Starwood Hotels Brings a New Twist in Travel to Sydney

Conceived by the same team that created W Hotels, aloft delivers affordable, stylish design, accessible technology and a refreshing new attitude to the lodging industry. In the same way that W Hotels broke through the clutter of conformity in the upscale hotel arena, aloft will raise the bar in the select-service category, offering a total sensory experience with urban-inspired, loft-life guest rooms, leading edge technology services, and an energetic lounge scene.

"We say aloha, mate! as we introduce aloft hotels down under," said Ross Klein, President of Starwood's Luxury Brand Group and aloft hotels. "Travelers visiting Sydney will now have a fun new way to play and stay with our latest destination sensation, aloft Sydney Airport, O'Riordan Street."

As a Vision of W(R) Hotels, the aloft brand was formally launched in Asia Pacific at the Hotel Investment Conference (HICAP) in Hong Kong in late 2006, and is shaking up the lodging industry with urban-influenced design, accessible technology, style and a social atmosphere. aloft offers a total sensory experience, with guestrooms featuring loft-like nine-foot ceilings and oversized windows to create a bright, airy environment. The centerpiece of the aloft room is the ultra-comfortable signature bed, and large stylish bathrooms that complement the guest experience with oversized walk-in showers and amenities created by bliss spa(R). Each guestroom is also a combination high-tech office and entertainment center, featuring wireless internet access and plug & play, a one-stop connectivity solution for multiple electronic gadgetry such as PDAs, cell phones, mp3 players and laptops - all linked to a large flat panel HDTV ready television for optimal sound and viewing.

Designed in conjunction with world-renowned David Rockwell and the Rockwell Group, aloft Sydney Airport - O'Riordan Street will stay true to its W heritage, offering atmospheric public spaces designed to draw guests from their rooms to socialize and make friends. Guests can read the paper, work on their laptops via hotel-wide wireless internet access, play a game of pool or grab a drink with friends at the re:mix communal lobby area and bar w xyz. The re:charge fitness center and splash, the hotel pool, give travelers options to de-stress and re-energize. The aloft Sydney Airport - O'Riordan Street will include 161 guestrooms, approximately 60 to 80 square meters of meeting space, self service food and beverage option re:fuel by aloft, a one-stop food and beverage area, offering sweet, savory and healthy food, snacks and beverages to grab & go, 24-hours a day.

Starwood(R) anticipates the first aloft hotels to open in early 2008, and is targeting 500 properties globally by 2012, with locations expected all across the globe. With over 100 franchise deals in the pipeline worldwide, aloft has announced properties in locations ranging from Beijing to Brussels to Bay Harbor, Florida. To view a complete list of aloft locations, please visit the website at .

About aloft
Infused with the DNA of W Hotels, aloft is a new destination sensation featuring loft-inspired design, accessible technology and a stylish urban attitude. Starwood anticipates the first aloft hotels to open in early 2008, with 500 properties worldwide expected by 2012.

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 870 properties in more than 100 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 and the recently announced aloft(SM) and Element Hotels(SM). Starwood Hotels also own 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.)