Starwood Hotels & Resorts Receives Token of Appreciation from Chinese Government for its Role as the Exclusive Hotel Sponsor for the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Receives Token of Appreciation from Chinese Government for its Role as the Exclusive Hotel Sponsor for the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games

July 24, 2007

    SHANGHAI, China, July 24 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ --
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. (NYSE: HOT)
was recently commended by the Chinese government at the
Special Olympics China Torch Lighting Ceremony in Beijing
for the international chain's role as exclusive hotel
sponsor of Special Olympics and the 2007 Special Olympics
World Summer Games in Shanghai, China. Receiving the token
of appreciation from China Disabled Persons' Federation
President Mr Deng Pufang was Starwood China Senior Vice
President for Operations Mr Qian Jin.

    Starwood had announced in December last year of its
three-year global partnership as the exclusive hotel
sponsor of Special Olympics and the 2007 Special Olympics
World Summer Games in Shanghai, China. The sponsorship
includes financial and in-kind support from Starwood.

    As part of the cause-related marketing campaign with
Special Olympics, including the donation of US$50 dollars
to Special Olympics for every Westin Heavenly Bed, Sheraton
Sweet Sleeper Bed and Four Points by Sheraton Four Comfort
bed sold through Starwood retail channels that will close
on 30th June 2007, Starwood China will be launching the
Starwood-Special Olympics panda bears to be sold as
souvenirs at the existing 38 Starwood hotels across the
country to raise awareness and funds. These limited edition
panda bears, named `Kai Kai', which, in Chinese, means to
wish all athletes great success in all that they do, will
help drive the message of promoting understanding,
acceptance and inclusion between people with and without
intellectual disabilities.

    "This unique global sponsorship will help increase
public awareness of the Special Olympics, enhance our
corporate social responsibility mission and further
strengthen our brand presence in important travel markets
and diverse local communities," said Qian Jin.
"We are pleased and excited to be able to support our
company's global mission with a series of marketing
activities in close relation with the Special Olympics team
in China from now, leading to the actual games in
October."

    Pre-games activities include a 1000-person ceramic wall
building event in Shanghai involving athletes and volunteers
that was held on 4th July and graced by Special Olympics
basketball superstar Yao Ming, a two-city road show
covering Beijing and Guangzhou on 28th July and 18th August
respectively, a carnival in Shanghai in late September that
will culminate in the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer
Games to be held in Shanghai for 10 days beginning 2nd
October. The event will mark the first time the World
Summer Games will be held in Asia, and only the second time
they will be held outside the United States. In addition to
some 7,000 athletes, Special Olympics expects the 2007
World Summer Games to draw 40,000 volunteers, 3,500 event
officials and thousands of families, volunteers, spectators
and journalists from every region of the world.

    Special Olympics athletes of all ability levels will
compete in 24 different Olympic-type sports: aquatics,
athletics, badminton, basketball, bocce, bowling, cricket,
cycling, Dragon Boat racing, equestrian, football (soccer),
golf, gymnastics, handball, judo, kayaking, powerlifting,
roller skating, sailing, softball, table tennis, tennis,
volleyball and the Motor Activities Training Program.

    About Special Olympics

    Special Olympics is an international organization that
changes lives by promoting understanding, acceptance and
inclusion between people with and without intellectual
disabilities. Through year-round sports training and
athletic competition and other related programming for 2.25
million children and adults with intellectual disabilities
in more than 150 countries, Special Olympics has created a
model community that celebrates people's diverse gifts.
Founded in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, Special Olympics
provides people with intellectual disabilities continuing
opportunities to realize their potential, develop physical
fitness, demonstrate courage and experience joy and
friendship. Visit Special Olympics at
http://www.specialolympics.org .

    About Starwood Hotels & Resorts

    Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of
the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with
approximately 850 properties in more than 95 countries and
145,000 employees at its owned and managed properties.
Starwood(R) Hotels is a fully integrated owner, operator
and franchisor of hotels and resorts with the following
internationally renowned brands: St. Regis(R), The Luxury
Collection(R), Sheraton(R), Westin(R), Four Points(R) by
Sheraton, W(R), Le Meridien and the recently announced
Aloft(SM) and Element(SM) brands. 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
http://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.)


    For more information, please contact:

    Media Contact:
     June Seah
     Marketing Manager, Greater China & Taiwan
     Email: [e-mail]
     Tel:   [phone]