The Opening of Sheraton Melbourne Hotel Marks the Sheraton Brand's Return to Melbourne after a Nine Year Absence, Underscores Starwood's Vigorous Expansion Plans in Australia and the Pacific

Melbourne, Australia – 31 March, 2014 – Sheraton Hotels & Resorts, part of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT), has announced the opening of Sheraton Melbourne Hotel in Australia. Owned by Golden Age Development Group, the hotel marks the return of the iconic Sheraton brand to Melbourne and is the first of five Sheraton hotels to open in the Pacific region in 2014.

“Sheraton Melbourne Hotel is a great addition to Starwood's outstanding portfolio of hotels in the Pacific,” said Sean Hunt, Regional Vice President, Pacific, Starwood Hotels & Resorts. “As Sheraton embarks on another year of record-breaking growth, the opening of the Sheraton Melbourne Hotel will further reinforce the Sheraton as the most global hotel brand, as well as pave ways for the growth of other Starwood hotel brands in the Pacific.”

Sheraton Melbourne Hotel is the newest addition to Starwood's dynamic portfolio of 11 properties in Australia under four of its brands: Sheraton, Westin, Four Points by Sheraton and Aloft. The iconic brand currently operates six hotels in the Pacific; by the end of 2014, Sheraton will nearly double its presence in the region with five openings including Sheraton Resort & Spa, Tokoriki Island, Fiji; Sheraton Samoa Aggie Grey's Resort; Sheraton Samoa Aggie Grey's Hotel and Bungalows; and Sheraton New Caledonia Deva Resort & Spa.                                                      

Located in the heart of Australia's second-largest city, Sheraton Melbourne Hotel is situated at the 'Paris end' of Melbourne's Little Collins Street in the central business district. Just moments away from the city's commercial offices, finest dining, shopping, theatre, nightlife, and sporting venues, guests have easy access to key tourist attractions including the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), Treasury Gardens, Princess Theatre and Parliament House. Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre is a short 10 minute taxi ride away and the hotel is approximately a 30 minute drive from Melbourne Tullamarine international airport.

Housed in the 31-storey 'wavilinear' building, Sheraton Melbourne Hotel features 174 stylish and comfortable guest rooms, including 11 Terrace Suites. Thoughtful touches in each of the rooms and suites include the signature Sheraton Sweet Sleeper™ Bed; interactive LED Smart TV with wireless Internet connectivity; generous work space; and naturally-lit, modern marble bathroom with separate bath and shower facility.

The hotel's welcoming bistro-style restaurant, Little Collins St Kitchen, offers a home away from home for guests and locals alike. Featuring home-kitchen style designs, the restaurant serves wholesome gourmet fare throughout the day, including breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner. The hotel's Terrace Bar, on level three, is a contemporary designed roof-top space serving cocktails and snacks in an exquisite outdoor setting overlooking Little Collins Street.

Additional hotel amenities include a heated indoor lap pool, sauna and a fully equipped fitness facility featuring the brand's innovative health and fitness program, Sheraton Fitness. The fitness centre is bathed in natural light with big windows overlooking the leafy surrounds of the Melbourne Club below. Guests can also relax and pamper themselves with one of the many Germaine de Capuccini treatments on offer in The Spa by Sheraton Melbourne. Located on the hotel's third floor, the tranquil space accommodates five treatment rooms, including a couple's room, for maximum privacy and comfort.

The hotel boasts six meeting rooms of varying sizes, comprising a total of over 660 square metres on a dedicated, naturally lit conferencing floor. Meeting rooms can be configured to accommodate between 12 and 400 delegates and all feature state-of-the-art, in-built technology. A dedicated conference and events team is on hand to provide ongoing support to ensure that all meetings, events and conferences are a success for both business guests and planners.

“We are proud to be opening this new hotel under the Sheraton flag, the fifth in Australia" added general manager Hal Philp. “Sheraton Melbourne Hotel provides travellers and locals alike with a stylish, comfortable and social atmosphere where they can relax and enjoy the highly-personalised service, signature features and thoughtful amenities which have become synonymous with this globally successful brand.”

Reservations are open and to celebrate the Sheraton Melbourne Hotel is offering a special opening rate starting from $260 per night for guest rooms and from $750 per night for suites, covering stays between 1 April and 30 September 2014, subject to availability. This introductory rate includes overnight accommodation, breakfast, complimentary high speed Internet access throughout the hotel, and double Starpoints® for Starwood Preferred Guest® (SPG®) members.

For more information or to make a reservation, please call +(61) 3 9290 1000, email sheraton.melbourne@sheraton.com or visit www.sheraton.com/melbourne

About Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with nearly 1,200 properties in 100 countries, and 181,400 employees at its owned and managed properties. Starwood is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels, resorts and residences with the following internationally renowned brands: St. Regis®, The Luxury Collection®, W®, Westin®, Le Méridien®, Sheraton®, Four Points® by Sheraton, Aloft®, and Element®. The Company boasts one of the industry's leading loyalty programs, Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG), allowing members to earn and redeem points for room stays, room upgrades and flights, with no blackout dates. Starwood also owns Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., a premier provider of world-class vacation experiences through villa-style resorts and privileged access to Starwood brands. For more information, please visit www.starwoodhotels.com.

About Sheraton Hotels & Resorts

Sheraton helps guests make connections at more than 400 hotels in nearly 70 countries around the world and recently completed a $6 billion global revitalization and is now in the midst of an $8 billion global expansion over the next three years. Sheraton is owned by and is the largest and most global brand of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world nearly 1,200 properties in 100 countries, and 181,400 employees at its owned and managed properties.  Starwood is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels, resorts and residences with the following internationally renowned brands:  St. Regis®, The Luxury Collection®, W®, Westin®, Le Méridien®, Sheraton®, Four Points® by Sheraton, Aloft®, and Element®.  The Company boasts one of the industry's leading loyalty programs, Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG), allowing members to earn and redeem points for room stays, room upgrades and flights, with no blackout dates.  Starwood also owns Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., a premier provider of world-class vacation experiences through villa-style resorts and privileged access to Starwood brands.  For more information, please visit www.starwoodhotels.com.

About Golden Age Developments

The Golden Age Development Group is a privately-owned Melbourne based property Development Company based in Melbourne. With a focus on developing residential projects within inner city Melbourne, the group is committed to designing and developing signature high end quality developments. 27 Little Collins is the flagship property for 2014.

Punnee Bunma

MANAGER, CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS

T 65 6335 4824    M 65 9770 5234      F 65 6335 4820

STARWOOD ASIA PACIFIC HOTELS & RESORTS PTE.LTD.
9 TEMASEK BOULEVARD, #24-02

SUNTEC TOWER TWO

SINGAPORE 038989

Alethea Lam

DIRECTOR, CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS

T 65 6335 4804    F 65 6335 4820

STARWOOD ASIA PACIFIC HOTELS & RESORTS PTE.LTD.
9 TEMASEK BOULEVARD, #24-02

SUNTEC TOWER TWO

SINGAPORE 038989