Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc Announces Intent to De-List Class B Shares from the New York Stock Exchange in Connection with the Host Marriott Transaction

Business Wire, April 7, 2006

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. -- Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) ("Starwood") announced today that in connection with the previously announced transaction with Host Marriott Corporation (NYSE: HMT) ("Host") and the acquisition by a subsidiary of Host of Starwood's subsidiary, Starwood Hotels & Resorts (the "Trust"), Starwood intends to withdraw the Class B shares of the Trust from listing on the New York Stock Exchange (the "NYSE") after the market closes today. The Class B shares of the Trust are currently paired and trade together as a unit on the NYSE under the symbol "HOT". Starwood anticipates that the Class B shares of the Trust and the common stock of the Corporation will be depaired after the market closes today, in anticipation of the closing of the transaction with Host on the morning of April 10, 2006, which is subject to certain conditions. It is expected that shares of common stock of Starwood will begin trading separately under the symbol "HOT" on the NYSE on Monday morning, April 10, 2006.

Under the terms of the transaction with Host, Starwood shareholders will receive 0.6122 shares of Host common stock and 50.3 cents in cash for each Class B share they own. Based on Host's $20.80 closing price on Thursday, April 6, 2006, this consideration would have a per-share value of $13.24 and the total value of the transaction (including cash, stock and assumption of debt) is approximately $4.3 billion. The actual value of consideration to be received by Starwood's Class B shareholders and the total value of the transaction will depend upon the market price per share of Host common stock when the transaction is closed.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with approximately 850 properties in more than 95 countries and 145,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. Starwood(R) Hotels is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels and resorts with the following internationally renowned brands: St. Regis(R), The Luxury Collection(R), Sheraton(R), Westin(R), Four Points(R) by Sheraton, W(R), Le Meridien(R) and the recently announced Aloft(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.

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

(Note: This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of federal securities regulations, including any statements relating to if and when the transaction with Host is expected to be consummated. 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.)