WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. | Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE:HOT), today announced the continued expansion of W Hotels across the globe with plans for its third hotel in China. The W Guangzhou will make its debut in 2010, offering 320 guest rooms and 167 luxury residences, in addition to the innovative design and full-range of branded amenities guests have come to expect of W Hotels.

Ideally located in China's largest southern coastal city, Zhujiang New Town, the W Guangzhou will be the cornerstone of a new upscale, mixed-use complex which will feature luxury boutiques and shops. Developed as an extension of the existing central business district, Zhujiang New Town is anticipated to become the new recreation and entertainment center in Guangzhou with existing facilities such as the Warner Brothers Movie Theatre, retail malls, entertainment venues, a high-end residential development, and the Guangzhou Opera House and Museum.

"Following the announcements of the W Hong Kong and the W Shanghai, The W Guangzhou is a logical extension of W's dynamic growth in China," said Ross Klein, President of Starwood Luxury Brand Group. "We are excited about the tremendous opportunities and demand for the W brand in this booming gateway to southern China."

The W Guangzhou will be an exciting addition to the brand's fast-growing international collection of hotels in the world's most vibrant cities and emerging destinations. W, the fastest growing luxury hotel brand in the world, has recently announced plans to open hotels in Barcelona, Istanbul, Athens, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Koh Samui, Santiago, Dubai and Doha. These properties will follow the highly successful openings of the W Retreat & Spa-Maldives, W Montreal, and W Mexico City.

Guangzhou is the third wealthiest city in mainland China and the economic center of Pearl River Delta, the heart of one of China's leading commercial and manufacturing regions. It is the capital city of Guangdong and the political, economical, cultural and technological hub of Guangdong province. Nearly 130 Fortune 500 companies and major automobile companies have set up joint venture manufacturing plants in Guangzhou.

In addition to the W brand's signature sleek design and cosmopolitan ambience, the W Guangzhou will offer a wide range of superior facilities including 16,000 square feet of meeting space, three restaurants, a health club, a business center, a heated indoor pool and a branded Bliss Spa and W Store. Guests will luxuriate in the signature W bed, outfitted with feather-top mattresses, 350 thread-count Egyptian cotton sheets and goose-down comforters. The hotel will also offer the signature W Whatever/Whenever service, the hotel's 24-hour concierge that can provide whatever guests want -- from a pair of running shoes to private jet service -- whenever they want it.

About W Hotels
Since its debut in 1998, W Hotels has been a favorite of guests and developers alike and today is a global lifestyle brand with 21 properties in the most vibrant cities around the world. Inspiring and indulging its guests with thoughtful, refreshing and stylish experiences, signature restaurants, bars and destination spas, W has become the fastest-growing luxury hotel brand in the world. Each hotel offers a unique mix of innovative design, comfort and cultural influences from fashion to music to art and everything in between. W Guangzhou Hotel & Residences will be the brand's third property in China. Recent openings include W Retreat & Spa-Maldives, W Dallas-Victory Hotel & Residences, and W Seoul-Walkerhill. Internationally, W has announced plans for hotels in Barcelona, Istanbul, Athens, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Santiago, Doha, Koh Samui, Austin, Philadelphia, Las Vegas, Hollywood, South Beach, Phoenix, Scottsdale and Hoboken. For more information, visit .

About Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.(R) is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with approximately 850 properties in more than 95 countries and 145,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. Starwood(R) Hotels is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels and resorts with the following internationally renowned brands: St. Regis(R), The Luxury Collection(R), Sheraton(R), Westin(R), Four Points(R) by Sheraton, W(R), Le Meridien(R) and the recently announced Aloft(SM) and Element(SM) Hotels. Starwood Hotels also owns Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., one of the premier developers and operators of high quality vacation interval ownership resorts. For more information, please visit

(Note: This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of federal securities regulations. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance or events and involve risks and uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated at the time the forward-looking statements are made. These risks and uncertainties are presented in detail in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Although we believe the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, we can give no assurance that our expectations will be attained or that results and events will not materially differ. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.)

Leila Siman
+1 914-640-2635
Starwood