Starwood Hotels & Resorts Names Chad Waetzig Senior Vice President of Marketing for Sheraton Hotels; Ex-Marriott Executive to Spearhead Sheraton's New Marketing Strategy

Business Wire, March 2, 2006

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. -- Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE:HOT) announced today the appointment of Chad Waetzig to Senior Vice President of Marketing for Sheraton Hotels & Resorts, Starwood's largest and most global brand. A former marketing executive with Marriott International Inc. and Procter & Gamble, Mr. Waetzig will report to Javier Benito, Starwood's Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer.

In his new role Mr. Waetzig will be responsible for Sheraton's worldwide marketing efforts including leading the research, analysis, strategy and execution for all brand-related marketing programs including advertising, promotions and brand partnerships. He will also spearhead the marketing strategy supporting Sheraton's new brand positioning centered around warm, comforting, connections.

"This is a pivotal point for Starwood as we continue to move from a real estate focused company to a world class lifestyle company," said Mr. Benito. "Chad is a seasoned marketing professional who brings with him a unique combination of classical brand marketing and hotel industry experience that will help ensure that Sheraton's new brand messaging is threaded into every nuance of the guest experience."

Mr. Waetzig joins Starwood from Marriott International, where he most recently served as Senior Vice President, Select Service Brand Management and was responsible for developing the business strategy and brand action plans for Courtyard, SpringHill Suites and Fairfield Inn brands. During his five-year tenure with Marriott Mr. Waetzig held several senior marketing positions including Vice President of Brand Strategy for Marriott's Extended Stay Lodging category where he led the creation of the long-term strategies and brand identity for the Residence Inn, TownePlace Suites, ExecuStay and Marriott Executive Apartments brands. Mr. Waetzig also spent more than ten years with brand powerhouse Procter & Gamble where he held various roles in the marketing division including Brand Manager for Cover Girl cosmetics, the mass-market cosmetics leader. He additionally held several finance positions in the P&G Cosmetics business unit and in corporate internal audit.

Mr. Waetzig will be based in the company's headquarters in White Plains, NY. He earned a B.S. in Business Administration, from the University of Kansas with a strong focus on marketing and finance.

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.

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