Holiday Inn University Park Hotel in West Des Moines, Iowa is Re-Branded under Starwood's Upscale Sheraton Flag as Sheraton West Des Moines; Hotel Undergoes $3 Million Renovation to Upgrade to Sheraton Brand Standards.

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. -- Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) announces the reflagging of the Holiday Inn University Park Hotel in West Des Moines, Iowa to the Sheraton West Des Moines. The re-branded hotel, currently undergoing a $3 million dollar renovation, is owned and managed by Springfield, Mo.-based John Q. Hammons Hotels, Inc. (AMEX: JQH). The renovations will focus primarily on upgrading the 285 guestrooms and suites, the atrium lounge and combined meeting space. John Q. Hammons Hotels, Inc., is the nation's leading independent builder, developer, owner and manager of upscale full-service hotels, resorts and suites.

Located at 1800 50th Street and University Avenue near I-80, I-35 and I-235, the 285-room Sheraton West Des Moines is ideally situated only minutes away from the Des Moines International Airport, Valley West Regional Shopping Mall and the Historic Valley Junction retail-shopping complex. The hotel also offers visitors convenient access to a variety of dining and entertainment experiences.

"We are thrilled about our first Sheraton property in the Des Moines area," said Norman MacLeod, executive vice president, Sheraton Hotels & Resorts. "Des Moines is such a vibrant city and the center for business and commerce for the state. The Sheraton West Des Moines now serves as a major venue for business travelers conducting business in the city."

"The renovation and conversion of this conveniently located West Des Moines property allows us to maintain our commitment to quality accommodations and superior service," said Mr. John Q. Hammons, founder, chairman and chief executive officer of John Q. Hammons Hotels, Inc. "The Sheraton brand represents first-class standards, making the re-branding of this property appealing to both business and leisure travelers."

Having served the Des Moines business and tourism community for more than 15 years under the Holiday Inn flag, the current renovations will transform the property into an upscale lodging facility to accommodate the growing lodging and meeting needs of Des Moines. The 18,000 square feet of meeting space will continue to serve as a convenient lodging and meeting destination for both business and leisure travelers.

The hotel offers three dining venues - Beethoven's Lounge, Park Place and the award-winning Damon's Grill. The property will also feature a variety of first-class, updated amenities, including the brand's signature Sheraton Sweet Sleeper Bed(R) and high-speed Internet access. The hotel also features the Sheraton Service Promise, which means if guests are not satisfied, neither is the hotel. The Sheraton Service Promise ensures guests have a great stay or Sheraton will make it up to them with an instant discount, points for its awards program - or even money back. Guests will also have access to the cardio fitness center, complimentary business center, pool, whirlpool and sauna.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with more than 750 properties in more than 80 countries and 110,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. With internationally renowned brands, Starwood is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels and resorts including: St. Regis, The Luxury Collection, Sheraton, Westin, Four Points by Sheraton, W brands, 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 www.starwoodhotels.com

About John Q. Hammons Hotels, Inc.

Publicly traded on the American Stock Exchange (AMEX: JQH), Springfield, Mo.-based John Q. Hammons Hotels, Inc. is the nation's leading independent builder, developer, owner and manager of upscale, full-service hotels, resorts and suites, including: Embassy Suites Hotels, Renaissance, Marriott, Radisson, Residence Inn, Homewood Suites by Hilton, Holiday Inn and Courtyard by Marriott brands. With 58 hotels strategically located near demand generators, such as state capitals, universities, airports, corporate headquarters or office parks in secondary and tertiary markets, John Q. Hammons Hotels' properties are dominant in their markets. The company's focus is capitalizing on positive operating fundamentals in the upscale, full-service sector, converting existing hotels to franchise brands and selling mature assets, while reinvesting the proceeds and reducing debt. Over the course of his impressive career in the hotel business, Mr. Hammons has developed 157 hotels. For more information about John Q. Hammons Hotels, Inc. please visit the company's Web site at www.jqh.com.

For additional information, please contact:

   Scott Tarwater                  Molli Samuels/Melissa Conger
   John Q. Hammons Hotels, Inc.    Publicis Dialog for John Q. Hammons
   [phone]                  Hotels, Inc.
   [e-mail]          972-628-7763/972-628-7756
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