Starwood Opens First Four Points by Sheraton in Mexico; Four Points by Sheraton Monclova Offers Ideal Accommodation For Business Travelers.

Travel/Business Editors

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 9, 2001

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE:HOT) is pleased to announce it has granted its first franchise in Mexico for the use of the Four Points by Sheraton name to Auteles Kalionchiz, S.A. de C.V., owners of the Hotel Kalionchiz located in Monclova, Coahuila.

As of today, the hotel will officially operate under its new name: Four Points by Sheraton Monclova. The hotel recently underwent extensive remodeling work, including its guestrooms, meeting rooms, and facade. A new fire-security system was installed in all areas, to bring the hotel up to the usual high standards of the Four Points by Sheraton brand.

"Consistent with the expansion plans of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. in Latin America, we are extremely pleased with the addition of the first Four Points by Sheraton hotel in Mexico," stated Osvaldo Librizzi, President of Starwood Latin American Division. "This renewed, remodeled property offers an excellent choice for business and leisure travelers in the city of Monclova."

The hotel is located in one of the main financial and commercial districts in the city, 10 minutes away from the international airport and industrial area. The hotels features 128 guestrooms including a Presidential Suite with Jacuzzi and a meeting room for 12 people, a Governor Suite with Jacuzzi, in addition to a Junior Suite and guestrooms for the disabled. Four Points by Sheraton Monclova also offers a modern, fully equipped Business Center, and two meeting rooms accommodating eight and 12 people each.

The 'Los Vitrales' room, accommodating 200 people and the 'Partenon' room, accommodating up to 500 people, are excellent options for events and conventions. Mexican and International cuisine are served at the 'Azulejos' restaurant while the 'Acropolis Disco' is open every weekend, and features great music.

"We are very pleased to work with Starwood, and we are proud our hotel is the first Four Points by Sheraton in the Mexican Republic," said Lic. Jorge Kalionchiz, General Director of Auteles Kalionchiz. "Northern Mexico is known for its remarkable industrial and commercial development, and Monclova, in Coahuila, is part of this phenomenon. This flourishing industrial city is home to some of the biggest steel plants in Latin America."

"Four Points by Sheraton addresses a defined market segment, that of business people who choose to lodge in quality hotels at convenient rates," states Denis Ebrill, Senior Vice President for Starwood Hotels Latin America, and Director of Operations for Mexico and Central America. "This clearly sets a difference with our competitors, who are unable to offer the wide range of services Four Points by Sheraton Monclova is now offering."

Four Points by Sheraton is the full-service, medium-rate hotel brand introduced by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. in 1995. According to Business Travel News in 1999, Four Points is the "Best Medium-Scale Full-Service Hotel Chain." The brand, one of the fastest growing in the global hotel industry, is currently represented by 138 Four Points by Sheraton hotels in 15 countries.

Four Points by Sheraton meets the needs of business and leisure travelers alike, offering full-service hotels consistent with the high standard already a hallmark of all Starwood brands, at convenient rates. All Four Points by Sheraton hotels are located near airports, in commercial centers of both major and small cities, and in the main leisure destinations. All properties offer spacious, functional guestrooms, easy and fast check-in and check-out, food and beverage services, room service and meeting facilities with high-quality catering services.

Four Points by Sheraton Monclova, Mexico is the latest addition to the already existing hotels in six Latin American destinations: Santiago (Chile), Medellin and Bogota, (Colombia); Quito and Guayaquil (Ecuador) and in Curitiba, (Brazil) also one of the latest additions to the chain. There are also properties under development in Monterrey, Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Paraguay, Uruguay and Argentina. For further details and information, please log on to www.fourpoints.com.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. currently manages 40 hotels in 10 Latin American countries, including Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Peru and Uruguay, with 13 properties currently under development throughout the region.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with 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 franchiser 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.starwood.com.

Please contact Starwood's new, toll-free media hotline at 866/4-STAR-PR. (866/478-2777) for photography or additional information.