Former Plaza Hotel & Conference Center, Tucson, Arizona To Become New Four Points By Sheraton - Tucson University Plaza

Conversion Scheduled for January 2001

Press Release: Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, Inc.
December 21, 2000
TUCSON, AZ -- The Plaza Hotel & Conference Center will become Four Points by Sheraton Tucson University Plaza on January 4, 2001. The hotel, which opened February 1971 at 1900 E. Speedway, has 150 guestrooms, as well as 8,000 square feet of flexible meeting space. The hotel is owned and operated by Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) based out of White Plains, New York. Starwood owns and manages such familiar brands as Westin, Sheraton, St. Regis, The Luxury Collection, W Hotels and Four Points by Sheraton.

Four Points by Sheraton Tucson University Plaza is uniquely positioned as a mid-priced, full service hotel offering both business and leisure travelers consistent, comprehensive amenities. The Four Points by Sheraton Tucson University Plaza provides meeting space, catering, a full service restaurant and lounge serving three meals a day plus room service, laundry and dry cleaning services, swimming pool and fitness center. Guest room features include large work desk, voice mail, dataports, dual-line telephone and the USA Today.

``We've see tremendous growth of the Four Points by Sheraton brand, with over 25 hotels being added to the brand in 2000 and another 25-plus coming in 2001. This hotel, the first to join the brand in 2001, is located adjacent to the University of Arizona, giving travelers access to attractions and restaurants of Tucson,'' noted Peter Rogovin, Vice President of Marketing for Four Points by Sheraton.

In addition, Four Points by Sheraton Tucson University Plaza offers Starwood Preferred Guest(SM) points for each stay, which can be redeemed at any of Starwood's branded properties with no black out dates.

Four Points Hotels by Sheraton is the mid-priced brand of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. Unlike most mid-priced hotels, all Four Points Hotels by Sheraton are full-service properties offering room service; on-premise restaurants; meeting rooms with catering capabilities, and a fitness facility (most with swimming pools).

Since the first Four Points by Sheraton hotel opened five years ago, the brand has become Starwood's fastest growing hotel chain, expanding to 140 properties across the United States and in 12 countries around the world.

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.

SOURCE: Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, Inc.