Starwood's Luxury Collection Announces The Castle Hotel In Dalian — Photo by Starwood

The Luxury Collection, part of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT), announces that the famed European-inspired castle overlooking Dalian's Xinghai Bay is undergoing a transformation to become The Castle Hotel, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Dalian. Set to open in 2014, The Castle Hotel will join the legendary Astor Hotel in Tianjin, Twelve at Hengshan and The Hongta Hotel in Shanghai, and The Royal Begonia Resort in Sanya, as an enchanting and iconic landmark along the Dalian coast in Northern China.

Originally built in 2002, the palatial Bavarian-style castle is in the final stages of a

complete interior renovation by the Dalian Yifang Group. When it opens this summer, The Castle Hotel will be one of the few luxury hotels in Asia to be housed inside a castle, featuring 292 luxurious guest rooms and suites and 67 apartments – most of which offer stunning ocean views – along with a sophisticated collection of restaurants and lounges, including an authentic German beer café with home-brewed specialties.

A Contemporary Urban Retreat

The Castle Hotel is situated above Dalian on Lotus Mountain, surrounded by lush

foliage, overlooking Xinghai Square as well as Xinghai Bay and the Yellow Sea. The Castle Hotel is also the starting point for the romantic Binhai Road, the coastal route that winds along China's northern coast for 32 kilometers. For visitors new to the city, Dalian offers a unique blend of European, Russian, Japanese and traditional Chinese architecture reflecting the city's fascinating history when its ports were used as an international trading hub during ancient times.

The exterior of The Castle Hotel in Dalian remains true to the original European-inspired

architecture, which has long been a favorite icon for locals and visitors alike. The interior of the castle has been reimagined by HBA Interior Design with an opulent and contemporary design that complements the city and the building's European heritage as well as its new role as a modern, luxury hotel. The vibrant interiors feature rich stonework, handcrafted wood furnishings and soaring ceilings along with bright skylights, massive windows and intimate terraces overlooking Dalian and the sea.

The Castle Hotel features three restaurants and two lounges with creative and authentic

cuisine options, including: Zhenbao, offering fresh Chinese seafood, and Collections, an all-day dining restaurant with an international menu. In a nod to Dalian's rich European heritage, the Royal Cellar will feature home-brewed German beer and northern European specialties. The Castle Hotel also offers a spacious indoor swimming pool, state-of-the-art fitness center and a luxurious destination spa.

With its prime location, The Castle Hotel is an outstanding meeting and event venue

offering over 2,600 square meters of meeting spaces, including a 1,400 square meter grand ballroom and 8 other function rooms; the 4,000 square meters open air rooftop garden provides an elegant space for memorable occasions from grand-scale weddings, to intimate cocktail parties, to important business gatherings.

Ideal Location in China's "Most Livable City"

Known for its fresh air and temperate coastal weather, Dalian is a favorite coastal tourist

destination for travelers from Northern China and Asia. Situated at the tip of China's Liaodong Peninsula, it is a trading and financial center in northeastern Asia and has gained the reputation as the Hong Kong of Northern China. With its spectacular scenery and moderate climate, Dalian is also known as 'The Romance City' and as well as China's most livable city. As a nod to its European heritage, Dalian is a vibrant center for fashion, football, craft beer and an abundance of green spaces. Each year, the city hosts European-inspired events that attract visitors from the region and around the globe, like the Dalian International Beer Festival and the Dalian International Fashion Festival. Dalian is also the sixth city in Mainland China and first northeastern city to introduce a 72-hour visa-free stay.

Curated & Memorable Experiences

The Luxury Collection is the curator of the world's most enriching and desirable

destination experiences, helping guests discover special locales with authentic and unique encounters. Like each hotel and resort in The Luxury Collection, The Castle Hotel will help guests go beyond the typical tourist destinations with experiences that delve deeper into the locale and indigenous culture through the services of the Luxury Collection's signature Concierge.

For more information, please visit www.luxurycollection.com/castle.

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 1,300 properties in some 100 countries and approximately 188,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. Starwood is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels, resorts and residences under the renowned brands: St. Regis®, The Luxury Collection®, W®, Westin®, Le Méridien®, Sheraton®,Tribute Portfolio™, Four Points® by Sheraton, Aloft®, and Element®, along with an expanded partnership withDesign Hotels™. The company also boasts one of the industry’s leading loyalty programs, Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG®). Visit www.starwoodhotels.com for more information and stay connected @starwoodbuzz on Twitterand Instagram and facebook.com/Starwood.