WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., August 6, 2009 – Paradise is within reach, thanks to an exciting new promotion announced today by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) and its award-winning Starwood Preferred Guest® program.

SPG is awarding its members unlimited opportunity to earn up to 1,000 Starpoints per stay for travel from August 6 through November 30 at more than 500 participating Starwood properties across North America and Latin America. Beginning September 1, members will have even more opportunities to earn when the promotion is expanded to include nearly 250 additional hotels in Europe, Africa and the Middle East.  

Starwood’s hotels and resorts in some of the world’s most popular business and leisure destinations are taking part in the promotion. And with Free Night Awards beginning at just 2,000 points, members are only two stays away from earning a Free Weekend Night.  

SPG members can register online at www.spg.com/starpointsbonus to earn either 500 or 1,000 Starpoints per stay, depending on the property. In addition to Free Night Awards, Starpoints can also be redeemed for airline tickets through SPG Flights and VIP access to some of the season’s hottest concerts and once-in-a-lifetime experiences through the SPG Moments online auction.

A complete list of properties participating in the promotion and full terms and conditions are also available online at www.spg.com/starpointsbonus. 

About Starwood Preferred Guest
The SPG program’s breakthrough policy of No Blackout Dates at the world’s most sought after collection of hotels, reinvented the hospitality loyalty program when it launched in 1999.  By creating a program centered on its members, SPG has developed the most passionate and knowledgeable membership base in the hotel loyalty space. Through its use of new technologies and innovative channels such as SPG.com, SPG.com/flights, thelobby.com, @spginsider, and others, SPG continues to innovate and lead the industry. By offering No Blackouts on standard rooms at 890 properties, No Blackouts on hundreds of airlines, and once in a lifetime experiences available through SPG Moments, the program has proven to be a big draw for the world’s most frequent travelers, and a significant competitive advantage for Starwood.   For more information about Starwood Preferred Guest please visit SPG.com or call (877) – STARWOOD. 

About Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with 960 properties in 97 countries and 145,000 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®, 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.