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Starwood Hotels & Resorts

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SHERATON HOTELS ACCELERATES PORTFOLIO GROWTH IN GREATER MINNEAPOLIS

Sheraton Bloomington Boasts Prime Location Near the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport, Major Corporations and Top Sporting Venues

STAMFORD, CT October 31, 2013 Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.(NYSE: HOT) today announced its world-renowned Sheraton brand has expanded its footprint in greater Minneapolis with a strategic conversion in Bloomington, Minnesota. Sheraton Bloomington opened today, just five miles from the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP). Owned by WB Hotel Partners, LLC, and managed by Wischermann Partners, Inc., the former Sofitel hotel has begun a comprehensive $8 million renovation to transform the property into a modern upper upscale hotel with all of the Sheraton brands signature amenities and services.

This strategic conversion in the upscale Minneapolis suburb of Bloomington gives Sheraton an even greater presence in one of the nations busiest metropolitan areas, as we continue to build momentum in markets worldwide, said Hoyt Harper, Global Brand Leader, Sheraton Hotels & Resorts. Sheraton Bloomington provides travelers with a stylish, comfortable and social atmosphere where they can enjoy all the brands recently enhanced signature services and amenities in an ideal location near major corporate headquarters and top attractions.

All 282 guest rooms will be fully renovated and equipped with the all-white Sheraton Sweet Sleeper® bed, designed to meet AAAs Five Diamond Award® criteria, as well as an oversized work desk, ergonomic chair, high-speed Internet, and LCD flat panel television. Within six months, Sheraton Bloomington will implement the Sheraton brands signature Link@Sheraton® experienced with Microsoft® a relaxed space with complimentary wireless broadband where guests can socialize and connect with friends, both old and new, plus a Link Café.

Perfect for meetings of all sizes and social functions, Sheraton Bloomington offers 14,257 square feet of flexible meeting space with all the latest in meetings technology and a full-service restaurant and lounge. Soon after opening, the entrance, lobby and public spaces will receive a design upgrade and the hotel will offer a Sheraton Club Lounge, Club rooms, and a fitness facility featuring the brands revolutionary new health and fitness program, Sheraton Fitness by Core Performance.

Sheraton is a perennial favorite among owners and developers seeking to convert existing properties in mature metropolitan markets to a world-class brand with global appeal, said Allison Reid, Senior Vice President of North American Development for Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.

Sheraton Bloomington is located at 5601 West 78th Street, just minutes from downtown Bloomington and 20 minutes from downtown Minneapolis. Nearby attractions include the Mall of America, Mall of America Field home of the NFLs Minnesota Vikings, and Target Field home of the MLBs Minnesota Twins. The hotel is close to the offices of numerous corporations along the bustling I-494 corridor including Best Buy, Ceridien, US Bank, Donaldson Company and Wells Fargo, and convenient to the Minneapolis Convention Center, the Minneapolis Institute of Art, and the University of Minnesota.

We are excited to add Sheraton Bloomington Hotel to our portfolio said Paul Wischermann, President of Wischermann Partners, Inc. Sheraton Bloomington will in

tandem with its sister property The Westin Edina Galleria, offer loyal SPG members an additional choice when visiting the marketplace. Overall it represents our fifth hotel in the Minneapolis/St. Paul Metropolitan area.

Starwood has spent the last few years renovating and rebuilding one of the hotel industrys most iconic brands and Sheraton now stands stronger than ever with the strongest portfolio in its history and is experiencing record-breaking growth, putting the brand on track to open its 500th hotel in 2016.

Sheraton Hotels & Resorts, like all brands within Starwoods robust portfolio, is proud to offer the Starwood Preferred Guest® program, which made headlines when it launched in 1999 with a breakthrough policy of no blackout dates on Free Night Awards. SPG® offers members the ability to redeem awards at more resorts, more luxury properties, more European hotels and more golf properties than any other hotel program.

About Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with 1,169 properties in nearly 100 countries and 171,000 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 industrys leading loyalty programs, Starwood Preferred Guest(R) (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 villastyle resorts and privileged access to Starwood brands. For more information, please visit www.starwoodhotels.com.

About Wischermann Partners, Inc.

Wischermann Partners, Inc. is a national hospitality firm, focused on the operations of upper upscale and luxury hotels. Recognized by clients, peers and industry experts, Wischermann Partners brings a unique mix of knowledge, experience and insight to hospitality management, development and acquisitions. Currently, Wischermann Partners operates a hotel portfolio of nearly 3,400 rooms. For more information about Wischermann Partners, please visit www.wischermannpartners.com.

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