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Travelers Are Invited to Make Connections at the Newly Opened Sheraton Albuquerque Airport Hotel

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., Nov 30, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) --

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) today announced the opening of Sheraton Albuquerque Airport Hotel, the city's largest airport hospitality property and the second Sheraton hotel in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Managed by Prism Hotels & Resorts, the 15-story, 276-room property formerly known as Albuquerque Grand Airport Hotel recently completed a seven-month, $14 million renovation in preparation for its re-flagging as a Sheraton.

The opening of Sheraton Albuquerque Airport Hotel is part of the Sheraton brand's strategic expansion plan that will add approximately 50 new hotels and over 20,000 rooms to the Sheraton portfolio over the next three years.

"We are delighted to expand our portfolio in Albuquerque, New Mexico, one of the fastest growing cities in the southwestern United States. This addition is reflective of our recent $4 billion investment in new hotels, renovations and signature brand initiatives in North America, resulting in increased market share and all-time highs in guest satisfaction ratings," said Hoyt Harper, Senior Vice President, Sheraton Hotels & Resorts. "We invite travelers to enjoy the Sheraton brand's signature amenities in an inviting, comfortable atmosphere designed to facilitate connections with friends and colleagues."

Boasting dramatic views of the Sandia Mountains and the Albuquerque skyline, Sheraton Albuquerque Airport Hotel is located adjacent to the Albuquerque International Sunport. Just five minutes from historic Old Town, the hotel offers convenient access to the University of New Mexico, Kirtland Air Force Base, several premium golf courses, and the offices of Northrup Grumman and Sandia National Labs - Lockheed Martin.

"We are thrilled to grow our relationship with Starwood Hotels & Resorts and their world class family of brands. This hotel is yet another great example of the power of Sheraton and we look forward to being a part of many future projects with Starwood," said Steve Van, President and CEO, Prism Hotels & Resorts.

Sheraton Albuquerque Airport Hotel features the signature offerings of the brand's recent $6 billion revitalization effort including the "Link@Sheraton^SM experienced with Microsoft(R)" - the brand's signature social hub where connections, whether face-to-face or webcam-to-webcam take place. Decorated in a color palette of warm browns and oranges evocative of the desert southwest, the reconfigured lobby features intimate seating groups and shared work areas.

"We are delighted to partner with Starwood to open Sheraton Albuquerque Airport Hotel, where guests will enjoy all of the Sheraton brand's signature services and amenities. Travel is about connecting with other people, and now we have the public areas that create opportunities for conversation and connection," said Cynthia Fresquez, General Manager, Sheraton Albuquerque Airport Hotel. "We also look forward to reaching even more travelers through the award-winning Starwood Preferred Guest(R) program."

The hotel's 276 upgraded guest rooms feature all-new furnishings, modern lighting, flat screen television, oversized work desk and the all-white Sheraton Sweet Sleeper(R) bed. Sheraton Club members will enjoy a complimentary breakfast and evening hors d'oeuvres in the Club Lounge, as well as upgraded amenities. Sheraton Albuquerque Airport Hotel offers a refreshing outdoor pool and fully equipped fitness facility, featuring the brand's revolutionary new health and fitness program, Sheraton Fitness, Programmed by Core Performance, designed exclusively for Sheraton guests through its partner Core Performance.

The hotel's full-service restaurant and lounge, Rojo Grill Restaurant features an eclectic menu with several southwestern specialties. A Chef's Inspiration - the daily special inspired by regionally farmed and seasonally harvested products - joins the Sheraton brand's healthy Core Performance dishes.

Perfect for meetings of all sizes, Sheraton Albuquerque Airport Hotel offers 12,000 square feet of renovated meeting and banquet space designed to accommodate groups as small as eight and as large as 640. All meeting rooms offer state-of-the-art audiovisual technologies and high-speed Internet.

Sheraton Hotels, like all brands within Starwood's portfolio, is proud to offer the Starwood Preferred Guest(R) program, which offers a breakthrough policy of no blackout dates on Free Night Awards. To learn more, please visit www.spg.com.

About Prism Hotels & Resorts

Dallas-based Prism Hotels & Resorts is one of the fastest growing full-service hotel investment, management and development companies in the United States. The company currently manages more than 7,000 rooms for multiple owners in the 17 states and the Caribbean. For more information, please visit www.prismhotels.com.

About Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with 1025 properties in 100 countries and territories with 145,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. Starwood Hotels is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels, resorts and residences with the following internationally renowned brands: St. Regis(R), The Luxury Collection(R), W(R), Westin(R), Le Méridien(R), Sheraton(R), Four Points(R) by Sheraton, and the recently launched Aloft(R), and Element ^SM. Starwood Hotels also owns Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., one of the premier developers and operators of high quality vacation interval ownership resorts. For more information, please visit www.starwoodhotels.com.

(Note: This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of federal securities regulations. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance or events and involve risks and uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated at the time the forward-looking statements are made. These risks and uncertainties are presented in detail in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Although we believe the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, we can give no assurance that our expectations will be attained or that results and events will not materially differ. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.) The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

SOURCE: Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts
Nadeen Ayala, 914-640-8259
or
Holly Bradshaw Eakes, 505-989-5337
holly@thehollycompany.com
or
Sharman McBride, 505-244-8556
sharman.mcbride@sheratonabqairport.com

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