Life on a Grander Scale The St. Regis, Beijing Sets a New Standard in Luxury for China

Starwood Hotels & Resorts introduces First St. Regis in Asia

Company Press Release: Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.

March 2, 2000
WHITE PLAINS, NY -- Starwood Hotels & Resorts introduced The St. Regis Beijing (formerly known as Beijing International Club Hotel), in China today, at a VIP reception attended by more than 200 guests. The conversion brings to six the number of St. Regis hotels owned and operated by Starwood Hotels & Resorts.

The St. Regis, Beijing is located on Jianguomenwai Dajie, a prime location in the heart of the city's diplomatic district, near the center for upscale shopping and business and just a short distance from Tianamen Square. It traces its roots to the neighboring Beijing International Club, the longtime gathering spot for diplomats, journalists and business executives from around the world. That atmosphere is preserved today in the hotel's Press Club Bar.

The four-star property has the highest staff to guest ratio of any hotel in China, and 273 elegantly appointed guestrooms suites -- all furnished with the highest quality materials available, such as such as cherry wood armoires, Chinese silk upholstery, fine European tableware and Italian marble.

``The distinctive hotels and resorts that bear the St. Regis name have an important legacy to uphold. They are world-renowned for their luxurious accommodations and discreet personal service and The St. Regis Beijing reflects this,'' said Ted Teng, President, Asia Pacific division of Starwood Hotels & Resorts. ``Beijing is an important world capital that gives our sophisticated St. Regis clients a new location when traveling to Asia.''

General Manager Richard Bussiere (born and raised in New York City) and his staff will ensure that the famous St. Regis standard of personalized service, and attention to detail, is delivered to every guest for every stay. Butlers will be stationed on every floor to support all guest rooms and suites. All butlers have been trained at The St. Regis flagship property in New York. The butlers will be on duty 24-hours-a-day providing guests with traditional services, including the unpacking and packing of luggage, shoe shine and complimentary tea and coffee wake up call service. Like their counterparts at The St. Regis in New York, butlers will be responsible for customizing each guest's stay.

Guests can dine for a week in the hotel and experience a full range of international cuisine sure to please any palate. Danieli's is a sophisticated restaurant featuring northern and central Italian cuisine along with an extensive selection of Italian wines. The Garden Court is an elegant brasserie offering a choice of buffet and a la carte dining all day. The Celestial Court places the utmost importance on fresh, high quality ingredients, offering a selection of Cantonese dishes as well as specialty dishes from other Chinese provinces, and a choice of authentic Japanese cuisine of the finest quality, courtesy of Chef Aoyama Mangetsu (formerly of Tokyo). Cocktails and an elegant afternoon tea are served up daily in The Garden Lounge, with live entertainment until the wee hours. The Press Club Bar has a lively, private club-style ambience reminiscent of a bygone era.

The St. Regis, Beijing has the feel of a boutique hotel with all the amenities of any world-class destination. It has hosted many VIPs in recent years, including Hilary Rodham Clinton, U.S. Secretary of State Madeline Albright, former U.S. President George Bush, the Queen of The Netherlands, and media mogul Ted Turner and Jane Fonda, to name a few.

A super, suite vacation is available at The St. Regis, Beijing at terrific value throughout the year 2000. ``Grand Celebrations'' is priced at just $2,000 per couple, and includes five nights in the Statesman Suite plus breakfast daily, roundtrip limousine airport transfers, fresh fruit and flowers upon arrival, an eight-course dinner with wine in The Celestial Court restaurant, and a limited-edition silver Millennium Cup designed especially for the St. Regis hotels by New York City artist Angela Cummings.

Reservations may be made through Starwood's worldwide Luxury Collection Reservations offices, reachable toll-free in 34 countries (1-800-325-3589 in the U.S. or Canada). Corporate customers will have the benefit of The Luxury Collection's easily accessible global sales office; and travel agents may now book reservations using all of the latest technology, including direct connections to all global distribution systems. Reservations also may be made by visiting the worldwide web site www.luxurycollection.com .

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., through its St. Regis, Luxury Collection, Westin, Sheraton, Four Points and W brands, is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with more than 700 hotels in 80 countries and 120,000 employees at its owned and managed properties.

SOURCE: Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.