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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Aloft Abu Dhabi Introduces Style At A Steal In The Capital Of The United Arab Emirates

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.® (NYSE:HOT) and its new destination sensation brand, Aloft® Hotels, today announce the opening of Aloft Abu Dhabi, the first Aloft to open in the Middle East and the second Aloft to open outside of North America.

Ten years after Starwood Hotels & Resorts shook up the hotel industry with the launch of W Hotels, the innovative hotel giant has again reinvented hotel design with the debut of its newest brand, Aloft Hotels. Featuring loft-like guest rooms, a buzzing bar scene in the open lobby, an urban-inspired grab-and go café and industrial design elements throughout, Aloft delivers urban-influenced, modern and vibrant design and an energetic guest experience at an affordable price point.

The debut of Aloft Abu Dhabi highlights the strategic international expansion of the Aloft brand. After opening its first hotel in June 2008 in Canada, Aloft has since grown to nearly 40 hotels strong in three countries – the United States, China and Canada – with the United Arab Emirates marking its fourth. And looking ahead to 2010, Aloft will continue its global growth with slated debut openings in Belgium, India and Thailand. Aloft Abu Dhabi is also the first of two Aloft hotels coming to the Middle East in the next two years, with the Aloft Riyadh scheduled for a 2011 opening.

“The meaningful growth of Aloft in key markets such as the Middle East underscores the strength of the Starwood network and the strength of Starwood’s global relationships with experienced hotel developers,” said Simon Turner, President, Global Development for Starwood Hotels & Resorts. “The Aloft brand’s emphasis on high design and affordability translates globally and is attracting a growing group of developers and travelers who are very enthusiastic consumers of our global, high-caliber brands. In fact, Aloft represents one of the strongest brand launches in industry history, and its international expansion so early in the brand’s life cycle is unprecedented.”

Aloft Abu Dhabi introduces style at a steal to the region with 408 spacious, loft-like rooms, accessible technology and a vibrant, social atmosphere. A Vision of W Hotels, Aloft’s loft-inspired design, accessible technology and a stylish urban attitude arrives on the scene in the Middle East. Aloft offers atmospheric public spaces where guests can mix and mingle, read the paper, work on laptops, play a game of pool or grab a drink with friends at the re:mixSM communal lobby area and w xyzSM bar. The re:chargeSM fitness center and splash pool give travelers options to de-stress and re-energize, or enjoy a meal at Dine, the hotel’s main restaurant with live-cooked international-style cuisine. Feel the buzz of our open kitchen and boost your energy at Dine. re:fuel by Aloft is a one-stop, 24-hour grab & go food and beverage area, offering sweet, savory and healthy food, snacks and beverages. Or visit relax@12, an indoor/outdoor lounge where guests can find oriental bites, yummy tapas and a sassy sushi selection. The re:charge fitness centre and splash, the outdoor pool, give guests options to de-stress and re-energize. Maï Café, the ultimate chill-out spot on the fifth floor, offers exciting international flavours, oversized beach chairs and unique custom cocktails, complimented by our eclectic mix of laid-back tunes and sunny grooves.

“We are thrilled to introduce Aloft to Abu Dhabi, a fitting choice for the brand’s debut in the Middle East,” said Brian McGuinness, Starwood’s Senior Vice President and Global Brand Leader, Specialty Select Brands. “The hotel’s strategic location in the hub of the capital city makes a bold statement about how the brand is taking its innovative, fresh perspective on hotels to the most desirable locations around the world.”

First time visitors to Aloft will immediately understand that Aloft is different from any other hotel experience. Guests are greeted by special features and visually distinctive iconic structures on the exterior, including a colorful, sloping signature carport cover and building roof-line, and colorful glowing linear light sources on the building facade inspired by the notion of travel and motion.

Aloft guest rooms feature the brand’s signature ceilings of nearly three meters high, oversized windows and an ultra-comfortable bed, as well as roomy walk-in showers and bath amenities created by Bliss® Spa. Each Aloft room is equipped with complimentary wireless Internet access and a one-stop connectivity solution for multiple electronic gadgetry all linked to a 42” flat-panel, HDTV-ready television making it a combination high-tech office and entertainment center in one.

The new hotel is linked directly to the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition, Centre (ADNEC), the Gulf’s largest exhibition centre which is at the heart of the Capital Centre district, a micro-city consisting of premium office towers, luxury hotels and residences, restaurants, shopping and a marina. The hotel will even provide guests direct access to the soon-to-open Re:lax@12 rooftop bar, Mai Restaurant & Bar and Dine Restaurant – all located on site. Ideally positioned right next to the Capital Centre district, Aloft Abu Dhabi is close to numerous embassies and corporate offices, 20 minutes from downtown Abu Dhabi and 15 minutes from Abu Dhabi International Airport.

