of W Hollywood marks the completion of a ten year journey for Gatehouse Capital and our partners, and we are proud to introduce this stunning, modern, and truly sustainable property,” said Marty Collins, president and CEO of Gatehouse Capital, developer of the W Hollywood Hotel & Residences. “We have paired an iconic brand to an iconic intersection in a city that is a global destination recognized the world over, and in doing so, ushered in a second Golden Age that will redefine and revitalize modern Hollywood.”

“W Hollywood is a crown jewel in our investment portfolio, and offers a truly unique location that is a perfect blend of lifestyle, entertainment, hospitality and commerce,” said Clark Hanrattie, Chief Investment Officer for HEI Hotels & Resorts. “We are confident that W Hollywood will be the flashpoint of entertainment, art, fashion, culture and music on a global stage for years to come.”

Old Hollywood Glamour Meets Modern, Cutting-Edge Design
Dedicated to contributing to a green-conscious community and a cleaner environment, W Hollywood is registered for LEED®-Silver certification and is also the largest property registered for LEED® certification in Southern California, combining eco-conscious construction and access to public transportation with the incorporation of an on-site Metro Red Line Station that connects the hotel with the extensive Metro Rail and Bus system serving Los Angeles County. With top architecture firm HKS Architects, interior designers designstudio ltd., interior architecture firm Daly Genik Architects and landscape architect Rios Clementi Hale Studios at the helm, this team of world-class design professionals offered inspired interpretations from the idea of a new Hollywood glamour.

In this spirit, W Hollywood guests are given star-studded treatment in true Hollywood fashion as they walk the plush “red carpet” to arrive at the Welcome Desk and signature W Living Room, W’s modern take on the hotel lobby. Guests, residents and LA insiders can sip and socialize on the adjoining outdoor terrace and ground-floor lounge, featuring black tufted leather sofas, lounge chairs and a decadent backlit lobby bar crafted of glowing Onice Fantastico onyx. Punctuating the contemporary Living Room is a spectacular spiral stair case of white marble set against a backdrop of a curved bronze mosaic wall and a striking chandelier cascading from the gilded ceiling above.

Victor Drai Returns to Create New Nightlife Destination in Hollywood
The piece de resistance is undoubtedly the hotel’s expansive open air rooftop pool deck, bar and nightclub Drai’s Hollywood, from nightclub impresario Victor Drai.  Replete with spectacular panoramic views, first rate architectural design, a “Drai’s style” restaurant featuring the creative cuisine of Chef Claude Segal and an ultra exclusive lounge on the ground floor of the hotel for members and invitation only events, there isn’t another space in Los Angeles that can attract the stars like this crown jewel of nightlife. The pool decks and club are adorned with a selection of chaises, sun beds and sectional sofas surrounding a fire pit, while the raised Ipe wood deck is adorned with Moroccan-inspired cabanas, outfitted with lounging sofas and flat screen TVs.

Sip, Mix and Indulge at IDG’s Latest Restaurant Concept
Delphine Eatery & Bar makes its debut at W Hollywood with its classic and modern interpretations of French cuisine from Innovative Dining Group, the restaurant group behind such Los Angeles hot spots as Sushi Roku, Katana and BOA Steakhouse, among others. Delphine, conceptualized Zeff Designs, evokes the atmosphere of the South of France by blending vibrant colors, classic archways and an open-air feel inspired by the Cote d’Azur.   Guests can also grab a bite and watch the latest premiere or visual art feature at Station Hollywood, an al fresco outdoor lounge setting equipped with a 600 square foot drop-down cinema-style screen, cushy teak framed sectional seating, fire pits and an outdoor bar.

Recharge High above the Hollywood Scene
After an evening of indulgence, escape the scene and recharge in one of W Hollywood’s 305 guest rooms, including W’s signature WOW Suites and the Extreme WOW Suite (W’s reinterpretation of the traditional Presidential Suite). Guestrooms and suites feature W’s signature beds with a feather-top mattress, 350 thread-count Egyptian cotton sheets, goose down comforters, state-of-the-art entertainment and a fully stocked Munchie Box (W Hotels’ twist on the hotel Mini Bar).

Own the Wow
The Residences at W Hollywood offer 143 W-branded Residences for purchase, featuring one, two and three bedroom units with spectacular views of the world famous Hollywood Sign. Residence owners have access to all of W Hollywood’s modern amenities and services, including preferred dining reservations and seating at the hotel’s signature restaurant, nightclub, and lounges; Welcome Ambassadors and round the clock security; in-residence dining and STYLE housekeeping services; two WET® pools, including the private W Residences pool; WHEELS valet service; two SWEAT® state-of-the-art fitness facilities; and W’s signature Whatever/Whenever® service promise, providing residents and hotel guests alike with whatever they want – from front row seats at the world-famous Kodak Theatre to private shopping excursion on Melrose Avenue – whenever they want it, as long as its legal! For information on The Residences at W Hollywood, please contact 323-469-8800.

Escape to Hollywood’s First Bliss® Spa
Bliss Spa arrives in Hollywood for the first time with more than 6,000-square-feet of tension-fighting facilities with a focus on manicures and pedicures, facials, waxing, and skincare services as well as bliss signature massages. Seven treatment rooms and bliss trademark touches such as rhythm & blues tunes, a retail beauty boutique, and legendary brownie buffet make bliss hollywood the ultimate destination for stylish jet setters and spa and beauty-loving locals. W Hollywood guests and residents receive “BIP” (Bliss Important Person) status for priority reservations and exclusive in-room sampling, while sought-after sink side bliss amenities are provided in all guestrooms and suites.

W Hollywood’s other distinctive elements include substantial modern retail space, 10,000 square feet of  meeting, banquet and pre-function space, and 15,000 square feet of ultra-modern event space, including The Great Room (W’s take on the grand ballroom). Creative in approach and innovative design, meeting spaces set the stage for success using a unique W Sensory Set Up® with mood music, signature scents and more to engage and energize attendants. W Hollywood’s full service business center, WIRED, is also open 24 hours a day.

W Hollywood is located at 6250 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles, California.  For more information or to make a reservation, please visit www.whotels.com/hollywood.

About W Hotels Worldwide®
W Hotels is an innovative contemporary lifestyle brand and the hotel category buster with 36 hotels and retreats in the most vibrant cities and exotic destinations around the world. Inspiring, iconic, innovative and influential, W Hotels provides the ultimate in insider access to a world of “Wow.” Each hotel offers a unique mix of innovative design and passions around fashion, music and entertainment.  W Hotels offers a holistic lifestyle experience that is integrated into the brand’s sensibility through contemporary restaurant concepts, glamorous nightlife experiences, and signature spas.  With 10 years of proven success, W Hotels is on track to double its footprint by 2011. W Hotels and W Retreats have been announced for Downtown New York, London, Paris, St. Petersburg, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Bali, Vieques Island, Koh Samui, and Verbier, among other international destinations. For more information, visit www.whotels.com.

About Gatehouse Capital
Founded in 1995, Gatehouse Capital is a national real estate investment and development firm based in Dallas, Texas. Currently engaging in the development and redevelopment of mixed-use properties involving upscale hotels in high barrier, urban and technology markets, Gatehouse has a reputation for both elevating brands and being elevated by brands. By partnering with industry leaders and visionaries throughout its collective team, Gatehouse revalidates its core mission: to deliver extraordinary developments in every send, beginning with economic return. www.gatehousecapital.com.

About HEI Hotels & Resorts
HEI Hotels & Resorts, headquartered in Norwalk, Conn., is a leading hospitality investment firm that acquires, develops, owns and operates full-service, upper upscale and luxury hotels and resorts throughout the United States under such well-known brand names as Marriott, Sheraton, Westin, Le Meridien, Embassy Suites, and Hilton. For more information about HEI, visit the company’s website, www.heihotels.com.

About Metro’s Joint Development Program
The project is a product of Metro’s Joint Development Program, which works closely with public and private partners to encourage high-quality, transit-oriented development around Metro station sites and along transit corridors.  The program’s goal is to help reduce auto trips and relieve congestion through transit-linked development.

