Starwood Selects Hawai`i for Global Conference.

HONOLULU--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 27, 1999--

Hawai`i's Governor Ben Cayetano joined Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. in announcing that its second annual Global Management Conference scheduled for November 29 through December 2, will be held in Honolulu and headquartered at the Hawai`i Convention Center.

"I understand Starwood's will be the largest hotel management conference ever held in Hawai`i," said Governor Cayetano. "A company like this could choose any venue in the world for their conference. I applaud their local management and owners, especially Kyo-Ya, Inc. for persuading Starwood to meet at our new Hawai`i Convention Center later this year."

Starwood Hotels CEO Jurgen Bartels said, "Several factors drove us to the choice of Hawai`i as our conference site. First and foremost, we believe Hawai`i is one of the great tropical resort destinations on earth and in late November, it's arguably the best place in the world to hold a convention. The capacity and facilities at the Hawai`i Convention Center and its proximity to our properties were the greatest practical factors in our choice," he added.

Starwood's top executive in Hawai`i, vice president and director of Operations Keith Vieira, pointed out that the economic impact will be substantial. "We're looking at bringing in $15 million to O`ahu and more than $5 million to the Neighbor Islands," said Vieira.

Vieira, who also is a member of the Hawai`i Tourism Authority, said he and his staff, "worked long and hard to make the details come together." He added, "The Hawai`i Convention Center made all the difference -- without it we would never have the centralized capacity to hold this meeting. In addition, we'll be using the outstanding facilities at our properties for smaller meetings, especially Sheraton Waikiki."

On O`ahu, Starwood will use the properties of its Sheraton brand -- Sheraton Waikiki, Sheraton Moana Surfrider and Sheraton Princess Kaiulani, its Luxury Collection brand -- The Royal hawaiian and its Westin brand -- Westin Hawaii Prince -- for Starwood Global Conference guests. Many of the attendees will be visiting the Neighbor Islands before and after the conference. Starwood expects to have close to 2,000 attendees including its own management and exhibitors, who will attend to promote their products to Starwood properties.

Vieira also announced that the University of Hawai`i School of Travel Industry Management and Kapiolani Community College will be involved in the convention. "We want to expose our local students to the best practices and programs in the industry," Vieira said.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts in Hawaii includes five Sheraton properties: Sheraton Waikiki, Sheraton Moana Surfrider and Sheraton Princess Kaiulani on O`ahu; Sheraton Maui on Maui; and Sheraton Kauai on Kaua`i; six Luxury Collection properties: The Royal Hawaiian on O`ahu; Princeville Resort on Kaua`i; The Orchid at Mauna Lani on the island of Hawai`i; Kapalua Bay Hotel on Maui; and The Lodge at Koele and The Manele Bay Hotel on Lana`i; and the marketing of five Westin and Prince Resorts including Westin Maui and Westin Maui Prince on Maui; Westin Hawaii Prince on O`ahu; and Westin Hapuna Beach Prince and Westin Mauna Kea Beach Hotel on the island of Hawai`i -- a total of 16 properties.

Through its Luxury Collection, Westin, Sheraton, Four Points and W brands, Starwood is one of the leading hotel and gaming operating companies in the world with more than 712 hotels in 72 countries and 125,000 employees.