About Aloft Hotels
Created to shake up the staid, traditional select service segment of the hotel industry, Aloft delivers urban-influenced, open and vibrant design and a social guest experience at an affordable price point. In the same way that W Hotels broke through the clutter of conformity in the upscale hotel arena a decade ago, Aloft is shaking up the industry for the next generation of traveler. Aloft hotels are geared toward savvy, design-conscious consumers who grew up with the democratization of design. Aloft hotels are wired for the future and an aggressive growth plan is in place with 40 properties set to be open by the end of this year from Abu Dhabi and Baltimore to Dallas and Beijing and everywhere in between. For more information, please visit www.alofthotels.com.

About Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with 982 properties in more than 100 countries and 145,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. Starwood® Hotels is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels and resorts with the following internationally renowned brands: St. Regis®, The Luxury Collection®, W®, Westin®, Le Méridien®, Sheraton®, Four Points® by Sheraton, 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.

About Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company (ADNEC)
Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company (ADNEC) is a strategic international venue development and management company. ADNEC’s venue portfolio includes one of the most modern exhibition centers in the world – the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, and the UK capital’s largest exhibition and conference venue, ExCeL London. ADNEC is creating unique business districts to serve Abu Dhabi’s rapid expansion and emergence on the global stage. Development projects surrounding the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre include Capital Centre (a mixed-use development of 23 hotel, residential, commercial and mixed-use towers adjacent to the exhibition centre), Capital Gate (an iconic 35 storey gravity defying feature tower, featuring the 5-star hotel – ‘Hyatt at Capital Centre’), the Aloft Hotel and a 2.4km Marina zone on Al Bateen Channel opposite to the exhibition centre. In addition, ADNEC is expanding within the region, with The Al Ain Convention Centre, a residential and business micro city around a state-of-the-art convention centre.

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.

Inspired by the Bustling Atmosphere of Times Square, Renowned Design Firm Yabu Pushelberg Creates a Contemporary Cool Urban Escape in the Heart of New York City

W Hotels Worldwide, the hotel category buster and industry innovator, today announced the completion of a full guestroom renovation of the iconic W New York-Times Square. Developed in collaboration with the property’s initial designer, award-winning interior design firm Yabu Pushelberg, the renovation of W New York-Times Square combines form, function and style with cutting-edge design to create a cool urban escape in the heart of New York City. The renovation of W New York-Times Square represents a key milestone as the brand continues to update its initial portfolio while expanding into vibrant, primary destinations throughout North America and internationally. A New York-born brand, W Hotels Worldwide currently has five hotels in Manhattan and will open two new hotels in the area in the next year with the debuts of W Hoboken this spring and W New York-Downtown in early 2010.

“Innovation and transformation have been central to the W brand since its inception,” said Eva Ziegler, Global Brand Leader, W Hotels Worldwide and Le Méridien Hotels & Resorts. “As we begin to evolve the brand from a New York-centric phenomenon to a global powerhouse by tripling our portfolio in the next three years, the renovation of the iconic W New York-Times Square hotel is a key milestone in developing a consistent brand portfolio.”

One of the first W Hotels in the brand’s growing portfolio, W New York-Times Square debuted in December 2001 as an alluring and sophisticated escape, quickly establishing itself as the coolest place to see and be seen in New York. Seven years later, Yabu Pulshelberg was engaged to renovate the hotel’s 509 guestrooms and suites, which have been re-imagined to capture the energy of Times Square while providing a sleek and glossy refuge from the bustling city.

To create an urban escape perched high above the city streets, each room glows with dramatic highs and lows of light and color bringing an element of techno-glam cool. All rooms feature an innovative, modern, and highly functional work area, topped with a sleek metal and glass surface that supports the many needs of W travelers – where drinks can be shaken and stirred or emails can be scribed and sent under the focused glow of a sculptural lamp. At the window, a shapely, undulating lounger encourages chilling out before going out. In addition, each room offers guests a variety of entertainment options, from W Hotels’ signature “Munchie” Box (W Hotels’ re-invention of the traditional Mini Bar), retro-designed Tivoli radios, iPod docking stations, and large flat-screen televisions mounted for rotation to ensure comfortable viewing from anywhere in the room.

New design features in the bathrooms echo the aesthetic of guestrooms, making the space feel more expansive with sultry frosted glass doors and walls. The closet, washed in a bold flash of color, has been designed to fully organize guests’ wardrobes.