About Drai’s Hollywood
Victor Drai is a legendary French entrepreneur, film producer and lifestyle magnate who transformed his own Hollywood life into a brand with his successful restaurant, Drai’s on La Cienega.  After leaving Hollywood for Las Vegas in 1997, Drai forever changed the world’s nightclub scene with the opening of Drai’s on the Strip. The club’s 1 a.m. to early morning schedule helped make it the first after-hours venue in Sin City and still remains a nightlife staple. Drai partnered with Cy and Jesse Waits, two of the club world’s rising stars and opened two of the most successful nightclubs ever Tryst and XS in Las Vegas. Drai and the Waits twins’ newest venture, Drai’s Hollywood, will deliver a first class nightlife destination to the entertainment capital of the world. For more information, please visit www.draishollywood.com

About Innovative Dining Group
Innovative Dining Group currently operates seven of the most popular and successful restaurants in Los Angeles: Sushi Roku (with locations in West Hollywood, Santa Monica, and Pasadena), BOA Steakhouse (with locations in West Hollywood and Santa Monica), Katana in West Hollywood, and Robata Bar in Santa Monica. In September 2008, IDG opened Sushi Roku in the new W Hotel in Scottsdale—the restaurant group’s first Arizona property. The company also operates a BOA Steakhouse and Sushi Roku at the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. All of IDG’s venues reflect bold, modern interpretations of traditional concepts, reflective of the company’s youthful, dynamic partners. For more information, please visit www.innovativedining.com or IDG’s page on Facebook.

About Bliss
Founded in 1996 in New York City, bliss was spotted by beauty-obsessed buzz-makers and quickly massaged its way to the top…and soon after, across the map.  There are currently 18 bliss spas worldwide, including 14 locations within W Hotels, bliss’ exclusive hotel spa and in-room amenity partner. Bliss retails its spa-at-home skin and body care products through its bliss catalog, blissworld.com web site, bliss spa retail boutiques and at international retailers including Bloomingdale’s, Blue Mercury, Harrod’s, Harvey Nichols, Lane Crawford, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Sephora, and Ulta.  For more information, visit www.blissworld.com.

As One of the World’s Top Art Hotels, the Chambers Underscores Le Méridien’s New Brand Direction and Passion for the Arts

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) today announced that the Minneapolis-based Chambers has joined Le Méridien, the Paris-born hotel brand with an international presence of 105 hotels and resorts. The addition of Chambers has increased the brand’s footprint to 10 hotels in North America. Opened in 2006 by prominent art collector Ralph Burnet, Chambers is considered one of the world’s top art hotels, featuring more than 250 original artworks by such noted artists as Damien Hirst, Tracey Emin and Gavin Turk. The hotel has been renamed Le Méridien Chambers Minneapolis.

“Le Méridien shares with its guests a passion for style, art, architecture, design, and cuisine, all focal points of Chambers and owner Ralph Burnet,” said Eva Ziegler, global brand leader, Le Méridien and W Hotels Worldwide. “Chambers will serve as a flagship for Le Méridien’s North American portfolio, and a perfect example of its new direction as a creative hub in vibrant cities around the world.”

“For the last year and a half, I’ve seen firsthand the benefits the Starwood organization brings to a hotel property,” said Burnet, referring to W Minneapolis – The Foshay, his other hotel property which opened in late 2008. “Le Méridien embraces contemporary art and cuisine the way that the W brand revels in fashion and music. Chambers is clearly all about great art, food and service – which makes this a tremendous fit.”

Le Méridien Chambers was designed for those individuals who recognize and are inspired by contemporary art and cuisine combined with great service. Behind the hotel’s distinctive mahogany double doors, guests are greeted with an eclectic mix of original, contemporary art by internationally renowned artists. Video monitors line the guestroom corridors with a constant display of award-winning video art, and during their stays, in-the-know guests take the stairs whenever possible to enjoy, Elemental, the five-story mural that runs the entire height of the hotel’s main stairwell. In the hotel’s Burnet Gallery, guests may purchase works by international, national and local artists.

Designed by Rockwell Group (Kodak Theatre, Nobu, among others), Le Méridien Chambers’ timeless, chic design provides an ideal backdrop to its contemporary art collection. The hotel wraps around Eden, an open-air, grotto-style lounge courtyard that is open year round and features a large, sleek, 10-foot square gas fire pit. During the winter months a portion of Eden transforms into, Ice Chamber, a 256-foot bar created from 12,000 pounds of crystal clear ice. A fifth floor lounge offers dramatic 360-degree vistas of the downtown Minneapolis skyline via floor-to-ceiling glass walls and a surrounding balcony. D’Amico Kitchen, the hotel’s restaurant offers critically acclaimed creative, contemporary Italian fare by the Twin Cities’ legendary restaurateurs, Larry and Richard D’Amico. Live streaming video of the restaurant’s behind-the-scenes activity is projected nightly on a massive screen on one of Eden’s courtyard walls.

Le Méridien Chambers features 60 guestrooms, including six suites and nine junior suites. All the guestrooms feature original artwork and are furnished with contemporary furniture, platform beds with custom mattresses and 400-thread-count, Egyptian cotton bed linens. Rooms are equipped with all the necessities that satisfy a contemporary lifestyle, including 42″ plasma TVs, complimentary high-speed and WI-FI Internet access, and iPod docking stations, alarm clocks. Spacious closets and wardrobes in each guestroom are ideal for long-term stays.

Since being acquired by Starwood in November 2005, Le Méridien has become known for creating a curated art-driven experience that engages its guests from the moment of arrival. Le Méridien’s newly introduced arrival experiences have been designed to transform the guest experience from functional and transactional to one that emotionally connects with guests and resets their minds, leaving the outside world behind for the world of Le Méridien brand.

Curated by international arts provocateur Jérôme Sans, Le Méridien’s cultural curator since 2006, and developed together with members of the LM100, Le Méridien’s family of cultural innovators, elements of Le Méridien’s arrival experience include: a Transitional Portal, which is a visual and audio “wall” of sound and art that engulfs each guest; Sensory Experience, illustrated through Le Méridien’s signature scent, sound and use of light; UNLOCK ART programme that includes an artist designed key card that offers access to the guestroom and to the hotel’s affiliated local arts organization; and lastly, the Elevated Experience, created especially for Le Méridien by French music composer and producer Henri Scars Struck that transforms the event of riding an elevator into an “elevating experience” through sound. In November 2009, Le Méridien arrival experience was awarded “Most Innovative Concept in the Upscale Hotel Industry” at the 10th annual Worldwide Hospitality Awards in Paris.

Le Méridien signature scent has been designed in collaboration with Le Labo founders and LM100 members Fabrice Penot and Eddie Roshi, while coffee is served throughout the day at the lobby bar as part of Le Méridien coffeehouse atmosphere. Guests of Le Méridien Chambers will notice that some of these Le Méridien brand elements will go into effect immediately, while others will be introduced over the coming months.

As of February 1, 2010, Le Méridien Chambers has become part of Starwood Preferred Guest(R), Starwood’s award-winning loyalty program allowing members to earn points toward exclusive benefits across the entire line of Starwood’s hotel and resort portfolio.

Located in the heart of the Twin Cities’ cultural, business and social scenes, Le Méridien Chambers is just a block from the center of the city’s business, financial and shopping districts. Patrons may stroll across the street to world-class theater and concerts at the historic Orpheum, Pantages and State Theatres. The critically acclaimed Guthrie Theatre, Walker Art Center and Minneapolis Institute of Arts are all within five minutes by taxi. Nightclubs, bars, restaurants and art galleries that fill the city’s Warehouse District are within easy walking distance. For more information on Le Méridien Chambers or to book, please visit www.LeMeriden.com/minneapolis.

About Le Méridien
Le Méridien, the Paris-born hotel brand currently represented by 106 properties in more than 50 countries, was acquired by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) in November 2005. Since then, Le Méridien has gone through a brand re-launch, which included a major portfolio consolidation through renovating, opening, and exiting off brand hotels. As part of the new brand direction, French arts provocateur Jérôme Sans was appointed cultural curator to support in transforming numerous guest touch points and bringing unique and interactive experiences to its guests. With close to 80 of its properties located in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific, Le Méridien provides a strong international complement to Starwood’s primarily North American holdings. Plans call for dynamic expansion of Le Méridien hotels and resorts within the next five years, globally. Le Méridien recently opened new hotels in Dallas, Panama, Qingdao and Chongqing, China and will open in Xiamen, China; Oran, Algeria; and Philadelphia in the coming months. Le Méridien brand has recently signed new hotel deals in Saigon, Mahabaleshwar, and Lonavala in India. For more information, please visit www.lemeridien.com.

A Flagship for W Hotels Globally, W Barcelona is the Latest in the Brand’s Continued Expansion to Become a Global Powerhouse, Including Upcoming Openings in London, and Paris

W Hotels Worldwide, the hotel category buster and industry innovator, today unveils a global brand flagship hotel, W Barcelona. An icon of stunning architecture rising high above the Mediterranean in Spain’s most dynamic and stylish city, W Barcelona is designed by world-renowned Spanish architect Ricardo Bofill. Situated at Nova Bocana, where the glamorous Barceloneta beach boardwalk commences, the hotel has a commanding presence against Barcelona’s magnificent waterfront and skyline, and has already made its mark as a landmark in an ambitious urban renewal plan for Barcelona’s coastline. The 26-story, slender, sail-shaped W Barcelona sits perpendicular to the dock, showcasing unprecedented sea and city views from virtually every guest room. Global jetsetters and local tastemakers are already referring to the curved sandy and very exclusive bay adjacent to the hotel as Barcelona’s very own “Copacabana,” a reference that alludes to W Barcelona’s passion for design and fashion, which will be the key brand differentiators for this emblematic destination.

