Starwood Preferred Guest(R) Takes Its "No Blackouts" to New Heights

First-of-its-kind SPG FLIGHTS Program Allows Members To Book Air
Travel on HUNDREDS of Airlines With NO BLACKOUTS Using SPG
Starpoints(R)
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y.--(Business Wire)--
In a hotel industry first, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide,
Inc. (NYSE:HOT) and its award winning hotel loyalty program Starwood
Preferred Guest(R), are taking its groundbreaking NO BLACKOUTS policy
to new heights with the introduction of SPG Flights. Launching today,
SPG Flights lets members book flights on hundreds of domestic and
international airlines with NO BLACKOUT dates. Members can simply go
to WWW.SPG.COM/FLIGHTS, search for and select their preferred flight
and class of service, and redeem their Starpoints for the entire cost
of the flight. Members may even earn airline miles when booking
airfare through SPG Flights.

The introduction of SPG Flights comes at a time when redeeming an
airline seat using miles has never been more challenging. As airlines
impose further restrictions on previously available awards and the
concept of a "free" seat is becoming almost obsolete, SPG Flights
gives members access to booking flights using points. While airline
redemption programs impose numerous fees on airline mile redemption
flights, SPG Flights redemption includes taxes and booking fees in the
price of the flight. The timing of SPG Flights launch is significant
as this new member benefit reaches beyond the hotel stay and
alleviates frustrations, heightened by today's economy, associated
with air travel. With SPG Flights, members will now be able to get
home and see family for Thanksgiving and take the kids to Disneyworld
during spring break.

"Starwood Preferred Guest broke through the competitive landscape
nine years ago with the launch of No Blackouts, which allowed our
valued members to redeem their points for a standard room whenever
Starwood had one available, with no blackouts or limits on the number
of standard rooms set aside for redemption. SPG was the first program
to deliver this benefit to members," said Mark Vondrasek, senior vice
president of Distribution and Loyalty Marketing for Starwood. "We've
now created SPG Flights as a natural extension of SPG's No Blackouts
leadership. With the addition of SPG Flights, our members will now
have the same access to air travel they have come to know in the hotel
industry through SPG - if there is an available seat, it's yours."

Starwood Preferred Guest launched in 1999 as the first hotel
loyalty program to offer members No Blackouts when redeeming points,
giving millions of members unprecedented access to more upscale and
luxury hotels in more countries than any of its competitors. Designed
as the simplest, most flexible and rewarding program of its kind, SPG
has captivated travelers and generated loyalty through rich rewards,
outstanding member recognition and distinctive redemption options. SPG
is the winner of more Freddie Awards, known as the frequent travelers'
answer to the Oscars, than any other program.

Earning Starpoints has never been easier. Starwood Preferred Guest
members can earn two Starpoints for every eligible U.S. dollar spent
at over 890 participating Starwood hotels and resorts worldwide. In
addition, everyone can earn Starpoints by using the Starwood Preferred
Guest credit card by American Express which gives new members 10,000
Starpoints with the first purchase and has no annual fee for the first
year. Also, up to 20,000 Starpoints per calendar year can be purchased
by going to www.spg.com and there is no Starpoints expiration date for
active members.

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How many Starpoints does it take to redeem a flight through SPG
Flights?

TICKET PRICE STARPOINTS
(Includes taxes & booking fees)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Up to $150 10,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------
$150-$215 15,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------
$215-$280 20,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------
$280-$345 25,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------
$345-$410 30,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------
$410-$475 35,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------
$475-$540 40,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------
$540-$605 45,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------
$605-$670 50,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------
$670-$735 55,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------
$735-$800 60,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------
$800-$865 65,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------
$865-$930 70,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------
$930-$995 75,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------
HIGHER PRICES (Examples)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
$2,880-$3,140 235,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------
$4,960-$5,220 395,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------
$9,900-$10,160 775,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------
*T

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, SPG Check-In, 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 more than 890 properties
in more than 100 countries and 155,000 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(R), The Luxury
Collection(R), W(R), Westin(R), Le Meridien(R), Sheraton(R), Four
Points(R) by Sheraton, and the recently launched Aloft(SM), 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.

(Note: This press release contains forward-looking statements
within the meaning of federal securities regulations. Forward-looking
statements are not guarantees of future performance or events and
involve risks and uncertainties and other factors that may cause
actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated
at the time the forward-looking statements are made. These risks and
uncertainties are presented in detail in our filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission. Although we believe the
expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based
upon reasonable assumptions, we can give no assurance that our
expectations will be attained or that results and events will not
materially differ. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or
revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise.)

Starwood Corporate PR
Mary Jane Orman, 914-640-5287
Maryjane.orman@starwoodhotels.com
or
Maloney & Fox
Julie Levinthal, 646-356-8383
jlevinthal@maloneyfox.com

Copyright Business Wire 2008