Fantastic Suites (W Hotels’ approach to a Junior Suite) take the techno-glam energy from guestrooms and enliven the space with expansive city skyline views set against a bold color palette that is magnified with a cool dose of electrifying blue. Featuring an abundance of comfortable living and lounging space, a sleek plane adorned with a flat screen television seems to float between the bedroom and living room, separating work from play with style and innovation.

Completely transformed, Sweat Fitness Center has been redesigned to provide health conscious guests with state-of-the art Techno Gym equipment including treadmills, elliptical and weight machines to provide a muscle-toning and pulse pounding workout. Attached to the fitness center, a separate stretching room provides an area for relaxation, stretching or private instruction by a trainer which can be arranged through the hotel’s Whatever/Whenever® concierge service. Additionally, six techno-glam guestrooms are now located on the same floor allowing fitness fanatics the ease of being only steps away from Sweat Fitness.

“New York is the epicenter of fashion, design, music and entertainment, all passions of the W brand” said Vera Manoukian, Area Managing Director, W Hotels of New York. “As the category buster and leading innovator, W Hotels will continue to refuel our cool in New York City with upcoming revitalization projects, including the renovations of W New York–Times Square and W New York–Union Square in 2009.”

With 10 years of proven success, W Hotels will triple its global footprint by 2011, with expansion into 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 Hotels has forever changed the hospitality landscape with a series of industry firsts in the past 10 years, including: transformation of the hotel lobby into the W Living Room experience; 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; reinterpretation of the hotel mini-bar into the W “Munchie Box” to present the brand’s lifestyle point of view; and reinvention of the presidential suite into W’s “Extreme Wow” and “Wow” suites.

For more information on W New York-Times Square, please visit www.whotels.com/newyork.

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.

About Yabu and Glenn Pushelberg
George Yabu and Glenn Pushelberg, one of the most exciting design duos in the luxury interior design arena, create signature environments for a diverse and often high-profile international clientele within the specialized retail, hospitality, and restaurant sectors. With offices in New York City and Toronto, Yabu Pushelberg has collaborated with some of the world’s leading entrepreneurs and innovators, including W Hotels, Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts, Thompson Hotels, Hyatt, St. Regis Hotels & Resorts and Peninsula Hotels; Prada, Louis Vuitton, Bergdorf Goodman, Tiffany & Co. and Lane Crawford. George Yabu and Glenn Pushelberg were named “Designer of the Year” by Contract magazine and have also been inducted into the Interior Design magazine “Hall of Fame.” Most recently, the firm received Interior Design ‘Best of Year Awards’ for their work on the Hazelton Hotel in Toronto and on the Lane Crawford department store in Beijing. For more information, please visit www.yabupushelberg.com.

Le Meridien Chief Adds W Hotels to Her Starwood Role

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) today announced the appointment of Eva Ziegler as Global Brand Leader for W Hotels Worldwide. In her new role, Vienna-born Ziegler will be responsible for leading the global development and growth strategy for the innovative and category-busting W Hotels Worldwide. With 10 years of proven success, largely in North America, W Hotels will triple its footprint by 2011, assuming its role on the global stage with properties scheduled to open in primary, vibrant international markets from Paris to Milan, Barcelona to London, Santiago to Vieques Island, Dubai to Doha, Hollywood to South Beach, and Shanghai to Bali. In addition to overseeing the global launch of W Hotels, Ziegler will continue in her role leading Le Méridien as the brand continues its re-launch globally. As Global Brand Leader for the two contemporary design-led brands, Ziegler will define the vision and brand strategy across all disciplines.

“Eva’s branding expertise and broad international experience will be invaluable to Starwood as we meaningfully launch W Hotels outside of North America,” said Phil McAveety, Executive Vice President and Chief Brand Officer, Starwood Hotels & Resorts. “As a highly experienced marketer and business professional who has spent her career working for international Fortune 500 companies such as Toyota and Coca Cola, Eva knows how to build distinctive and compelling global brands and adapt them to ensure they are locally relevant. She is the perfect candidate at the right time to take these two compelling lifestyle brands to the next level.”

Prior to this appointment, Ziegler held the role of Global Brand Leader of Le Méridien, where she was responsible for defining the vision and brand strategy across all disciplines for the renowned international brand. Under Ziegler’s vision, Le Méridien has re-positioned itself as a cultural hub for the creative mind leading to a range of innovative approaches and strategies. For example, she developed an innovative strategy through curated experiences by engaging a Cultural Curator and forming a group of cultural innovators, called LM100, each of whom define and enrich the guest experience.