“Taking the W brand into the dynamic city of Barcelona, a European hub known for fashion, design and architecture, will mark a true milestone in W Hotels’ global expansion into the world’s most exciting and vibrant destinations,” said Eva Ziegler, Global Brand Leader, W Hotels Worldwide and Le Méridien. “W Barcelona offers stunning architecture and innovative design from Ricardo Bofill, a renowned architect. His leading-edge design will set a dramatic stage for the W brand’s unique lifestyle positioning, soon to become a true flagship hotel for the W brand, offering insider access to a world of Wow.”

Through W Hotels’ unique and distinctive programming, W Barcelona will provide a contemporary lifestyle experience with a complete service offer. The hotel will feature 473 guest rooms, including 67 suites, two WOW suites and one Extreme WOW suite. W Barcelona will also offer guests Spain’s first Bliss® Spa; a signature restaurant by famed Michelin-Star rated and acclaimed Catalan Chef, Carles Abellan, featuring unparalleled views of the Barcelona shoreline; Eclipse, a glamorous rooftop bar with stunning vistas over the Mediterranean from London-based nightlife gurus, Ignite Group (the creative minds behind famed London nightclub, Boujis); the signature W lounge welcome experience featuring W BAR for cocktails and WAVE Restaurant; WET, a glamorous infinity-edged pool and bar, all surrounded by multiple sun terraces, inspiring exterior lounge decks, fully equipped cabanas, and one ultra-exclusive Extreme WOW Cabana with Jacuzzi and lounge deck. The hotel also features SWEAT state-of-the-art fitness facility outfitted with Technogym equipment featuring panoramic views of the Mediterranean, complemented by resident DJ sets to inspire high energy work out sessions.

W Barcelona features spectacular public spaces with more than 2,500 square metres of ultra-modern meeting and event space, including a unique Great Room (W Hotels’ interpretation of a ballroom) with breathtaking, unobstructed sea views, making W Barcelona more than the ultimate insider escape but also an ideal hotel for special events, meetings and celebrations. All of these offerings will be supported by the W brand’s signature Whatever/Whenever® service promise, providing guests whatever they want – from a private chartered yacht excursion along the Mediterranean coastline to an insider shopping spree from the vintage Catalan fashions to the latest Spanish designers – whenever they want it (as long as it’s legal!).

“W Barcelona is now the third W Hotel in Europe, Africa and the Middle East, following the openings of W Istanbul and W Doha Hotel & Residences earlier this year,” said Roeland Vos, President, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, EAME. “The W brand continues its fantastic growth and is on track to open ten more W Hotels in some of the region’s most sought after destinations, including London, Paris, and Milan.”

W Barcelona is at the beginning of the world-famous boardwalk La Barceloneta, first-class restaurants of Port Vell, pristine beaches and water sports of Puerto Olimpico, and a short stroll from the romantic cafés, fashionable shops and innovative nightlife options of Barcelona’s Old Town and Las Ramblas. The only hotel in Barcelona with direct access to the beach, W Barcelona anchors Passeig de Joan de Borbó, a massive redevelopment project slated to bring luxury retail, office and entertainment venues to this dynamic area.

W Barcelona is accepting reservations, including group arrivals and event bookings, from today onwards. To celebrate this divine debut, W Barcelona has introduced an exclusive opening offer for guests, providing a taste of W Hotels’ insider contemporary lifestyle experience. Starting at €249, the opening offer includes two welcome cocktails, daily breakfast for two, complimentary appetizer or dessert with dinner at W Barcelona’s signature restaurant, Bliss® Spa gift set, VIP access to Eclipse, the hotel’s rooftop destination bar, and an upgrade from a Wonderful Room to the next available room type. This limited celebratory offer is valid for stays between October 1, 2009 and February 27, 2010.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts has a commanding presence in Spain with six of its nine world-class brands represented, including Westin, Le Méridien, The Luxury Collection, St. Regis, Sheraton, and now W Hotels. The grand hotels that make up Starwood’s Spanish portfolio include The Westin Palace Madrid, Marqués de Riscal, A Luxury Collection (Rioja), Hotel Alfonso XIII, A Luxury Collection Hotel (Seville), and Arabella Golf & Spa Resort (Mallorca).

About W Hotels Worldwide®
W Hotels is an innovative contemporary lifestyle brand and the hotel category buster with 34 hotels and retreats in the most vibrant cities and exotic destinations around the world. Inspiring, iconic, innovative and influential, W Hotels provides the ultimate in insider access to a world of “Wow.” Each hotel offers a unique mix of innovative design and passions around fashion, music, entertainment, design, architecture, pop culture, and everything in between. W Hotels are unique and individual expressions of modern living, reflected in the brand’s sensibility to a holistic lifestyle experience with cutting-edge design, contemporary restaurant concepts, glamorous nightlife experiences, and signature spas. With 10 years of proven success, W Hotels is on track to double its footprint by 2011. In North America and Latin America, W Hotels have been announced in Austin, Boston, Hollywood, Huntington Beach, and Downtown New York. In Europe, W Hotels have been announced in Athens, London, Manchester, Milan, Paris and St. Petersburg. In Asia, W has announced properties in Bangkok, Guangzhou, Macao-Studio City, Shanghai and Yokohama. In Africa and the Middle East, W has announced properties in Marrakech, Amman, and Dubai. W has plans to open W Retreats in Bali, Koh Samui, Vieques Island and Verbier, the latter of which will serve as W Hotels’ first ski retreat. For more information, visit www.whotels.com.

W Santiago and The Residences at W Santiago Mark the Latest Opening in W Hotels’ Continued Global Expansion, More Than Doubling Its Footprint by 2011

W Hotels Worldwide, the hotel category buster and leading industry innovator, today unveils its first ever hotel in South America, W Santiago and The Residences at W Santiago. The W brand’s 33rd hotel, W Santiago is the cornerstone of a larger, mixed-use complex, Isidora 3000, which includes a convention center, boutique office space, and high-end retail shops in addition to the W Hotel and W-branded residences. Developed by the Territoria Group, W Santiago is located in the heart of the fashionable El Golf district of the Chilean capital city and surrounded by the magnificent peaks of the Andes.

For W Santiago, renowned New York designer Tony Chi partnered with native Chilean designer Sergio Echeverria and his studio Echeverria Edwards & CIA to create cutting edge interiors for the hotel and residences that are a cool, contemporary take on the varied Chilean landscape. Their interior design approach sets the stage for W’s signature programming, including Whiskey Blue, an amped-up hotspot on the fourth floor of the hotel, Red2 One, a breathtaking rooftop bar, and W Lounge (W’s take on the traditional hotel lobby), all from famed nightlife entrepreneurs Rande and Scott Gerber of the Gerber Group; Osaka, the Zen-inspired restaurant featuring Peruvian-Asian cuisine by Chef Ciro Watanabe; NoSo and Terraza, two Modern French restaurants by renowned chef Jean-Paul Bondoux; an intimate Tea Library, managed by the talented French chef Sebastien Fontes; a lively Wine Bar; and W Hotels The Store, W’s twist on the hotel gift shop. In addition, hotel guests have access to the adjacent O2 Balance & Wellness Club, which offers 2,000 square meters of high-end equipment for physical training and spa treatment rooms.

“W Santiago marks a milestone for the W brand in South America as well as in our continued global expansion into the world’s most vibrant destinations,” said Eva Ziegler, Global Brand Leader, W Hotels Worldwide and Le Méridien. “The hotel provides guests and locals alike with W’s unique signature programming set in a cool design environment that gives a contemporary and playful nod to the breathtaking Chilean landscape and culture.”

“We’re delighted to celebrate the grand opening of this world-class hotel and residences, which now stands as an iconic landmark in this city” said Francisco Rencoret, CEO of Territoria. “We’ve created an exceptional lifestyle destination. Isidora 3000 was designed to bring the best in each category offices, retail, residences, hotel- through experiences, design and services for the 21st century.”

“We are excited to strengthen our presence in Chile as we unveil the new W Santiago, a great addition to our existing Starwood portfolio,” said Osvaldo Librizzi, President of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Latin America. “W is a worldwide brand already present in many important cities around the globe. We chose Santiago because of the need for outstanding hotels and for the importance Santiago has as a financial and cultural center in South America.”

