Press Release
January 9, 2001
ORLANDO, FL -- Starwood Vacation Ownership Inc., a subsidiary of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.
(NYSE:HOT), has announced that presales began yesterday at its newest Westin-branded vacation ownership resort
at the acclaimed Westin Mission Hills Resort in Rancho Mirage, Calif.
Overlooking the Pete Dye Golf Course, Westin Mission Hills Resort Villas is adjacent to the hotel and offers its
owners and guests full access to the multiple swimming pools, fitness center and spa, restaurants and recreational
facilities of The Westin Mission Hills Resort.
Construction on the 158-villa resort will begin in the first quarter of this year with the first phase of 16 units
to be completed by the first quarter of 2002. Each villa will include the luxuries of a well appointed home, including
a fully-equipped kitchen, living and dining room, televisions in each of the private bedrooms, a fireplace in the
master bedroom, a large whirlpool tub in the master suite, private balcony and a television and stereo system in
the living room. No details have been overlooked -- including ceiling fans, black out draperies in the bedrooms,
stone kitchens and baths as well as multiple showerheads in the large walk-in shower.
``This resort is the perfect complement to the existing features of The Westin Mission Hills Resort. Our owners
and guests will have full access to all the amenities at the resort including the two championship golf courses,
fitness center and spa and the Westin Kids Club. We are extremely excited to add this resort to our other Starwood
Vacation Ownership Resorts,'' said Jeffrey A. Adler, president and co-chief executive officer of Starwood Vacation
Ownership Inc.
The Westin Mission Hills Resort Villas offer flexible ownership plans with the ability to trade to select vacation
ownership resorts within Starwood vacation ownership family of resorts as well as to any of the 1,800 resorts in
the Interval International exchange network. In keeping with Westin's 70-year history of innovative leadership
and impeccable style, each Westin ownership resort will feature luxurious accommodations and amenities guests would
expect from one of the most popular and highly regarded brands in the industry.
``Brands such as Westin and Sheraton -- both Starwood brands -- will have a major impact on the future growth of
the vacation ownership industry. Industry trends show that brands are an important component of the decision making
process and we believe that there is a significant market for a Westin-branded vacation ownership product,'' said
Raymond L. ``Rip'' Gellein, Jr., chairman and chief executive officer of Starwood Vacation Ownership Inc.
Those guests and owners who choose to use the Westin Mission Hills Resort Villas' amenities will enjoy the ``oasis''
theme carried throughout the property with dramatic water features. One of the resort's main attractions will be
the recreation area with a large adult pool with private cabanas and two water slides. Additional activities upon
completion of the resort villas include a putting green, basketball court, private BBQ and picnic area and an activity
center.
The Westin Mission Hills Resort Villas is the second Westin Vacation Ownership resort built adjacent to an existing
Westin property. The first opened in 1997 at The Westin Resort, St. John in the U.S.V.I. Since its formation last
year, Starwood Vacation Ownership Inc. has branded the following resorts under the Sheraton flag:
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. (NYSE:HOT) 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 and W brands, as
well as Starwood Vacation Ownership Inc., one of the premier developers and operators of high quality vacation
interval ownership resorts.
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Contact:
Starwood Vacation Ownership Inc.
David Matheson, 407/239-3155