Since joining the company in 2005, Ziegler has played an important role in successfully integrating Le Méridien into Starwood’s process and systems, resulting in impressive performance figures. In fact, Le Méridien’s integration into Starwood’s larger, stable, multi-branded hotel system has enabled the brand to thrive. A critical milestone in Le Meridien’s transformation has been the consolidation and renovation of the brand’s portfolio. Since Starwood acquired the brand, Le Méridien has eliminated more than 30 hotels, and by 2011, will have renovated more than 50 percent of its existing portfolio. The brand also plans to open more than 20 hotels and resorts across the world within the next three years. All of this will result in a high-quality, on brand portfolio.

Before joining Starwood, Ziegler was the Director of Le Rendez-Vous Toyota and played a leading role in developing and launching the cutting edge European Brand Experience Center on the Champs-Elysées in Paris, France. She has spent her career working for international Fortune 500 companies such as Coca-Cola and Saatchi & Saatchi. Ziegler earned her degree from the University of Economics Vienna, Austria.

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 Le Méridien
Le Méridien brand, currently represented by 110 properties in 50 countries, was acquired by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) in November 2005. Since then, Le Méridien has gone through a brand revitalization, which included appointing a full-time Cultural Curator – French arts-provocateur Jérôme Sans – and transforming numerous guest touch points, thus brining 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, concentrating in the U.S., Latin America, and Asia-Pacific, including destinations such as India, Thailand and China. Le Méridien recently opened new hotels in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Shimei Bay (China), will open in Dallas and Philadelphia in the coming months, and has recently signed new hotel deals in Taipei, Xiamen, Chongqing Nan’an, and Qingdao (China). For more information, please visit www.lemeridien.com.

About Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with 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.

From the American Lodging Investment Summit (ALIS) in San Diego, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. today announces it will open its 1000th hotel in 2009. The milestone comes as part of the company’s plan to open 100 hotels this year in diverse markets throughout the world.

Focused on opening the right properties in the right places with the right partners, Starwood remains on-track to expand its portfolio by more than 40 percent in the next five years. Starwood’s pipeline consists of more than 400 hotels – 60 percent of which currently are outside of the United States.

“By working closely with our development partners, we are able to open high caliber, best-in-class hotels around the world, even during challenging economic times,” said Simon Turner, President of Global Development, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. “Starwood is building, opening, converting, renovating and innovating for the recovery and beyond, and these new hotels will further position Starwood and its development partners for long term growth and success.”

2009 marks a year of significant milestones and meaningful growth for Starwood and its portfolio of nine distinctive and compelling brands. Celebrating 10 years of proven success, W Hotels will triple its portfolio in the next three years. The once New York-centric wonder is transforming into a global phenomenon, opening 13 properties this year in markets including Barcelona, Bali, Doha and Santiago, as well as Atlanta, South Beach, Hollywood and Washington D.C.

As part of its $4 billion revitalization program, Sheraton Hotels & Resorts expects to open 18 hotels in high-profile destinations like New York City; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Istanbul, Turkey; Prague, Czech Republic; and Qiandao, China. The iconic brand is also scheduled to complete its goal of renovating nearly 100 hotels at an investment of $1.3 billion. Westin Hotels & Resorts expects to open 11 hotels this year in dynamic international cities including Montreal, Mumbai, Shanghai, Mexico City and Houston.

After opening 17 hotels in the U.S., Canada and China in 2008, Aloft will double its portfolio in 2009 with openings in Houston; Phoenix; and Abu Dhabi, UAE, among others. And Starwood’s green trailblazer, Element, expects to open five more hotels this year in U.S. markets such as Houston and Denver. Four Points by Sheraton continues to be a major growth vehicle for Starwood and is set to open nearly 30 hotels in 2009, including one in New York City’s Times Square; Albuquerque, New Mexico; Winnipeg, Canada, and its first new prototype, which is slated to be in San Antonio.

2009 began with St. Regis opening a new resort in Punta Mita, Mexico. The luxury brand will ramp up its global expansion with plans to open an additional four hotels in 2009, including properties in Atlanta; Park City, Utah; Mexico City; and Lhasa, China. The Luxury Collection entered the year celebrating the recent opening of a hotel in Beverly Hills and continues to grow with more than 10 hotels in its pipeline. And Le Meridien has nearly 20 hotels in development and four openings planned this year in markets around the world. Notably, the brand is making further inroads in North America, with plans to open hotels in Dallas and Philadelphia.

About Starwood Hotels & Worldwide, Inc.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with more than 940 properties in approximately 97 countries and 145,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. Starwood Hotels is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels, resorts and residences with the following internationally renowned brands: St. Regis(R), The Luxury Collection(R), W(R), Westin(R), Le Meridien(R), Sheraton(R), Four Points(R) by Sheraton, and the recently launched Aloft(SM), 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.