Starwood’s Fast-Growing Four Points Brand to Debut in the Dominican Republic

Continuing its high-powered global expansion, fast-growing Four Points by Sheraton will debut in the Dominican Republic next winter, parent Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) announced today.

Four Points by Sheraton Punta Cana, the first US-based, internationally branded hotel to open in the Dominican Republic, will be developed by Grupo Puntacana, which also built Punta Cana International Airport.

Set to open its doors in winter 2012, the 122-room hotel will offer guests an ideal location just steps from the airport – and within Puntacana Village, one of the island’s leading commercial, shopping, and dining hubs. Puntacana Village was also developed by Grupo Puntacana. Four Points by Sheraton Punta Cana will offer full-service dining, a private pool, a 24-business center, and a fully equipped fitness facility.

"The comfort, value, and style of Four Points has proved a huge hit with business and leisure travelers worldwide, and we’re excited to introduce the brand to a market as dynamic as the Dominican Republic,” said Brian McGuinness, Senior Vice President of Specialty Select Brands for Starwood. "With access to an international brand they love, travelers will get even more enjoyment out of everything Punta Cana has to offer.”

The Four Points portfolio has undergone a billion-dollar rejuvenation over the last two years. In a 2011 U.S. Hotel Chain survey, readers of Business Travel News readers ranked Four Points at the top of the select-service category across six categories: Corporate Rate Program, Commission Payment System, Quality of Food, Quality of Staff, In-Room Business Amenities, and Overall Price/Value Relationship.

"Four Points by Sheraton enjoys enormous loyalty, and that makes it a very appealing prospect for our development partners in the Dominican Republic and around the world,” said Paul Sacco, Senior Vice President for North America Development for Starwood. "Four Points offers a compelling blend of comfort, style and affordability, and it’s backed by the power of Starwood through the award-winning Starwood Preferred Guest program.”

"For over 40 years Grupo Puntacana has been a pioneer in the national tourism industry here in the Dominican Republic and we are thrilled to partner with Starwood for its landmark entry into Punta Cana,” said Frank Rainieri, President of Grupo Puntacana. "We expect the Four Points promise of great hotels and great rates to be a hit for the business traveler in Punta Cana.”

Four Points recently opened its 159^th hotel, solidifying its place as Starwood’s third largest brand with the second-biggest global pipeline. At Four Points, guests travel the way they like with genuine service and modern style. Always an honest value, Four Points has great amenities like free bottled water, free Wi-Fi in public spaces, and free internet access in all guestrooms. A delicious breakfast with great coffee and refreshing, local beer with Best Brews^SM help guests to start - and end - the day right. Four Points gives travelers everything they need to be comfortable and productive on the road.

About Grupo Puntacana

The development of Grupo PUNTACANA dates back to 1969 when Dominican businessman and hotelier Frank R. Rainieri and Theodore W. Kheel, the prominent New York attorney and labor mediator, created a partnership to construct a resort and real estate community that respects the natural habitat of Punta Cana while offering a world-class vacation experience. Maintaining a dedication to sustainable tourism, PUNTACANA Resort & Club has since grown to encompass over 26 square miles and now includes Tortuga Bay; Six Senses Spa; the PUNTACANA Ecological Foundation; four residential communities (Corales, Hacienda, Marina and Arrecife); a full-service marina; seven restaurants; a shopping village; two 18-hole golf courses (Corales, designed by Tom Fazio and La Cana, designed by P.B. Dye), with a third P.B. Dye-designed course, Hacienda, scheduled to premier in late 2011; and Punta Cana International Airport, a modern facility that incorporates innovative and eco-friendly design. The airport serves top-tourist destinations of the Punta Cana and Bavaro regions and is the country’s busiest and fastest-growing airport.

In 1997, Julio Iglesias and Oscar de la Renta joined the Group as co-investors and have made PUNTACANA Resort & Club their home. Currently, Punta Cana is the most highly visited Caribbean destination and is easily accessible from all over the globe.

About Four Points by Sheraton

Great Hotels. Great Rates: With 159 Four Points by Sheraton hotels in 27 countries, travelers can find the modern style and timeless comfort they’re looking for with genuine service and great rates, all around the world from Santiago to Shanghai and Milan to Milwaukee, Four Points hotels can be found in big urban centers, by the airport, near the beach, and in the suburbs. A recent $1 billion invested in renovations, conversions, and new-build hotels has made the brand stronger than ever.

Four Points by Sheraton, like all brands within Starwood’s portfolio, is proud to offer the Starwood Preferred Guest® program, which offers a breakthrough policy of no blackout dates on Free Night Awards. To learn more, visit www.spg.com.

About Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with 1051 properties in 100 countries and territories with 145,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. Starwood Hotels 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, and the recently launched Aloft®, and Element SM. 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 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.