WHITE PLAINS, NY - August 11, 2008– Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) announces the grand opening of a newly constructed Four Points by Sheraton hotel in Victoria, the capital city of British Columbia. Owned by Western Gateway Hotel Ltd. and managed by Western International, Four Points by Sheraton Victoria Gateway is just minutes from downtown Victoria. This contemporary, 117-room property offers spacious rooms, comfortable beds, free internet and bottled water, and a lively, social atmosphere.

Located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island, the city of Victoria is a popular tourist destination known for its natural beauty, upscale dining, shopping and museums.   A mere 15-minute drive from downtown Victoria, Four Points by Sheraton Victoria Gateway is just off the Trans Canada Highway, close to Bear Mountain, Olympic View Golf Course, Goldstream Provincial Park, Hatley Castle and the Great Canadian Casino. Nearby recreation includes hiking trails, world-class skiing and whale-watching expeditions.

“Four Points by Sheraton is delighted to welcome guests to Victoria, British Columbia, a scenic city that boasts both a lively downtown and diversity of outdoor recreation,” said Sandy Swider, Vice President, Four Points by Sheraton. “Four Points by Sheraton gives guests just what they need – comfortable rooms, an inviting social atmosphere and extras to help them feel fulfilled at the end of the day.”

Four Points by Sheraton Victoria Gateway serves fresh pie and coffee in the hotel’s stunning lobby, where award-winning West Coast Navajo art is on display. The hotel also serves a wide selection of international beers, courtesy of the popular Four Points by Sheraton Best Brews^SM program.

The West Coast Tap House is the hotel’s vibrant eatery, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner in an inviting, pub-style atmosphere. Guests can relax in the hot tub, work out in the hotel’s own fitness facility or pamper themselves at Araina Day Spa.  An ideal location for small to mid-size meetings, Four Points by Sheraton Victoria Gateway provides more than 5,200 square feet of meeting space.

Comfortable and contemporary, the hotel’s 117 guest rooms offer a welcome refuge at the end of the day. Many of the rooms offer sweeping views of the Olympic Mountains and Vancouver Island’s scenic Malahat Drive. Guests can kick back and relax in the Four Points by Sheraton Four Comfort Bed, an ensemble that includes a plush mattress, an assortment of pillows and duvet. Rooms also come with 42-inch plasma televisions, spacious showers, free in-room bottled water and complimentary high-speed Internet access.

About Four Points by Sheraton
Four Points by Sheraton, with more than 129 properties in 23 countries, is offers the self-sufficient traveler a new kind of style and comfort combined with a spirited "can-do" service -- all at an honest value.  Four Points by Sheraton hotels are located in easy-to-reach areas – close to major airports, suburban centers, urban hot spots and resort and vacation destinations. The Four Points Simple Pleasures^SM program celebrates the little things in life that make a big difference in guests’ travel such as a great beer, a free bottle of water, and a tasty treat at the end of a long day.  It’s those little extras that score big points with Four Points by Sheraton customers.

About Starwood Hotels & Resorts
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with approximately 900 properties in more than 100 countries and 155,000 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 Méridien®, Sheraton®, Four Points® by Sheraton, and the recently launched Aloft^SM, 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.