Contemporary Design Rooted in Chilean Culture
Beginning with a private garden entrance flanked by 50-foot trees cultivated from southern Chile, the design of W Santiago honors the country’s cultural traditions while incorporating the modern design elements for which the W brand is known. Interior designer Tony Chi was inspired by the colors, textures and sounds of Chile, elements that can be seen, felt and heard throughout the hotel. The color palette of all public spaces and guestrooms includes oranges, blues, and other vibrant shades that are found in the mountains and deserts of South America, and many of the hotel’s design elements beckon to be touched, such as the sheepskin walls used in the W lounge. To craft and execute this conceptual design throughout the building, Chi worked in collaboration with the international company Handel Architects of the United States, the Brazilian landscape designer Gilberto Elkis, and renowned Chilean designer Sergio Echeverria. Together, they went to great lengths to use natural design materials found in or inspired by South America, including copper (Chile’s biggest export), sheepskin, Brazilian woods, and contemporary Indian tapestries. In using these natural elements, this team of designers has intended for every guest’s experience at W Santiago to be unique, as the natural materials will change with time, aging beautifully, and constantly evolving the look and feel of the hotel.

“When designing, you have to start with the location and its people, and what I noticed here is that friends and family congregate frequently and in large groups,” said Tony Chi. “Chilean culture is about crossing generations and bridging differences, and as a collective sentiment, it is what ultimately inspired W Santiago.”

Mix, Mingle and Sip in Style at W Santiago
W Santiago features an assorted mix of modern lounges, bars, and restaurants in which W’s jet set guests and Santiago’s fashionable locals can mix and mingle. Whiskey Blue, which marks the South American debut of nightlife entrepreneurs Rande and Scott Gerber, features a modern bar with leather, felt and wood paneling and floor-to-ceiling mirrors. Two additional venues by the Gerber Group, the signature W lounge and Red2 One, the 21st floor rooftop bar, offer guests, residents and locals a menu of sophisticated cocktails and light fare in distinctively designed spaces.

Restaurants at W Santiago include NoSo and Terraza, where famed chef Jean-Paul Bondoux puts his own unique spin on modern French cuisine, and Osaka restaurant, featuring an innovative fusion of Asian and Peruvian flavors by renowned chef Ciro Watanabe. At Osaka, typical Peruvian ingredients are combined with Oriental cooking techniques, resulting in innovative dishes, such as Ceviche Osaka, Tai Scallops, Teriyaki Balsamic Sirloin, and Nippon Confit Duck. NoSo, a more formal dining experience, features a contemporary twist on French classics such as foie gras and escargot as well as fresh Chilean seafood. NoSo features chocolate-colored walls, a wine cave, marble seafood display, and an impressive chef’s table, where the chef prepares the freshest ingredients from the local market. Adjacent to NoSo, a private dining room seats up to 25 people, with blue glass chandeliers hanging above massive tables surrounded by plush red chairs. With a brasserie-style concept, Terraza is a more casual restaurant with quick and agile service, ideal for local executives or relaxed outdoor dining. A signature Tea Library and a modern Wine Bar round out the scene at W Santiago.

Escape the Hustle and Bustle of Chile’s Dynamic Capital City
W Santiago features 196 stylish guestrooms, including 20 suites, 16 Cool Corner Rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows, three WOW suites, and the signature Extreme WOW Suite (W Hotels’ reinterpretation of the Presidential Suite), offering stunning views of Santiago and the Andes Mountains. Rooms and suites, which serve as a personal escape for guests, feature black and white images of Chile, modern and stylish furniture, high ceilings, and, in many cases, spacious terraces with incredible views. All guestrooms feature W beds with goose down duvets and 350 thread-count sheets, flat-screen LCD TVs, broadband Wi-Fi Internet, docking stations for MP3 players, and a fully stocked Munchie Box (W Hotels’ take on of the traditional hotel mini bar).

W Santiago is also home to South America’s first W Hotels The Store, a WIRED 24-hour business center, and the heated WET® rooftop pool on the 21st floor, which offers unparalleled views of the city and mountains. The perfect backdrop for creative business meetings or unforgettable celebrations, W Santiago also boasts more than 1,800 square meters of ultra-modern meeting and event space, with 10 fully equipped meeting rooms featuring new generation technologies. The hotel offers a contemporary Great Room (W’s version of a ballroom), which can seat up to 1,400 guests.

Providing the ultimate in urban living, W Santiago includes 46 W-branded residences, in sizes ranging from 65 to 325 square meters with a contemporary design and exclusive access to the hotel’s unique amenities and services. All residences feature the largest terraces in Santiago, spacious bedrooms and living spaces, and state-of-the art appliances. In addition, residents have access to a private owners’ lounge, private wine cellar and tasting room, an infinity pool on the 21st floor, and a helipad. Residences are still available and can be purchased by contacting the sales center at (56-2) 947-2032 or through the website www.santiagoresidences.com. In addition, W Santiago offers W’s signature Whatever/Whenever® service promise, providing both guests and residents alike with whatever they want – from a private plane to the Patagonia to a bottle of vintage wine – whenever they want it, as long as it’s legal!

W Santiago is located at Isidora Goyenechea 3000, Las Condes, Santiago, Chile. For more information or to book, please visit www.whotels.com/santiago.

About W Hotels Worldwide®
W Hotels is an innovative contemporary lifestyle brand and the hotel category buster with 33 properties in the most vibrant destinations around the world. Inspiring, iconic, innovative and influential, W Hotels provides the ultimate in insider access to a world of “Wow.” Each hotel offers a unique mix of innovative design and passions around fashion, music, entertainment, design, architecture, pop culture, and everything in between. W Hotels are unique and individual expressions of modern living, reflected in the brand’s sensibility to a holistic lifestyle experience with cutting-edge design, contemporary restaurant concepts, glamorous nightlife experiences, and signature spas. With 10 years of proven success, W Hotels will triple its footprint by 2011. In North America and Latin America, W Hotels have been announced in Austin, Boston, Hollywood, Huntington Beach, and Downtown New York. In Europe, W Hotels have been announced in Athens, Barcelona, London, Manchester, Milan, Paris and St. Petersburg. In Asia, W has announced properties in Bangkok, Guangzhou, Macao-Studio City, Shanghai and Yokohama. In Africa and the Middle East, W has announced properties in Marrakech, Amman, and Dubai. W has plans to open W Retreats in Bali, Koh Samui, Vieques Island and Verbier, the latter of which will serve as W Hotels’ first ski retreat. For more information, visit www.whotels.com.

About The Territoria Group
A real estate developer, Territoria . was founded in 2004 and is based out of Santiago, Chile. Territoria distinguishes itself through the unique imprint it leaves on each project, characterized by a new proposition for a certain style of living. They start from one idea, constructing spaces with innovation, creativity and design, with an open vision towards a new way of living. They currently have 70.000 square meters of completed works and approximately 162.000 square meters under construction. www.territoria.cl

About Tony Chi
Tony Chi distinguishes himself from other interior designers because of his temperament. He is a perfectionist; meticulous, unwavering and possessing an intensity that evokes emotion, never allowing indifference. His design transcends ephemeral curiosity entertained by the surface of things. He understands that design without functionality is hollow and functionality without people who care to utilize it defeats the purpose. In his own words, “any designer can create a dazzling body but I want to create spaces that have a chance at building a soul.” He doesn’t merely deliver aesthetics, he delivers an experience.

W South Beach and The Residences at W South Beach Set a New Standard for a Contemporary Lifestyle Experience as W Hotels Continues to Expand Globally, More Than Doubling Its Portfolio by 2011

W Hotels Worldwide, the hotel category buster and industry innovator, today unveils its latest insider escape with the grand opening of W South Beach and The Residences at W South Beach, the W brand’s 31st hotel property.

Owned and developed by Tristar Capital and RFR Realty and executed on behalf of ownership by Related of New York, W South Beach is located beachside in the burgeoning arts and entertainment district of Miami Beach. This oceanfront landmark is set to inspire jet set guests and locals alike with spectacular design that sets the stage for W’s fully integrated contemporary lifestyle experience: 408 W-branded residences, including Ocean Suites, Beach Bungalows, and the signature Extreme WOW suite (W’s reinterpretation of the Presidential suite); Wall, an exclusive bar and ultra-lounge operated in partnership with world-renowned Miami nightlife impresarios and restaurateurs; celebrity dining hotspot Mr. Chow; Soleà, the signature restaurant serving contemporary Mediterranean cuisine; Grove, a whimsical outdoor garden; Bliss®, New York’s hottest spa, arriving in Miami for the first time; WET, with two alluring pools and stylish cabanas; more than 10,000 square feet of ultra-modern meeting and event space; SWEAT® state-of-the-art fitness center; basketball court; tennis court, and W Hotels The Store, the W brand’s twist on the traditional hotel gift shop.

