Starwood Relocates Global HQ to Dubai

Starwood Hotels & ResortsWorldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) today announced the beginning of a month-longrelocation of its global headquarters from Stamford, CT to Dubai.  From nowuntil April 5^th, Starwood President & CEO Frits van Paasschen and thecompany's top executives will conduct day-to-day business from Dubai, anincreasingly important global destination and travel hub.  Following thecompany's successful relocation to China in June 2011, this second leadershipmove reflects Starwood's innovative management approach to cultivating a moreglobal culture by understanding, appreciating and leveraging differentsocietal perspectives and approaches to business and hospitality.  "With 80 percent of Starwood's pipeline coming from rapidly growing markets,it is simply not possible to lead a truly global business from a boardroom inConnecticut," said van Paasschen.  "Rising wealth and ever greater globalconnectivity are creating a once-in-a-lifetime growth opportunity for ourbusiness – by fueling new demand, changing travel patterns, and entirely newtravel markets.  Dubai epitomizes this changing face of travel, and we expectthis relocation will deepen our relationships with partners, associates andcustomers.  Just as with our one-month relocation to China in 2011, our timein-market will spark new ideas that will fortify our position as the mostglobal high-end hotel company."During the course of the relocation, more than 200 Starwood executives and GMsfrom the U.S., Europe, Asia and Latin America will travel to Dubai as thecompany runs day-to-day operations almost 7,000 miles and a nine-hour timezone away from its usual HQ outside New York City.  The team will meet withassociates, customers, owners and prospective developers in the UAE and alsotake advantage of Dubai's location for business travel to destinationsincluding Mumbai, Addis Ababa, Jeddah, Dushanbe and Kuwait.