Sheraton Opens Hotel in Kansas City’s Crown Center

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) and Crown Center Redevelopment Corporation today announce the opening of Sheraton Kansas City Hotel at Crown Center. The 40-story, 730-room hotel built in 1980 is set to immediately undergo a $13 million renovation to implement all of the Sheraton brand's signature offerings including the Sweet Sleeper® bed designed to meet AAA's Five Diamond Award® criteria, Club Lounge, Link@Sheraton^(R) experienced with Microsoft^(R), and Sheraton Fitness programmed by Core Performance.

Sheraton Kansas City Hotel at Crown Center is one of more than 60 new hotels and over 25,000 rooms Starwood expects to add to the Sheraton portfolio over the next three years as part of a multi-year strategic expansion plan. It joins The Westin Crown Center as the second Starwood property in the popular, upscale lifestyle center that is less than a mile from the city's Power and Light entertainment district. Starwood also operates the Crown Center Exhibit Hall and two restaurants in Crown Center shopping center.

"Sheraton Kansas City Hotel at Crown Center is a terrific addition to our growing portfolio in this vibrant metropolitan area," said Hoyt Harper, Global Brand Leader, Sheraton Hotels & Resorts. "The fully refurbished hotel will serve as a fine representation of the brand's new look and feel, and will showcase all our signature brand offerings."

The hotel's renovated lobby will feature the Link@Sheraton^(R) experienced with Microsoft® – a social hub where connections, whether face-to-face or webcam-to-webcam take place. All guest rooms will be equipped with an oversized work desk, custom-designed ergonomic chair, high-speed Internet, LCD flat panel television, MP3 docking station and the all-white Sheraton Sweet Sleeper® bed.

Ideal for business meetings and social functions of all sizes, Sheraton Kansas City Hotel at Crown Center offers more than 100,000 square feet of flexible meeting space with all the latest in meetings technology. Additional amenities will include an indoor and outdoor pool and a Sheraton Club Lounge. The hotel will also boast a fully equipped fitness facility featuring the brand's revolutionary new health and fitness program designed exclusively for Sheraton guests through its partner Core Performance.

"We are thrilled that Starwood operates both hotel properties at Crown Center," said Bill Lucas, president of Crown Center Redevelopment Corp. "This greatly simplifies group negotiations and provides significant efficiencies that improve the customer experience. Crown Center is now an unbeatable, one-stop convention destination."

Located on the southern edge of downtown Kansas City, the Sheraton Kansas City Hotel at Crown Center is adjacent to the 52,000 square-foot Crown Center Exhibit Hall and less than a mile from the city's convention center. A city within the city, Crown Center features 80 acres of shops, restaurants and theaters. The Sea Life aquarium and LEGOLAND Discovery Center will open there in 2012. Also nearby are the River Market and the Union Station and Country Club Plaza, while Arrowhead Stadium and Kauffman Stadium, homes of the Chiefs and Royals, are 15 minutes from the hotel.

Starwood has spent the last few years renovating and rebuilding one of the hotel industry's most iconic brands and Sheraton now stands better than ever with the strongest portfolio in its history. The brand is gaining market share, RevPAR continues to rise, guest satisfaction scores are the highest in the brand's history and likelihood to return, likelihood to recommend and meeting planner and associate engagement scores are also at all-time highs – signaling that guests are taking notice and rediscovering the new Sheraton.

Sheraton Hotels & Resorts, like all brands within Starwood's robust portfolio, is proud to offer the Starwood Preferred Guest® program, which made headlines when it launched in 1999 with a breakthrough policy of no blackout dates on Free Night Awards. SPG® offers members the ability to redeem awards at more resorts, more luxury properties, more European hotels and more golf properties than any other hotel program.

About Crown Center

Located on the southern edge of downtown Kansas City, Crown Center offers fine hotels, entertainment, dining, shopping, offices and residential living. Home to the international headquarters of Hallmark Cards, Inc., the complex attracts more than five million visitors each year. For more information, please visit www.crowncenter.com.