“W South Beach will serve as a flagship hotel for the W brand globally,” said Eva Ziegler, Global Brand Leader, W Hotels Worldwide and Le Méridien. “The hotel will provide guests and locals alike with W’s outstanding signature programming set in a stunning, cutting-edge design environment on the shores of one of the world’s most glamorous and fashionable beaches.”

“The launch of W South Beach marks a new era in Miami’s glamorous history,” said David Edelstein, principal of Tristar Capital, which owns the hotel along with RFR Realty. “Our vision was to develop a world-class hotel with a new standard of design and style that embraces the vibrant spirit of South Beach.”

A Landmark on the Shores of Florida’s Most Fashionable Beach
W South Beach is the product of renowned designers and artists, including architect Costas Kondylis in collaboration with NBWW & Associates, Anna Busta of Studio B Design, landscape designer Paula Hayes and twice Grammy-nominated photographer Danny Clinch. Together they have combined organic architectural elements with a contemporary design to create an iconic and high-end urban design ambiance that pays homage to the area’s art deco heritage and offers guests an insider escape in the center of all the action.

Architect Costas Kondylis created a new landmark that recalls Miami’s modern architectural legacy with its dynamic and whimsical façade. The unique design of the building positions rooms on a 25-degree angle, providing guests with breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean. The stunning W Living Room (W’s take on the traditional hotel lobby), has been designed by Anna Busta and features dramatic artwork from noted collector Aby Rosen’s private collection. Strongly influenced by art deco elements, the Living Room features sleek floors inlaid with bronze and wood with a terrazzo border and a row of white quartzite columns set against a soaring 120-foot-long marble wall. An eclectic yet sophisticated mix of furnishings create intimate conversation areas throughout the space, including tufted leather ottomans, sofas imported from Italy, velvet curtains in eggplant purple, modern white and gray sofas complemented by oversized, inlaid horn tables, armchairs covered in white pony or slate velvet and white pony rugs splashed with gold paint. A shimmering, 20-foot-high beaded curtain set off by glass walls ushers guests into the W Living Room Bar, offering views of WET pool deck and the hotel’s lush garden known as the Grove.

Escape into the Grove by Celebrated Landscape Artist Paula Hayes
Developed by conceptual landscape artist Paula Hayes in collaboration with Anna Busta, the Grove was inspired by the many beautiful gardens found in the Provence region of France. Designed to transport guests into another world, this serene garden is an escape from the hustle and bustle of South Beach, featuring winding paths amongst the swamp lily and flowering grasses, lanterns from the late 19th Century, sheets of poetry suspended from sea grape trees and 1920s-era objects discovered in French flea markets.

Flirt, Sip and Mix from Dusk to Dawn at The Wall
Guests of The Wall ultra-lounge will experience the first partnership of Miami nightlife giants Nicola Siervo and Karim Masri, co-owners of celebrity-hangout Mokai and hotspot Quattro restaurant, and brothers Francis and Eric Milon, nightlife pioneers behind The Opium Group, which owns iconic South Beach venues Mansion, SET, Louis Bar-Lounge, Opium at The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino and Privé Las Vegas at the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino. Miami’s newest nightlife destination has been designed to entertain celebrities and jet setters alike from dusk to dawn, seducing and captivating guests throughout several spaces. Designed by Anna Busta, the ultra-lounge captivates guests with its seductive gold-and-black motif, including dark walls, a lacquered bar, Cappellini stools and a ceiling of fine copper mesh. The focal point of the space is a vintage gold sofa inspired by Le Corbusier, created exclusively for W South Beach.

Savor Legendary Chinese Cuisine at Mr. Chow Miami
Famed celebrity eatery Mr. Chow debuts in Miami on the ground floor of W South Beach. Mr. Chow Miami offers iconic dishes along with new and creative recipes prepared by Executive Chef Nick Du, a specialist in regional Chinese cuisines who is known as one of the best chefs in Beijing and throughout China. Designed by Michael Chow, the beautiful space includes his signature elements such as the stepped entrance that puts guests into the spotlight, modern screens and black lacquer furniture as well as unique elements including the 125-foot gold-leaf and Swarovski crystal chandelier designed by Chow himself. The expansive space, with seating for approximately 300 guests, includes outdoor seating that overlooks fashionable Collins Avenue. As part of Michael Chow’s dedication to art, a known artist has been commissioned to develop an exclusive video animation that will be projected on the walls of the outside dining area.

Munch and Mingle at Soleá
Soleá, the second restaurant at W South Beach, offers contemporary Mediterranean cuisine in a stylish yet relaxed atmosphere. Chef Michael Gilligan has created a globally inspired menu that incorporates a Latin flare such as foie gras and goat cheese empanadas, sea scallop tiradito and sautéed langoustines with sherry, tomatoes and tarragon. Designed by Anna Busta, the 234-seat restaurant offers both indoor and outdoor dining overlooking the hotel’s whimsical Grove garden.

Soleá features walnut floors throughout, two stunning wine walls, a VIP dining area, communal tables made from single slabs of fallen maple wood, oversized banquettes in rich chocolate brown leather, and glowing glass lanterns hanging on the walls and from the ceilings, creating intimate dining spaces throughout. Soleá is operated by nightlife and restaurant industry impresarios Nicola Siervo and Karim Masri of KNR Food Concepts (Sosta, Quattro).

Indulge at Miami’s First Bliss® Spa
Bliss Spa boasts more than 7,000-square-feet of tension-fighting facilities at W South Beach. With a focus on waxing, skincare services, and manicures and pedicures, bliss south beach also provides massage and body treatments. Seven treatment rooms and bliss trademark touches such as rhythm & blues tunes, a retail beauty boutique, and the legendary brownie buffet, make bliss south beach the ultimate destination for stylish jet setters and spa and beauty-loving locals. W South Beach guests and residents also receive “BIP” (Bliss Important Person) status for priority reservations and exclusive in-room sampling. Additionally, all guests can enjoy sought after sink side bliss amenities in all guestrooms and suites.

Relax and Escape into a Stylish Personal Oasis
Residences and guestrooms at W South Beach range in size from 574 square-feet to more than 3,000 square-feet with nine-foot ceilings and expansive glass balconies that allow for unparalleled views of South Beach and the glistening Atlantic Ocean. As W’s first all condo hotel, guestrooms offer contemporary, stylish living with soft shades of teal and white, a sleek floor made of white ceramic tiles with a wood grain finish, and floor-to-ceiling screens that delineate the living and sleeping areas. Modern Italian steel grey sofas are positioned strategically in front of the flat screen plasma televisions inviting guests to chill out before going out, while the photographs of legendary rock photographer Danny Clinch – works of artists ranging from Missy Elliot to Elvis Costello – adorn the walls in guestrooms as well as elevator landings throughout the property.

Oversized bathrooms feature Cippolino marble vanity countertops with black and gray veining, high-end chrome fixtures and spacious showers. For a true escape, select suites feature Japanese soaking tubs. Many of W South Beach’s guestrooms feature an Asco stacked washer and dryer and a state-of-the-art kitchenette with a Sub-Zero refrigerator, Wolf range, stainless steel microwave, custom lacquered Italian cabinets with either granite or synthetic quartzite countertops, a deep sink basin and chrome fixtures. All guestrooms and suites feature the signature Munchie Box (W Hotels’ re-interpretation of the traditional hotel Mini Bar) and state-of-the-art entertainment system which includes two plasma televisions, CD and DVD player and docking station for MP3 players, setting the stage for a night on the town or for winding down after a day at the beach.

The Residences at W South Beach offer owners a combination of stylish one, two, and three bedroom condominiums with all the signature W comforts, services and amenities available to hotel guests. Residences are still available and can be purchased by contacting the Welcome Center at 305-531-4449. In addition to W Hotels’ signature services, W South Beach offers the W brand’s signature Whatever/Whenever® service promise, providing both hotel guests and residents with whatever they want – from a personal shopping consultation at South Beach’s most exclusive boutiques to private jet service from MIA – whenever they want it, as long as it’s legal!

More than a hotel brand, W Hotels has established itself as an iconic contemporary lifestyle brand, offering guests unprecedented insider access to a world of “Wow” through leading-edge design, fashion, nightlife, celebrities, entertainment and other trendsetting activities. W Hotels has changed the hospitality landscape with a series of industry firsts in the past 10 years, including: the transformation of the hotel lobby into the W Living Room experience; the introduction of the W brand’s signature Whatever/Whenever service promise as a vehicle to fulfill every guest’s dreams, as long as its legal; extension of the lifestyle experience into retail through W Hotels the Store; the reinterpretation of the hotel mini-bar into the Munchie Box; and the reinvention of the presidential suite into W’s “Extreme Wow” and “Wow” suites.

