115-room Aloft Asheville Downtown Opens in North Carolina

Owned and Operated by McKibbon Hotel Group

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. August 27, 2012

STAMFORD, CT - August 27, 2012 - Aloft Hotels, the “Style at a Steal” brand by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT), today announced it has opened its 60th hotel globally with the opening of Aloft Asheville Downtown in Asheville, North Carolina. Owned and operated by McKibbon Hotel Group, Inc., Aloft Asheville Downtown will offer 115 stylish guest rooms and over 1,800 square feet of unique outdoor meeting space on its Air Level pool deck and The Ledge observation deck, as well as 649 square feet of indoor meeting space in an unbeatable downtown location.

“We are delighted to debut Aloft in Asheville, a celebrated arts destination,” said Brian McGuinness, Senior Vice President of Specialty Select Brands for Starwood. “Aloft has cultivated a loyal following of Gen-Y-minded guests who appreciate the brand's urban design aesthetic and buzzing social scene.”

Aloft Asheville Downtown is walking distance to numerous restaurants, breweries, shops and galleries. Just minutes from the Blue Ridge Parkway and Biltmore House and Gardens, the hotel is within walking distance of Pack Square Park, Diana Wortham Theatre and the renowned Orange Peel music venue. Aloft Asheville Downtown features artwork in public spaces and guest rooms that is produced entirely by local artists, and is the only hotel in downtown with convenient covered parking.

“We believe that Starwood's Aloft brand will be a great addition to Asheville, and the location and amenities that this hotel has to offer can't be beat,” explained John McKibbon, Chairman of McKibbon Hotel Group. “We've worked hard to incorporate many local details into the hotel, from the artwork to bar and menu items, and we expect the hotel to become a popular destination for both travelers and locals.”

Pioneering initiatives in pop culture, design, and technology have positioned Aloft as a must-have brand for the next generation of travelers. Aloft hotels has reported consistently high guest satisfaction scores since launch, reflecting the success of its modern, and vibrant design at an affordable price point. The Aloft social guest experience, with the buzzing re:mix™ lounge and happening w xyz™ bar, has earned select hotels within the portfolio designations on TripAdvisor's 2011 “Top 10 Trendiest Hotels in the US” and “Top 10 Trendiest Hotels in the World” rankings lists.

About Aloft Hotels
With 60 hotels open since the Aloft brand first arrived on the scene, Aloft, a vision of W Hotels, has changed the hotel landscape offering “style at a steal” everywhere from Baltimore to Beijing to Bogota to Brussels -- and everywhere in between. For more information, please visit www.alofthotels.com

Aloft, 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 McKibbon Hotel Group, Inc./McKibbon Hotel Management, Inc.
McKibbon Hotel Group, Inc., based in Gainesville, Georgia, is a privately owned enterprise that has grown into an award-winning premier real estate developer and owner of nationally franchised hotel brands for Marriott, Hilton, Starwood and Hyatt hotels. McKibbon is proud to be a recognized leader for over 87 years in the hospitality industry, and McKibbon Hotel Management, Inc., based in Tampa, Florida, currently operates over 65 mid and upscale brands in 8 states throughout the Southeast. The company has a rich history and culture that promotes a family oriented environment, while holding true to its core values of honesty, integrity and loyalty. For more information, visit www.mckibbon.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 1112 properties in 100 countries and territories with 154,000 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®, The Luxury Collection®, W®, Westin®, Le Meridien®, Sheraton®, Four Points® by Sheraton, Aloft®, and Element SM. The company boasts one of the industry's leading loyalty programs, Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG), allowing members to earn and redeem points for room stays, room upgrades and flights, with no blackout dates. Starwood Hotels also owns Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., a premier provider of world-class vacation experiences through villa-style resorts and privileged access to Starwood brands. 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.