HOLLYWOOD, CALIF.(May 19, 2008) – Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., announced today that  the Sheraton Universal Hotel is undergoing a massive renovation to be completed by mid-summer 2008.  The property is managed by Starwood Hotels and owned by Destination Hotels & Resorts, which owns or manages more than 30 properties in the United States. 

For nearly 40 years, the Sheraton Universal, located in the Hollywood Hills, has been a central location for guests in the entertainment business and those seeking a welcoming retreat near Universal Studios, CityWalk and countless other diversions. Come mid-summer 2008, guests will have more reasons to pay a visit as the hotel completes more than $30 million in renovations –The remake will be worth the price of admission and will include upgrades all guest rooms and certain public spaces, including the new Sheraton park like lobby experience and the Link @ Sheraton, finishing just in time to celebrate the legendary hotel’s 40^th anniversary.   

“We are delighted to invite guests from all over the world to the Sheraton Universal, where they will discover a welcoming environment that is both energetic and interactive, as well as direct access to leading Hollywood attractions,” said Hoyt Harper, Senior Vice President, Sheraton Hotels & Resorts. “The Sheraton guest experience is designed to meet the needs of travelers who are seeking comfort and familiarity, providing them with spacious accommodations, thoughtful amenities and superior service.”

Since its opening in 1969, Sheraton Universal has become known as the “Hotel of the Stars,” due to its warm, friendly, discreet staff, and close proximity to Universal and other Hollywood studios.  The hotel has also served as a base camp for hundreds of film, television and music entertainers.  

Once the revitalization is complete this summer, the property will offer 451 guest rooms, several specialty suites, beautiful poolside Lanai rooms, California’s restaurant, private dining rooms and two bars, semi-private cabanas in the lobby bar and refreshed pool area allow guests to connect socially with friends and colleagues. More than 30,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting space and  a more extensive pool renovation are slated for 2009.

“We have catered to the entertainment community for many years and will soon be the ‘newest’ hotel of the stars. In addition to our warm, personal service that will be enhanced by Sheraton’s latest technological and service standards, we have thought outside the Hollywood box to incorporate a red carpet experience every step of the way. We are inviting guests − from business travelers looking for an extended stay to leisure guests − to ‘play among the stars’ in a friendly yet cool, lively yet warm, centrally located hotel,” said Ryan Laskey, general manager of Sheraton Universal.

All guests at the Sheraton Universal will be treated like stars with four-star amenities in a warm, welcoming environment, with service from seasoned staff, some who have been with the hotel for more than 20 years. The revitalized hotel will salute Hollywood’s heyday and feature elements in the Hollywood Regency style inspired by the 1920s through the 1940s. Guest rooms, designed by Beth Mondello of ESM Interiors, feature art deco design complete with dark wood paneling and a color palette of brown, blue and ivory. The new, breathtaking rooftop space and lobby bar, designed by hospitality design shop Intra-Spec, highlights Hollywood’s glamour with semi-private cabanas in the lobby bar and a black and blue themed backdrop beneath a starry sky ceiling in the rooftop space.

Sheraton’s latest, sought-after amenities guarantee even the most discerning guests will feel their best with the help of the Sheraton Sweet Sleeper bed, Shine by Bliss bath amenities, Starbucks 1-cup service, " LCD HDTVs, iHome iPod docking station/clock radio, wireless Internet throughout hotel and complimentary entertainment during happy hour in the lobby. Additional services include Sheraton Adventure Club for kids, 24-hour Sheraton fitness center programmed by Core Performance, and in the lobby, the Link@Sheraton communications hub will offer an inviting space where guests can connect with others through the Internet and interact with fellow travelers. The hotel’s Club Lounge will feature amenities and service fit for a studio exec, from the Express Power Breakfast to the Evening Jumpstart, which includes hors d’oeuvres and refreshments. 

The Sheraton Universal is located adjacent to Universal Studios and Universal CityWalk, one Metro stop from Hollywood & Highland and in close proximity to the heart of Hollywood, L.A.’s most popular beaches, Rodeo Drive and Pasadena. The Sheraton Universal is located at 333 Universal Hollywood Drive, Universal City, California 91608. For more information, please visit www.sheratonuniversal.com or call 1-800-325-3535.

About Sheraton Hotels & Resorts
Sheraton, the largest brand of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.® (NYSE:HOT) has more than 408 hotels including 58 resorts in 70 countries.  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.