WHITE PLAINS, NY - (November 2000) Booking business with Starwood® Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has just gotten easier for more than 21,000 CLIA-affiliated agencies now that Starwood - which includes such renowned brands as Sheraton® Hotels & Resorts, Four Points® by Sheraton® Hotels, St. Regis® Hotel & Resorts, The Luxury Collection®, Le Meridien®, W Hotels® and Westin® Hotels & Resorts - and the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) have announced a new corporate agreement with the travel agent community. Starwood recognizes huge potential to harness increased support, preference and profitability from member agencies that book hotel stays for pre- and post-cruise passengers.

With this new agreement, CLIA-affiliated agencies can now make bookings and be paid 10% commission at any of Starwood's 850 hotels and resorts worldwide regardless of whether the booking is made through Central Reservations, Global Distribution Systems (GDS) or directly through a property. In addition, it announces that a CLIA-affiliated agent in possession of a CLIA ID card can qualify for reduced rate travel benefits and book the Travel Agent Education Program (TAED) rate plan, which offers travel agents discounted rates at Starwood Hotels & Resorts. This latest enhancement of the CLIA ID Card program enables agents to take advantage of a wide variety of special familiarization rates, and to become more knowledgeable about Starwood's brands and properties. The acceptance of the CLIA ID Card is in addition to the acceptance of the IATAN card.

"We want to recognize legitimate agents and reward them for the business they direct to Starwood's six brands, and we are looking forward to growing our business from these leisure-based agencies," says Chris Austin, Vice President, Global Leisure Sales, Starwood Hotels & Resorts. "Starwood's portfolio includes award-winning hotels and resorts all over the world, with 17 properties in the Hawaiian Islands, 6 resorts in Mexico and more golf resorts - including flagship properties like the Westin Turnberry in Scotland and the Westin La Cantera Resort in Texas - than any other hotel company. Agents will be able to take advantage of a wide variety of special familiarization rates and become more knowledgeable about all of these properties."

Agents seeking to take advantage of these benefits will only have to provide their CLIA number. For more information, agents can call the Starwood GDS Help Desk at 800-448-4066 7:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. CST, or visit Starwood's travel agent information page at any of our branded web sites.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with more than 850 properties in over 95 countries, and 145,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. With internationally renowned brands, Starwood is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchiser of hotels and resorts including: Sheraton® Hotels & Resorts, Four Points® by Sheraton® Hotels, St. Regis® Hotels & Resorts, The Luxury Collection®, Le Meridien®, W Hotels® and Westin® Hotels & Resorts, as well as Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., one of the premier developers and operators of high-quality vacation interval ownership resorts.

For more information, please visit us at www.starwoodhotels.com .