Starwood Hotels Finishes 2014 Strong with 74 Openings and Fifth Straight Year of Increased Deal Signings

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) today announced it opened74 new hotels in 2014, representing approximately 15,000 rooms in 26countries. The company also signed 175 new hotel management and franchiseagreements in 2014, a 15% increase over the prior year, marking the fifthconsecutive year of increased signings and the most new deals in one yearsince 2007. Starwood anticipates another year of solid growth in both matureand emerging markets in 2015, fueled by hotel openings and high-quality dealsignings.“With more than 1,200 hotels in 100 countries, we're on the frontlines ofglobal change and continue to see increasing demand for innovative, design-ledbrands, playing to Starwood's strength,” said Frits van Paasschen, Presidentand CEO of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. “Our nine lifestylebrands continue to attract owners as does our loyalty program, StarwoodPreferred Guest®, which brings high-value guests to our hotels from around theworld, driving more than half of our occupancy on any given night.”Hotel Opening Momentum ContinuesBuilding on its strong signing year, Starwood continues to grow in all cornersof the world across all of the segments where it operates with plans to reachthe following milestones in 2015: * 300^th hotel in Asia Pacific and China * 150^th hotel in China (with all nine brands represented) * 90^th hotel in Africa and the Middle East * 175^th Luxury hotel * 750^th Upper Upscale hotel * 300^th Mid-Market hotel“Our balanced growth approach continued in 2014 with consistent, organicsignings across all nine of our brands,” said Simon Turner, President ofGlobal Development for Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. “Lookingahead, emerging markets remain a focus for us, but recovering economicconditions and increased availability of financing have also led to stronggrowth in North America and Europe.”Turner continued: “North America accounted for more than one third of oursignings last year, and the availability of new construction lending resultedin a more than 50% increase in new-build hotel signings over the previousyear. Globally, we renewed or extended 76 of our existing agreements withowners in 2014, underscoring the strength of our brands, loyalty program,operating teams, and systems. We remain focused on working with the rightpartners, on the right properties, in the right places, and our agiledevelopment approach allows us to adapt our growth strategies based onspecific geographies and brand needs for both new development and conversionprojects either managed or franchised.”Starwood Widens its Lead in LuxuryWith one of the fastest growing luxury portfolios under its St. Regis, TheLuxury Collection and W brands, Starwood is lengthening its lead in luxuryhospitality. Building on its base of more than 170 of the world's mostbeautiful and iconic hotel experiences, Starwood expects to open more than 25luxury hotels over the next two years adding to the 12 new luxury hotels whichdebuted last year. This pace continues to accelerate to meet increasing demandfor luxury in all corners of the world.In 2014, W Bogota marked the brand's entry into Colombia, while The LuxuryCollection brand added seven new hotels to its portfolio including La Posadade Santa Fe in New Mexico, Excelsior Hotel Gallia in Milan and The CastleHotel in Dalian, China. In 2015, Starwood is on track to add more than 10luxury hotels to its portfolio, including St. Regis hotels in Istanbul, Macao,Dubai and Mumbai, The Luxury Collection properties in Nanjing, China; SanAntonio, Texas; and Broumana, Lebanon, and W openings in Amsterdam,Netherlands and Goa, India.Demand Accelerates for Upper Upscale BrandsStarwood opened 27 hotels across its Sheraton, Le Méridien and Westin brandslast year, with over 150 under active development. The iconic Sheraton brand,on track to open its 500^th hotel in 2016, continues to serve as a growthleader for Starwood and pave the way for the further development of all ofStarwood's brands in fast growing markets. This year, the brand will debut inSamoa and Romania and re-enter Iraq, following last year's launch inTajikistan. Sheraton accounts for nearly 40% of all Starwood hotels in AsiaPacific and is leading Starwood's growth in Africa, where the brand will opensix more hotels by 2018.Le Méridien opened flagship hotels in Chicago – Oakbrook, Bahrain, and Bangkokin 2014, and signed 18 new deals, a meaningful increase over the previousyear. Building on this momentum, in 2015, the brand will open more new hotelsthan in any other year since Starwood acquired Le Méridien in 2005. The brandcontinues to expand in established markets primarily through conversions,while also extending its reach in emerging markets, with openings planned forIndia, Bangladesh and Bhutan this year.Westin opened its 200^th hotel worldwide in 2014 and demand continues to risedriven in part by the phenomenal success of its distinctive wellnesspositioning. In 2015, Westin will open its 125^th hotel in North America andits 50^th hotel in Asia. The brand will also debut in Qatar with the openingof The Westin Doha Hotel & Spa – the brand's fourth hotel in the Middle East.Mid-Market Brands Drive Pipeline GrowthStarwood's mid-market segment continues to gain considerable momentum, with 35openings and 100 new deals signed in 2014 across the Four Points by Sheraton,Aloft and Element brands. The segment accounts for approximately 40% ofStarwood's global growth pipeline and will comprise nearly half of thecompany's new hotel openings in 2015, amid rising demand for strong globalbrands at an affordable price point in both major metro and secondary marketsaround the world.Four Points by Sheraton signed 50 new hotel deals in 2014, the most in companyhistory, and will surpass 200 hotels in 2015, with more than 25 planned hotelopenings this year. The ‘best for business' Four Points brand boastsStarwood's second largest and fastest growing development pipeline, fueled byits widespread, global appeal to guests and flexible development options.Aloft Hotels signed 31 new deals in 2014, the most signings in one year since2008. Designed for the next generation of travelers, Aloft will cross the100^th hotel milestone in 2015 and expand its portfolio in Greater China toten hotels by year end. Aloft will also enter numerous new markets this year,including both Munich and Stuttgart, Germany.Starwood's eco brand, Element Hotels, signed 19 deals in 2014 and is on trackto triple its portfolio by 2017. On the heels of opening its first hoteloutside of North America in Frankfurt, Germany, Element will open its firsthotel in China in 2015 followed by new hotels in London, Amsterdam, Boston andPhiladelphia, signifying the global appeal of this brand.