Starwood Hotels & Resorts Introduces Its Westin Hotel Brand to Germany's Vibrant Cultural Centre with the New Westin Hamburg Hotel

HAMBURG, Germany -- Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE:HOT) today announces that it will introduce its wellness brand, Westin Hotels & Resorts, to Hamburg. The new Westin Hamburg Hotel will open in 2012 under an agreement between Starwood and its joint venture partner, Arabella Hospitality Group. The hotel is designed by world-renowned Swiss architects Herzog & de Meuron as part of the highly anticipated Elbe Philharmonic complex, Europe's most ambitious development projects. Expected to become a cultural and architectural landmark, this urban development will also include luxury residences and a multitude of culinary, cultural and nightlife options all set in the heart of upscale HafenCity.

According to Roeland Vos, President, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Europe, Africa & Middle East, "Together with our joint venture partner, Arabella Hospitality Group, we are honored to be a part of such a significant cultural project. The Westin Hamburg will play a key role in this exciting and important development as we work together with our partners to create a landmark destination in Hamburg."

Tailored to both business and leisure travelers, the ultra-modern 10-storey Westin Hamburg Hotel will feature 244 guest rooms including 39 suites, all with the iconic Westin Heavenly Bed, a restaurant, a cafe, destination bar, lounge and a spa including a Westin WorkOut fitness centre and an indoor swimming pool. The hotel will comprise close to 9,000 square feet of state-of-the-art meeting and event space equipped with cutting-edge technology, including eight meeting rooms and a ballroom.

"We are very pleased to bring this internationally renowned Starwood brand to Hamburg and to open a new Westin Hotel as part of the Elbe Philharmonic Hall development, one of Europe's most remarkable projects," said Wolfgang M. Neumann, CEO of the Arabella Hospitality Group. "With the Westin Hamburg, the hanseatic city will be gaining yet another attraction that will draw further visitors from Germany and elsewhere."

With over 1.8 million inhabitants, Hamburg is Germany's second largest city. It is one of the most popular leisure destinations in Europe and recognised as a cultural and commercial centre, with stunning architecture and a vast array of entertainment and shopping options.

Through a joint venture with Arabella Hospitality Group, Starwood currently operates more than 30 hotels in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Mallorca and South Africa under its Westin, Sheraton, St. Regis, The Luxury Collection and Four Points by Sheraton brands.

Westin is currently represented by five hotels in Germany, including The Westin Grand Frankfurt, The Westin Grand Munich Arabellapark, The Westin Grand Hotel in Berlin, The Westin Bellevue in Dresden and The Westin Leipzig.

Westin Hotels & Resorts
Westin Hotels & Resorts, with 169 hotels and resorts in more than 31 countries and territories, is owned by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT). Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with 1000 properties in nearly 100 countries and territories with 145,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. Starwood Hotels is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels, resorts and residences with the following internationally renowned brands: St. Regis(R), The Luxury Collection(R), W(R), Westin(R), Le Méridien(R), Sheraton(R), Four Points(R) by Sheraton, and the recently launched Aloft(R), and Element SM. 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 .

ArabellaStarwood Hotels & Resorts
ArabellaStarwood Hotels & Resorts is a company of Arabella Hospitality Group (51 percent), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Schoerghuber Corporate Group and Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (49 percent), one of the world's largest hotel companies with 1000 establishments to its name in 100 countries. As the central umbrella company, ArabellaStarwood Hotels & Resorts manages the marketing and sales of a total of 43 hotels and resorts in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, the Balearic Islands and South Africa. 31 of the 43 hotels are properties of Arabella Hospitality Group. ArabellaStarwood Hotels & Resorts is one of the leading hotel groups in the above markets. The portfolio of ArabellaStarwood Hotels & Resorts comprises the brands: The Luxury Collection, St. Regis, Westin, Le Méridien, Sheraton and Four Points by Sheraton. All tourism services, such as Golf & Sport, Spa & Wellness, Wine & Gourmet Cuisine, Art & Culture as well as Classic Cars are combined and further expanded within the brand of Arabella.