About W Hotels Worldwide®
W Hotels is an innovative contemporary lifestyle brand and the hotel category buster with 31 properties in the most vibrant destinations around the world. Inspiring, iconic, innovative and influential, W Hotels provides the ultimate in insider access to a world of “Wow.” Each hotel offers a unique mix of innovative design and passions around fashion, music, entertainment, design, architecture, pop culture, and everything in between. W Hotels are unique and individual expressions of modern living, reflected in the brand’s sensibility to a holistic lifestyle experience with cutting-edge design, contemporary restaurant concepts, glamorous nightlife experiences, and signature spas. With 10 years of proven success, W Hotels will more than double its footprint by 2011. In North America and Latin America, W Hotels have been announced in Austin, Boston, Hollywood, Huntington Beach, Downtown New York, Santiago, and Washington, D.C. In Europe, W Hotels have been announced in Athens, Barcelona, London, Manchester, Milan, Paris and St. Petersburg. In Asia, W has announced properties in Bangkok, Guangzhou, Macao-Studio City, Shanghai and Yokohama. In Africa and the Middle East, W has announced properties in Marrakech, Amman, and Dubai. W has plans to open W Retreats in Bali, Koh Samui, Vieques Island and Verbier, the latter of which will serve as W Hotels’ first ski retreat. For more information, visit www.whotels.com.

About Nicola Siervo and Karim Masri
Nightlife and restaurant industry impresarios Nicola Siervo and Karim Masri have successfully revolutionized the Miami scene with stylish, conceptualized venues including Mokai and Quattro Celebrated by The New York Times, Elle and People magazines, Siervo and Masri are known for creating intimate hotspots featuring impeccable quality that combine innovation with luxury. Owen Wilson, John Mayer, Lindsay Lohan, Diddy, Kevin Spacey, Molly Simms, Justin Timberlake and Scarlett Johansson are only a handful of celebrities that consider Mokai and Quattro must stop destinations while visiting Miami. Siervo and Masri are credited with creating intimate hotspots designed to forever raise the bar of style and design.

Siervo and Masri are expanding their holdings in Miami by teaming up with The Opium Group to launch Wall at W South Beach. They are also managing partners of KNR Food Conepts, which will open both Sosta Pizzeria in Miami and Quattro Gastronomia Italiana at Trump SoHo in New York in 2009.

About The Opium Group
The Opium Group is Miami Beach’s most successful nightlife operator, internationally recognized for pioneering the South Beach nightlife renaissance with high-end VIP venues Mansion, SET, Louis Bar-Lounge, Opium at The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, and Privé Las Vegas at the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino. Heralded in the pages of Time, People Magazine, Harpers Bazaar, USA Today and The New York Times for the chicest hotspots in Miami, guests ranging from Pamela Anderson and Justin Timberlake to Lindsay Lohan and Jay Z to Prince and Beyonce have visited The Opium Group’s glamorous venues. With more than 500 employees, The Opium Group’s plans for expansion include this partnership with W Hotels, as well as new venues debuting in Las Vegas and the Miami market.

About Bliss Spas
Founded in 1996, bliss was spotted by beauty-obsessed buzz-makers and quickly massaged its way to the top. There are currently 16 bliss spas worldwide: bliss soho, bliss57 and bliss49 (at W New York) in Manhattan, bliss san francisco (at W San Francisco), bliss chicago (at W Chicago-Lakeshore), bliss los angeles (at W Los Angeles – Westwood), bliss dallas (at W Dallas – Victory), bliss atlanta (at W Atlanta – Midtown and at W Atlanta – Downtown), bliss scottsdale (at W Scottsdale), bliss hoboken (at W Hoboken), bliss fort lauderdale (at W Fort Lauderdale), bliss washington dc (at W Washington DC), bliss london in the UK, bliss hong kong (at W Hong Kong), and bliss doha (at W Doha). Bliss bath, body and skincare amenities can be found in room at W Hotels nationwide. Bliss retails its bath, body and skincare lines through its bliss catalog, blissworld.com web site and at international retailers including Bloomingdale’s, Bluemercury, Harrod’s, Harvey Nichols, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Sephora, and Ulta.

Designed by London-based United Designers, W Doha Hotel & Residences Provides a Unique, Contemporary Luxury Lifestyle Experience

W Hotels Worldwide, the hotel category buster and industry innovator, marks its entry into the Middle East with the opening of the highly-anticipated W Doha Hotel & Residences. Designed by London-based United Designers, W Doha merges traditional Arabian imagery with the contemporary cool design of the W brand and modern creativity of United Designers.

Immediately upon arrival, guests are welcomed into a world of “Wow.” The W living room (W’s re-imagination of the hotel lobby) combines water features, ceiling-suspended seating and modern hand-blown hanging lanterns, energizing the entry and providing a dynamic social atmosphere. Symmetrical designs, clean lines and innovative lighting create private, tranquil areas within the sweeping, dramatic public spaces. Topping off W Doha, the 15th floor Extreme Wow suite (W’s take on the traditional Presidential Suite) is nothing but spectacular, boasting breathtaking views of the Arabian Sea, private massage and meeting rooms, full-size pool table and wet bar, stunning saltwater aquarium stocked with exotic sea life, and luxurious oversized bathroom.

“We are excited to bring the W brand to the Middle East in the modern city of Doha, which is another milestone in W’s global expansion into the world’s most exciting and vibrant destinations,” said Eva Ziegler, Global Brand Leader, W Hotels Worldwide and Le Méridien. “W Doha offers cool contemporary design with an Arabic inspiration, providing escape and extravaganza in the heart of one the city’s most vibrant districts, redefining contemporary luxury and bringing a completely new and distinctive product to the hotel market in Doha.”

W Doha is a leading-edge, contemporary lifestyle experience with a complete service offering, including 291 guest rooms, 31 suites, and 154 W branded Residences where dreams become reality. To experience W’s approach to B&F (Beverage and Food), W Doha features three stylish bars for guests to mix and mingle including the signature W Living Room experience, Wahm, a modern poolside shisha lounge, and Crystal Lounge, a sleek, fashionable spot where guests can sip cool cocktails and groove to the latest world beats.

In addition, W Doha boasts three signature restaurants, including modern cuisine at Spice Market and Market by Jean-Georges, both concepts created by three star Michelin Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten, complemented by the sophisticated fare of La Maison du Caviar. Spice Market, which overlooks the Persian Gulf, features a family-style menu of delectable Southeast Asian dishes while Market by Jean-Georges blends international cuisine with local Arabian flavors. The prestigious La Maison du Caviar takes guests on an exotic tour of the world’s most exquisite and decadent caviars, pairing the delicacy simply with blinis, toast, or potatoes.

To unwind, W Doha offers the signature Bliss® Spa, New York’s hottest spa, which can now be enjoyed in the Middle East for the first time. For those who wish to take the W lifestyle back home, the property also features the Middle East’s first outpost of W Hotels the Store, the brand’s stylish twist on the hotel gift shop, providing a hip selection of accessories and fashion items. These offerings are complemented by nearly 1,000 square metres of ultra-modern meeting and event space, making W Doha an ideal hotel for special events, meetings and celebrations. W Doha is conveniently located in the West Bay of Doha on the Qatar peninsula, providing easy access to Doha’s world-class shopping destinations, pristine beaches and water sports facilities, first-class greens of Doha Golf Club, and scenic Corniche waterfront district.

“We are excited to bring the W brand to the Middle East after its magnificent success now celebrating 10 years of innovation in the hospitality industry,” said Roeland Vos, President of Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Europe, Africa & Middle East. “We are confident that our guests will be thrilled with the unique signature services, offering them best in class products, entertainment and lifestyle.”

Founded in 1998 in New York City, W Hotels continues to transform into a global powerhouse. W Doha is the brand’s second hotel in the Europe, Africa and Middle East region following the opening of W Istanbul last year. With 10 years of proven success, W Hotels will triple its footprint by 2011 in vibrant primary destinations around the world, from Paris to Milan, Barcelona to London, Santiago to Vieques Island, Hollywood to South Beach and Shanghai to Bali.

