Mr. Janson, 42, comes to Starwood after a 15-year career with the prestigious law firm of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP in Los Angeles. While at Skadden Arps he represented clients in a wide variety of corporate matters, including major merger & acquisition and finance transactions. A large part of his practice involved complex transactions and other matters for Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) and media companies.

Prior to joining Skadden Arps Mr. Janson was an associate with the New York law firm of Reid & Priest.

"We are very excited to have attracted someone with Tom's extraordinary talents and experience," said Barry Sternlicht, chairman and chief executive of Starwood Hotels and Resorts. "The wide range of legal responsibilities that he has handled for major corporate clients while at Skadden Arps will be extremely valuable to our global enterprise as we build a world class legal organization," said Richard D. Nanula, president and chief executive of Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, Inc.

A 1978 graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology where he earned a bachelor of science degree in biochemistry, Mr. Janson received his JD degree in 1981 at the University of Miami School of Law.

Mr. Janson will relocate with his wife and two sons from Los Angeles to Starwood's headquarters in White Plains.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. -- through its ITT Sheraton, Westin, CIGA, Four Points, The Luxury Collection, Caesars, and W Hotels brands -- operates more than 650 hotels and resorts in 70 countries with over 125,000 employees. Starwood Hotels & Resorts is the largest real estate investment trust in the United States. Shares of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. are paired and trade together with shares of Starwood Hotels & Resorts [NYSE: HOT] .