Ralph BurnetStarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has named Ralph Burnet, and his company RWB Development, 2009 Developer of the Year. The honor was announced at the recent Starwood North America Owners Conference held in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. The award was presented in recognition of Burnet’s two Starwood-managed properties, W Minneapolis – The Foshay and the recently converted, Le Meridien Chambers, both located in Minneapolis. The Starwood Developer of the Year award recognizes those organizations or individuals that opened hotels between Sept. 1, 2008 and Dec. 31, 2009 and went above and beyond to ensure that development was on-time, on-strategy and on-brand. In presenting the award to Burnet, Denise Coll, President of the North America Division, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc, noted his “passion for art, design and lifestyle hotel brands as reflected in his two spectacular properties.” The award was presented as part of the First Annual North America Owner Awards and was one of 19 awards presented in eight different categories. Other categories included: Environmental Sustainability, Community Outreach, Conversion of the Year, New Build of the Year, Renovation of the Year, Deal of the Year and the President’s Award.