W Hotels Continues Worldwide Expansion with the W Paris-Opera

France's First W Hotel will Open in 2011

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. February 16, 2009

WHITE PLAINS, NY, February 16, 2009 - Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) today announced plans to open W Paris-Op'era in 2011, marking the debut of W Hotels Worldwide in France. Located in the chic and bustling Op'era area of Paris, amid lively caf'es, contemporary designer boutiques, and buzzing restaurants and nightlife destinations, W Paris-Op'era will occupy an elegant 1870s Haussmann era building, close to the Galleries Lafayette and Place Vendome in an area where Paris earned its praise as the 'City of Lights.' Owned by Meridia Capital, a Barcelona-based private equity global real estate fund, W Paris-Op'era will feature 90 stylish guest rooms, a world-class contemporary restaurant and destination bar, a state-of-the-art fitness facility with spa treatment rooms, and W Hotels' signature lounge experience where guests are invited to mix, mingle and relax in a chic social atmosphere.

Founded in 1998 in New York City, W Hotels continues to transform into a global powerhouse. W Paris-Op'era will be the W brand's eighth property in Europe, following the opening of W Istanbul in 2008, and the upcoming openings of W Hotels in Barcelona, St. Petersburg, Athens, Manchester, Milan and London. With 10 years of proven success, W Hotels will triple its footprint by 2011 in vibrant primary destinations throughout Europe and the world from Paris to Marrakech, Dubai to Doha, Hollywood to South Beach, and Shanghai to Bali.

'We are thrilled to expand the W brand into Paris, a major milestone in transforming W Hotels into a global powerhouse, debuting in the world's most exciting and vibrant destinations,' said Eva Ziegler, Global Brand Leader, W Hotels Worldwide and Le M'eridien. 'W Paris-Op'era will offer insider access, extravaganza and cool contemporary design in the heart of Paris, bringing contemporary luxury and a completely new and distinctive product to the Parisian hotel market.'

'Paris has been on the hit list for W Hotels for many years and I am delighted we now have a site which is so central and a building which is so quintessentially Parisian,' said Roeland Vos, President of Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Europe Africa and Middle East. 'With Paris joining the roster of European openings for W over the next two years, our global W guests now have access to some of the most sought after destinations. Meridia Capital will be an excellent partner, with their experience in the luxury branded hotel sector and we hope this is the beginning of a long term partnership with them.'

In addition to the many exclusive indulgences at W Paris-Op'era, the hotel will offer a full-service WIRED business center open 24-hours, fully wired, ultra-modern meeting and event space, and the brand's signature Whatever/Whenever(R) concierge service, providing guests whatever they want - from a gourmet picnic in the Jardin du Luxembourg to exclusive shopping excursions at the emporiums of Faubourg St-Honor'e - whenever they want it. Guest rooms and suites, including W Hotels' renowned WOW suites and Extreme WOW suites, will all feature custom-made furnishings, sophisticated accents unique to Paris, the W Hotels signature bed with feather-top mattress, 350 thread-count Egyptian cotton sheets and goose down comforter, creating the ultimate urban escape. Guest rooms will offer the latest in cutting-edge technology and the most advanced in-room entertainment systems in the industry.

'Attracting a prestigious global brand like W Hotels to Paris will make this one of the most significant hotel projects the city has seen in recent years. We are delighted to be part of bringing the W brand to this destination,' said Javier Faus, Chairman & CEO, Meridia Capital.