Healy, an experienced Starwood general manager, is highly regarded for his operational expertise and strategic planning abilities. He has been associated with Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Inc. for more than seven years, and for the past 3 years held the position of general manager at the Sheraton Edison Hotel in New Jersey. Healy holds a bachelor ¦s of science degree in hospitality management from Johnson and Wales University in Providence, R.I

§We ¦re very pleased to have Tom lead the executive team of the Sheraton Overland Park. He has consistently demonstrated the ability to motivate his team to achieve peak performance, which has resulted in a high level of satisfaction for our customers, owners, and associates, ¨ said Dave Milus, Vice President of New Builds and Transitions for Starwood Hotels. §We are confident that under his leadership, the new hotel will flourish, offering business travelers and meeting planners, along with the local community, the warm and personal service that is expected at Sheraton. ¨

Construction of the new hotel is on schedule, and the addition of the general manager at this early juncture will allow him to carry out the vision that the city of Overland Park and Starwood has for this property. Healy assumed his duties on June 11, 2002. He will be joined by his wife, Lori, and their three children, Thomas, 9; Tabitha, 7; and Travis, 3.

The Sheraton Overland Park at the Convention Center boasts 412 guest rooms and suites, including 14 guest suites and four hospitality suites. The hotel is connected to the new Overland Park Convention Center via an all-weather walkway and will offer more than 20,000 square feet of event space with the largest ballroom in the Overland Park area.

Sheraton, the largest brand of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., has more than 375 hotels in 67 countries „o now including Kansas. To arrange your next meeting and stay at the Sheraton Overland Park Hotel at the Convention Center or for more information, please visit us on the Web at www.sheraton.com or call (800) 325-3535.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with more than 740 properties in more than 80 countries and 110,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. With internationally renowned brands, Starwood is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchiser of hotels and resorts including: St. Regis, The Luxury Collection, Sheraton, Westin, Four Points by Sheraton, W brands, as well as Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., one of the premier developers and operators of high quality vacation interval ownership resorts. For more information, please visit www.starwood.com.