Starwood to Open Its First Four Points by Sheraton in Asuncion, Paraguay

Press Release
June 14, 2001
WHITE PLAINS, NY -- Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. (NYSE: HOT) announced yesterday it has signed an agreement with Emprendimientos Hoteleros S.A., to operate a new Four Points Hotel by Sheraton to be opened in Asuncion, Paraguay.

The hotel, currently under design, will be located in the Villa Morra area. The building will comprise 125 guestrooms and spacious meeting facilities, in addition to all services traditionally offered by Four Points by Sheraton to meet the needs of business travelers. The estimated US $12 million investment project will result in the opening of the new hotel by early 2003.

``We are pleased to introduce the Four Points by Sheraton brand to Paraguay as we continue with our expansion plans in Latin America,'' said Osvaldo Librizzi, President of Starwood's Latin America Division. ``Joining our existing 6 properties in Chile, Colombia and Ecuador, this new hotel in Paraguay's capital city is a welcome addition to the Four Points banner. South America is becoming a very important emerging market for the Four Points by Sheraton brand.''

Four Points by Sheraton is the company's mid-scale, full-service hotel brand introduced by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. in 1995. One of the fastest growing brands in the global hotel industry, there are currently 141 Four Points Hotels by Sheraton operating in 14 countries.

Four Points Hotels by Sheraton caters to the accommodation needs of mid-scale business and leisure travelers and also fully satisfies requirements of meeting-and-event planners. All properties offer spacious, functional guestrooms, fast and efficient check in /check out, room service and meeting facilities with quality catering service in style with local market trends in each location.

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 and W brands, as well as Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc. one of the premier developers and operators of high quality vacation interval ownership resorts. For further information, please visit www.starwoodhotels.com.

Please contact Starwood's toll-free media hotline at (866) 4-STAR-PR (866-478-2777) for photography or additional information.

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Contact: 

     Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.
     Katie Meyer, 914/640-8247
     katie.meyer@starwoodhotels.com