Examples of exclusive experiences that are only offered at W Doha include, the region’s first Bliss Spa; SWEAT®, a state-of-the-art fitness facility; and WET®, a glamorous temperature-contolled pool with underwater music, multi-color fiber-optic lighting and dramatic black mosaic tile. All of these experiences are supported by the brand’s signature Whatever/Whenever® concierge service, providing guests whatever they want – from a private hot air balloon trip over the desert to a flower bouquet delivered at 2 a.m. – whenever they want it (as long as it’s legal!). With nearly 1,000 square metres of ultra-modern meeting and event space, W Doha is able to host business and social gatherings of up to 500 people. High speed WiFi internet access, plasma screen TVs and state-of-the-art AV equipment are available for use at the click of a button. The Sensory Set Up™ of the meeting rooms, a unique W concept, stimulates all five senses with mood music and aromatherapy scents, thought-provoking place cards, creative catering, retro candies and inspiring games. Guest rooms and suites at W Doha, including three WOW suites and an Extreme WOW suite, are more than just a place to rest your head.

All guest rooms feature the W Hotels signature bed with feather-top mattress, 400 thread-count Egyptian cotton sheets and goose down comforter, creating the ultimate urban escape. Guest rooms also offer W Hotels’ signature Munchie Box (W Hotels’ re-interpretation of the traditional hotel Mini Bar) for the guest’s midnight cravings as well as a flat-screen LCD TV, DVD player, MP3 docking station, Tivoli radio, WiFi Internet access and high-speed laptop connectivity to stay connected. Rounding out the in-room entertainment options, guests have access to an extensive choice of movies, music and video programs on demand as well.

More than a hotel brand, W Hotels has established itself as an iconic lifestyle brand, offering guests unprecedented insider access to a world of “Wow” through contemporary cool design, fashion, nightlife, celebrities, entertainment and other. W Hotels has forever changed the hospitality landscape with a series of industry firsts in the past 10 years, including: the transformation of the hotel lobby into the W living room experience; the introduction of the W brand’s signature Whatever/Whenever concierge service as a vehicle to fulfill every guest’s dreams; extension of the lifestyle experience into retail through W Hotels’ The Store; a sensorial multiplex experience with branded W CD compilations released each year; the reinterpretation of the hotel mini-bar into the W “Munchie Box” to present the brand’s lifestyle point of view; and the reinvention of the presidential suite into W’s “Extreme Wow” and “Wow” suites.

About W Hotels Worldwide®
W Hotels is an innovative luxury lifestyle brand and the hotel category buster with 29 properties in the most vibrant destinations around the world. Inspiring, iconic, innovative and influential, W Hotels provides the ultimate in insider access to a world of “Wow.” Each hotel offers a unique mix of innovative design and passions around fashion, music, entertainment, design, architecture, pop culture, and everything in between. W Hotels are unique and individual expressions of modern living, reflected in the brand’s sensibility to a holistic lifestyle experience with cutting-edge design, contemporary restaurant concepts, glamorous nightlife experiences, and signature spas. With 10 years of proven success, W Hotels will triple its footprint by 2011. In North America and Latin America, W Hotels have been announced in Austin, Boston, Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, Huntington Beach, Downtown New York, Santiago, South Beach, and Washington, D.C. In Europe, W Hotels have been announced in Athens, Barcelona, London, Manchester, Milan, Paris and St. Petersburg. In Asia, W has announced properties in Bangkok, Guangzhou, Macao-Studio City, Shanghai and Yokohama. In Africa and the Middle East, W has announced properties in Marrakech, Amman, and Dubai. W has plans to open W Retreats in Bali, Koh Samui, Vieques Island and Verbier, the latter of which will serve as W Hotels’ first ski retreat. For more information, visit www.whotels.com.

About Starwood Hotels and 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®, 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 or www.starwoodpressclub.com

Developed by Barry Real Estate, W Atlanta-Downtown Introduces Atlanta’s First BLT Steak and DRINKSHOP, a Cool Signature Cocktail Bar by New York-based Master Mixologist Sasha Petraske and a Private Helipad for Guests on the Go

W Hotels Worldwide, the hotel category buster and industry innovator, proudly unveils the new W Atlanta-Downtown and The Residences at W Atlanta-Downtown. Ideally located in the heart of Atlanta, W Atlanta-Downtown offers a whimsical wonderland of nature-inspired design, setting the stage for the perfect escape in Atlanta’s bustling Downtown business district. Owned and developed by Barry Real Estate, W Atlanta-Downtown provides a full contemporary lifestyle experience, featuring 237 stylish guest rooms, 74 branded residences, three destination bars including DRINKSHOP from New York-based master mixologist Sasha Petraske, the W living room bar, and WETBAR, the Atlanta debut of chef and restaurateur Laurent Tourondel’s BLT Steak, a glamorous zero-edge pool, signature Bliss® spa, state-of-the-art SWEAT® fitness facility with panoramic city views, more than 8,900 square feet of ultra modern meeting and event space, and the ultimate in Whatever/Whenever by way of a private helipad for guests on the go.

“We are excited to continue to strengthen our presence in the international hub of Atlanta as we unveil W Atlanta-Downtown, a leading example of the W brand’s contemporary and cool lifestyle,” said Eva Ziegler, Global Brand Leader, W Hotels Worldwide and Le Méridien. “W Atlanta-Downtown mixes escape and indulgence with playful design in the heart of the city’s bustling business district.”

Designed by award-winning architects Pickard Chilton, with interiors by Toronto-based design firm burdifilek in collaboration with HKS Hill Glazier Studio, W Atlanta-Downtown blends organic architectural elements with contemporary design to create a playful and energetic ambience. The hotel’s sleek interior is enhanced by the use of clean lines, sultry textures, rich tones and eye-catching sculptural elements. A forest-inspired wall and curved seating provides intimate conversation nooks in the signature W living room, while a sleek 22-foot water feature emits a calming cascade, culminating in a luminescent onyx reflecting pool.

“We’re thrilled to bring to Atlanta and to Allen Plaza the city’s first and only newly constructed W Hotel and private Residences,” said Hal Barry, chairman of Barry Real Estate Companies. “W Atlanta-Downtown will offer guests and exclusive residents the absolute finest in accommodations, amenities, guest services and many other luxuries. The project is truly a capstone to Allen Plaza, the vibrant new cityscape that is transforming downtown Atlanta.”

The opening of W Atlanta-Downtown introduces DRINKSHOP, Atlanta’s first-ever haute cocktail beverage program. Developed in partnership with critically-acclaimed New York-based mixologist Sasha Petraske, whose Manhattan and London versions of Milk & Honey forever changed cocktail culture, DRINKSHOP is already one of the coolest destinations in Atlanta. DRINKSHOP transfers the ingredient-focused sensibility of the kitchen to the bar, utilizing fresh ingredients and a selection of specialty ices to create the ultimate in cool cocktails. Bottles arrive at guest tables frozen in solid blocks of ice accompanied by freshly-made mixers such as strawberry lemonade, spicy homemade ginger ale, raspberry-rickey soda, and freshly made mojito mix. At DRINKSHOP, Petraske has tailored the haute cocktail concept for the Southern palate, focusing on classic Southern cocktails that use brown spirits. DRINKSHOP is complimented by two additional cocktail destinations within the hotel, including WETBAR, situated next to the hotel’s glamorous zero-edge pool featuring panoramic vistas of downtown Atlanta, and the W living room bar, offering the perfect place for guests and locals to mix, mingle and sip cocktails.

The new BLT Steak at W Atlanta-Downtown represents the Atlanta debut of passionate French-trained chef and cosmopolitan restaurateur Laurent Tourondel’s modern American steakhouse. Serving a range of American classics prepared with a French twist, BLT Steak provides the perfect backdrop for a business lunch, dinner or stylish soiree. The restaurant also offers 24-hour in-room dining to hotel guests, ideal for late-night munchies or a relaxed afternoon snack.

W Atlanta-Downtown features 237 stylish guest rooms, including 16 Studio Suites, three WOW Suites and one Extreme WOW Suite, richly appointed in shades of mulberry, teal and deep indigo. Designed to seduce the senses, the rooms are enhanced by a fusion of custom carpeting, soft linens, Makassar wood furnishings and glossy acrylic accents. All guest rooms feature W Hotels’ signature Munchie Box (W Hotels’ re-interpretation of the traditional hotel Mini Bar), as well as a flat-screen LCD TV and MP3 player docking station and Tivoli radio as part of the hotel’s in-room entertainment options.

The hotel’s 16th floor boasts a suite of inspiring and indulgent experiences including a state-of-the-art SWEAT® fitness facility and Bliss, New York’s hottest spa. Expected to emerge as the city’s top choice for high-profile meetings and parties, W Atlanta-Downtown features more than 8,900 square-feet of ultra-modern meeting and event space, including eight multifunctional meeting rooms equipped with the latest wired and wireless technology. In addition to these exceptional amenities, W Atlanta-Downtown also features a WIRED Business Center so guests can stay connected on the go, as well as the W brand’s signature Whatever/Whenever® service promise, offering guests and residents whatever they want — from tickets to the hottest show at Philips Arena to private jet service from PDK – whenever they want it, as long as it’s legal.

