Singapore | Twenty years after reaching a milestone by being the first international hotel company to sign a management contract in China with the Sheraton brand, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE : HOT) continues to lead as the largest international upscale hotel operator in China.

Starwood’s development growth in the last 18 months has surpassed all previous years with the addition of 10 new hotels to the existing portfolio of 18 hotels in China. Upon opening, these new hotels will bring an additional 3,714 rooms to the Starwood portfolio in key and emerging business and resort destinations in China, bringing Starwood’s total upscale guest room inventory in China to 11,809.

“China is the engine of growth for Asia and we intend to continue to be a major player. China is rapidly developing not only in terms of domestic tourism but also a feeder market with a population that is eager to travel the world,” said Miguel Ko, President, Asia-Pacific, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. “With 28 hotels open or under construction in 21 cities throughout China, under the St Regis, Sheraton, Westin, Four Points by Sheraton and W Hotels brands, we are well-positioned to cater to the growing number of international and domestic business and leisure travelers,” added Ko.

A highlight of Starwood’s expansion in China is the introduction of new international brands, including the debut of W Hotels, the world’s fastest growing collection of world-class design hotels, in China with the signing of W Hong Kong and W Shanghai. Although cities like New York, London and Los Angeles have long had a stronghold on the world’s top design hotels, Starwood has identified enormous potential in developing this genre globally and Asia presents tremendous opportunities. Other new W hotels in Asia include the newly-opened W Seoul Walkerhill and W Maldives-Fesdhu, W’s first resort scheduled to open in 2005.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts expanded its portfolio in China significantly since last year with the opening of Sheraton hotels in Sanya on Hainan Island, Dongguan in Guangdong province and Jiuzhaigou in Sichuan province in 2003. In the past 18 months, the company also signed agreements to manage new hotels in Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Guiyang, Dalian, Shenzhen, Ningbo, Xiamen and Changsha.

Recent Openings in China :

Sheraton Sanya Resort, 511 rooms Opened Jan 2003

• Located in the heart of Yalong Bay on the tropical Hainan Island, “Hawaii of the East”!
• Host to Miss World 2003 and 2004.
• Commands a prime beachfront location and spectacular sea views.
• Opposite the Yalong Bay Golf Course

Sheraton Dongguan Hotel - 411 rooms, Opened Aug 2003

• The only international five star hotel in the city
• Located in Central Business District area of Houjie City in Dongguan
• Dongguan is easily accessible from Hong Kong, Shenzhen and Guangzhou
• The largest international manufacturing and processing base in China

Sheraton Jiuzhaigou Resort - 482 rooms, Opened Mar 2004

• The first international five star resort to open in Jiuzhaigou, a World Natural Heritage site in the Sichuan province of China
• 5 minutes away from Jiuzhaigou National Park

New hotels under development in China

Four Points by Sheraton Shenzhen - 300 rooms, to open Nov 2004

• First Four Points by Sheraton in China
• Located within the Futian Free Trade Zone
• 10-minute walk from the new Hong Kong- Shenzhen border crossing to be completed in 2006
• 30 minutes from the Shenzhen International Airport

Sheraton Shenzhen Hotel - 320 rooms, to open end 2005

• Shenzhen – Southern gateway to China
• Located in Shenzhen Central Business District and opposite the new exhibition center
• Famous for unique theme parks
• Key international trading port of China

Sheraton Xiamen Hotel - 348 rooms, to open mid 2005

• Beautiful seaport in Fujian province
• Cultural and academic center of Fujian Province, with a rich nineteenth century European flavor in its architecture

Sheraton Guiyang Hotel - 387 rooms, to open September 2005

• Located in Guiyang, in Guizhou Province, southwestern China
• Offers beautiful landscape
• Home to largest waterfall in China

Sheraton Ningbo Hotel - 381 rooms, to open Aug 2006

• Ningbo – Top 10 largest ports in the world
• China’s fourth wealthiest city
• Offers extensive and varied sightseeing experiences

Sheraton Changsha Hotel -327 rooms, to open July 2007

• Changsha, a city in southern China and the capital of Hunan province is ranked among the top 20 most attractive foreign investment regions in China.
• The hotel is located in Changsha’s Central Business District and will become Changsha’s landmark building when completed

The Westin Beijing - 500 rooms & 200 Serviced Apartments, to open end 2006

• Prime location in Beijing’s emerging financial district
• Multi purpose complex – residences and hotel

Four Points by Sheraton Dalian - 368 rooms, to open end 2006

• Dalian – fashion capital of China and marine gateway of North China
• Located in Dalian Central Business District
• Offers beautiful landscapes and world class conference and meeting facilities

W Hong Kong - 383 rooms, to open early 2008

• Marks W’s entry into China
• Located right next to Hong Kong’s future Cultural and Entertainment District on the West Kowloon Waterfront
• Offers exciting dining, nightlife and entertainment options

W Pudong, Shanghai - 400 rooms, to open early 2008

• Shanghai – China’s financial center
• Located in Lujiazui, the financial district in Pudong district