Press Release: Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.
December 6, 2000
MEXICO CITY -- Grupo Plan Planificacion S.A. de C.V. and Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT)
have joined forces to develop the first W Hotel in Latin America, W Mexico City, scheduled to open in mid 2002.
Located just off of Reforma, in the heart of Polanco, an area known for its upscale restaurants and exciting nightlife,
W Mexico City is anticipated to attract the upper tier of both local and foreign corporate travelers. Its branding
and design, coupled with its location, make the W particularly well-suited to serve not only the most demanding
and sophisticated travelers, but also local residents who demand innovative gastronomy and entertainment concepts.
W Mexico City will feature 239 guestrooms, including 12 suites and one penthouse suite, 7,700 sq. feet meeting
space, a fully equipped business center, spa and fitness center, one lobby bar, and a signature full-service restaurant.
The hotel is currently under construction, and is expected to open during the first months of 2002.
W Hotels, the successful brand of ``Style'' hotels launched by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., combines
a unique union of style and substance. Featuring casually elegant guestrooms and a hip, urban style throughout,
W offers the personality and individuality of an independent, one-of-a-kind hotel yet also guarantees the reliability
and superior level of business amenities and services which business travelers require.
``The success and growth of W Hotels since the brand's 1998 debut is exciting,'' said Barry S. Sternlicht, Chairman
and Chief Executive Officer of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. ``Partnering with Grupo Plan Planificaion
enables us to develop our second international W, and we hope to continue to partner to do many more international
as well as domestic W Hotels. We are excited to see W expand into Latin America and specifically, into Mexico City.''
``The enthusiastic reception of W Hotels has demonstrated that there is a large market for a hotel collection that
successfully marries boutique hotel flair with the quality and functionality of larger brands,'' remarked Osvaldo
Librizzi, President of Starwood Latin America. ``With the first W in Latin America we bring to the region a new
concept in hotels that sophisticated travelers from all over the world will relish.''
The Polanco area has grown to become the fashionable, upscale commercial and entertainment hub of the city. Located
just to the north of the famous Chapultepec Park, Polanco is home to museums, exclusive boutiques, art galleries,
high-end international retailers, chic restaurants, night clubs and theaters. It is considered the ideal place
to discover and participate in Mexico's contemporary culture. The area is a magnet for tourists, business travelers
and locals. Office buildings of significant companies, banks and embassies are also located in the area.
Grupo Plan Planificacion S.A. de C.V. is a real estate development company with extensive experience in the Mexican
tourism market. Grupo Plan's portfolio includes ownership interests in several hotels in Mexico, including a number
of unique haciendas on the Yucatan Peninsula, as well as golf, resort residential developments along the Pacific
Coast of Mexico.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with
more than 725 properties in 80 countries and 120,000 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 us at http://www.starwoodhotels.com.
The innovative W group currently consists of 13 hotels located in Atlanta, New York, San Francisco, Seattle, Honolulu,
Los Angeles, Sydney and New Orleans with eight more hotels scheduled to open through 2002.
There are currently 35 hotels throughout Latin America operating under one of the Starwood brands, with 10 more
under development. Starwood is present in virtually every primary destination in the region with at least one of
its upscale brands.
SOURCE: Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.