W Atlanta-Downtown is the fourth W Hotel to open in this vibrant city and the latest to join W’s growing North American and global portfolio following recent openings in Minneapolis and Scottsdale, as well as Hong Kong and Istanbul. With 10 years of proven success, W Hotels will triple its footprint by 2011 in vibrant primary destinations around the world, from Paris to Milan, Barcelona to London, Santiago to Vieques Island, Dubai to Doha, Hollywood to South Beach, and Shanghai to Bali.

W Atlanta-Downtown is located at 45 Ivan Allen Jr. Boulevard, Atlanta, GA 30308. For reservations, call (888) 627-8187. Ideally situated in Allen Plaza, the prestigious center of the city’s vibrant financial district, W Atlanta-Downtown offers guests and residents easy access to leading cultural, entertainment and shopping attractions including the CNN Center, Philips Arena, Georgia Dome, Georgia World Congress Center, Centennial Olympic Park, Georgia Aquarium and the World of Coca-Cola.

About W Hotels Worldwide®
W Hotels is an innovative luxury lifestyle brand and the hotel category buster with 28 properties in the most vibrant destinations around the world. Inspiring, iconic, innovative and influential, W Hotels provides the ultimate in insider access to a world of “Wow.” Each hotel offers a unique mix of innovative design and passions around fashion, music, entertainment, design, architecture, pop culture, and everything in between. W Hotels are unique and individual expressions of modern living, reflected in the brand’s sensibility to a holistic lifestyle experience with cutting-edge design, contemporary restaurant concepts, glamorous nightlife experiences, and signature spas. With 10 years of proven success, W Hotels will triple its footprint by 2011. In North America and Latin America, W Hotels have been announced in Austin, Boston, Fort Lauderdale, Hoboken, Hollywood, Huntington Beach, Downtown New York, Santiago, South Beach, and Washington, D.C. In Europe, W Hotels have been announced in Athens, Barcelona, London, Manchester, Milan, Paris and St. Petersburg. In Asia, W has announced properties in Bangkok, Guangzhou, Macao-Studio City, Shanghai and Yokohama. In Africa and the Middle East, W has announced properties in Marrakech, Amman, and Dubai. W has plans to open W Retreats in Bali, Koh Samui, Vieques Island and Verbier, the latter of which will serve as W Hotels’ first ski retreat. For more information, visit www.whotels.com.

France’s First W Hotel Will Open in 2011 Offering Escape, Extravaganza and Stylish Design in the Heart of Paris

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. today announced plans to open W Paris-Opéra in 2011, marking the debut of W Hotels Worldwide in France. Located in the chic and bustling Opéra area of Paris, amid lively cafés, contemporary designer boutiques, and buzzing restaurants and nightlife destinations, W Paris-Opéra will occupy an elegant 1870s Haussmann era building, close to the Galleries Lafayette and Place Vendome in an area where Paris earned its praise as the “City of Lights.” Owned by Meridia Capital, a Barcelona-based private equity global real estate fund, W Paris-Opéra will feature 90 stylish guest rooms, a world-class contemporary restaurant and destination bar, a state-of-the-art fitness facility with spa treatment rooms, and W Hotels’ signature lounge experience where guests are invited to mix, mingle and relax in a chic social atmosphere.

Founded in 1998 in New York City, W Hotels continues to transform into a global powerhouse. W Paris-Opéra will be the W brand’s eighth property in Europe, following the opening of W Istanbul in 2008, and the upcoming openings of W Hotels in Barcelona, St. Petersburg, Athens, Manchester, Milan and London. With 10 years of proven success, W Hotels will triple its footprint by 2011 in vibrant primary destinations throughout Europe and the world from Paris to Marrakech, Dubai to Doha, Hollywood to South Beach, and Shanghai to Bali.

“We are thrilled to expand the W brand into Paris, a major milestone in transforming W Hotels into a global powerhouse, debuting in the world’s most exciting and vibrant destinations,” said Eva Ziegler, Global Brand Leader, W Hotels Worldwide and Le Méridien. “W Paris-Opéra will offer insider access, extravaganza and cool contemporary design in the heart of Paris, bringing contemporary luxury and a completely new and distinctive product to the Parisian hotel market.”

“Paris has been on the hit list for W Hotels for many years and I am delighted we now have a site which is so central and a building which is so quintessentially Parisian,” said Roeland Vos, President of Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Europe Africa and Middle East. “With Paris joining the roster of European openings for W over the next two years, our global W guests now have access to some of the most sought after destinations. Meridia Capital will be an excellent partner, with their experience in the luxury branded hotel sector and we hope this is the beginning of a long term partnership with them.”

In addition to the many exclusive indulgences at W Paris-Opéra, the hotel will offer a full-service WIRED business center open 24-hours, fully wired, ultra-modern meeting and event space, and the brand’s signature Whatever/Whenever® concierge service, providing guests whatever they want – from a gourmet picnic in the Jardin du Luxembourg to exclusive shopping excursions at the emporiums of Faubourg St-Honoré – whenever they want it. Guest rooms and suites, including W Hotels’ renowned WOW suites and Extreme WOW suites, will all feature custom-made furnishings, sophisticated accents unique to Paris, the W Hotels signature bed with feather-top mattress, 350 thread-count Egyptian cotton sheets and goose down comforter, creating the ultimate urban escape. Guest rooms will offer the latest in cutting-edge technology and the most advanced in-room entertainment systems in the industry.

“Attracting a prestigious global brand like W Hotels to Paris will make this one of the most significant hotel projects the city has seen in recent years. We are delighted to be part of bringing the W brand to this destination,” said Javier Faus, Chairman & CEO, Meridia Capital.

More than a hotel brand, W Hotels has established itself as an iconic lifestyle brand, offering guests unprecedented insider access to a world of “Wow” through contemporary cool design, fashion, nightlife, celebrities, entertainment and other. W Hotels has forever changed the hospitality landscape with a series of industry firsts in the past 10 years, including: the transformation of the hotel lobby into the W Living Room experience; the introduction of the W brand’s signature Whatever/Whenever concierge service as a vehicle to fulfil every guest’s dreams; extension of the lifestyle experience into retail through W Hotels the Store; a sensorial multiplex experience with branded W CD compilations released each year; the reinterpretation of the hotel mini-bar into the W “Munchie Box” to present the brand’s lifestyle point of view; and the reinvention of the presidential suite into W’s “Extreme Wow” and “Wow” suites.

W Paris-Opéra will join six sister properties in France under the Sheraton, Le Méridien, Westin and The Luxury Collection brands.

About W Hotels Worldwide®
W Hotels is an innovative luxury lifestyle brand and the hotel category buster with 26 properties in the most vibrant destinations around the world. Inspiring, iconic, innovative and influential, W Hotels provides the ultimate in insider access to a world of “Wow.” Each hotel offers a unique mix of innovative design and passions around design, architecture, fashion, music, entertainment, pop culture, and everything in between. W Hotels are unique and individual expressions of modern living, reflected in the brand’s sensibility to a holistic lifestyle experience with cutting-edge design, contemporary restaurant concepts, glamorous nightlife experiences, and signature spas. With 10 years of proven success, W Hotels will triple its footprint by 2011. In North America and Latin America, W Hotels have been announced in Austin, Atlanta, Boston, Fort Lauderdale, Hoboken, Hollywood, Huntington Beach, Downtown New York, Santiago, South Beach, and Washington, D.C. In Europe, W Hotels have been announced in Athens, Barcelona, London, Manchester, Milan and St. Petersburg. In Asia, W has announced properties in Bangkok, Guangzhou, Macao-Studio City, Shanghai and Yokohama. In Africa and the Middle East, W has announced properties in Marrakech, Amman, Doha, and Dubai. W has plans to open W Retreats in Bali, Koh Samui, Vieques Island and Verbier, the latter of which will serve as W Hotels’ first ski retreat. For more information, visit www.whotels.com.

About Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Worldwide
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with more than 930 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®, The Luxury Collection®, W®, Westin®, Le Méridien®, Sheraton®, Four Points® 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.

About Meridia Capital
Meridia Capital is a private equity group focused on investing in premium hotel properties internationally. The firm acquires and develops hotel real estate in both urban and resort markets and partners with the world’s leading international hotel brands. Meridia Capital Hospitality I is Meridia Capital Partners’ first fund and was closed in early 2007 with equity of €150 million. Meridia Capital currently owns properties in Santiago (Chile), Paris and Thailand. For further information please visit www.meridiacapital.com.