WHITE PLAINS, N.Y.--Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, Inc. HOT and Kintetsu Hotel Systems have announced a management agreement to rebrand the Miyako Hotel in Kyoto to The Westin Miyako, effective April 1, 2002.

The historic 110-year old Kyoto hotel has played host to dignitaries from around the world and is considered one of the city's landmark hotels.

This marks a return of the landmark Miyako hotel in Kyoto to the Westin brand. The hotel was previously affiliated with Westin Hotels & Resorts from 1965 to 1995 under a marketing agreement. The new partnership between The Miyako Hotel and Starwood signifies a closer relationship as the hotel will now be fully managed by Starwood Hotels & Resorts. Following the rebranding, The Westin Miyako will be the only internationally branded and managed hotel in Kyoto.

"We are extremely proud and delighted to welcome the famous Miyako hotel back to the Westin family," said Miguel Ko, President, Asia-Pacific, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide. "This reinforces our commitment to the development of the Westin brand. The Westin Miyako in Kyoto, one of the most popular destinations in Japan for leisure and convention travelers, will complement our portfolio of properties in Japan," added Ko. Other Starwood properties in Japan include Westin hotels in Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, Awaji Island and now Kyoto, and Sheraton hotels in Tokyo Bay, Kobe, Yokohama, Sapporo and Miyazaki.

The Westin Miyako features 516 guest rooms and suites, six food and beverage venues, 13 meeting rooms with two ballrooms which comprise six breakout rooms and extensive recreational facilities. The hotel grounds spread over 5,920 square feet, covering five different wings and offering a sense of spaciousness with complete privacy.

An extensive upgrading program is underway at The Westin Miyako, including the lobby, guest rooms and several restaurants. Internationally acclaimed designer, Hirsch Bedner Associates, is working with the hotel to ensure the highest product design and standards. Some of the Westin Miyako's guest rooms will also showcase the Heavenly Bed®, a signature product of Westin Hotels & Resorts.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with 750 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.

Mark Ricci
914/640-8496
Starwood