Westin Hotels to Make Debut in Cleveland, Ohio

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) today announced plans to introduce its popular Westin brand to Cleveland, Ohio. The Westin Cleveland Convention Center will open in summer 2013 in a prime location, adjacent to the Cleveland Medical Mart and Convention Center complex. Owned by Sage Hospitality, the former Crowne Plaza will undergo a $64 million renovation prior to re-opening as a Westin. The Westin Cleveland Convention Center will offer 481 luxurious rooms, a full-service restaurant, 26,000 square feet of meeting facilities and the full suite of Westin signature amenities and services.

"We look forward to debuting the Westin brand in Cleveland, where we will offer travelers a restful urban retreat in an unbeatable downtown location,” said Brian Povinelli, global brand leader for Westin Hotels & Resorts. "Here, guests will enjoy Westin’s signature programs and amenities, designed to bring to life the brand’s emphasis on wellness and renewal and send them home feeling even better than when they arrived.”

Overlooking Lake Erie, The Westin Cleveland Convention Center will open in the city’s financial district, close to the Cleveland Clinic and the offices of PNC Bank, Easton Corporation and Sherwin Williams. Guests will be right next door to the brand-new Cleveland Convention Center and Medical Mart complex scheduled to open in 2013. The hotel will also offer convenient access to top attractions including Brown’s Stadium, Progressive Field, Playhouse Square, the Cleveland Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the shops and restaurants at the Galleria at Erieview. Hopkins International Airport (CLE) is just 12 miles away.

"We look forward to flying the Westin flag and expect that we will draw even more business and leisure travelers who appreciate the brand’s emphasis on a renewing travel experience,” said Ken Geist, Executive Vice President, Sage Hospitality. "By joining Starwood, we will connect with even more travelers via the award-winning Starwood Preferred Guest program.”

"Westin is growing rapidly in urban centers across North America through both new-build projects and conversions like this one,” said Allison Reid, Senior Vice President of North America Development, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. "The brand has expanded its portfolio 30% over the past five years and expects to add another 30 hotels by the end of 2016.”

The sensory-rich environment at Westin offers a respite from the rigors of travel and sets a welcoming tone. Upon entering the lobby, guests will begin to breathe more easily as they are greeted with soothing elements like relaxed lighting, natural botanical beauty and stimulating music. All guestrooms will feature the world-renowned Westin Heavenly® Bed featuring lush sheets, down cushioning and a patented pillow-top mattress, which cradles and contours to the body for complete comfort. Another industry first, the Heavenly® Bath creates an invigorating spa-like experience, enhanced with the brand’s Heavenly® Shower, Heavenly® Robe and exclusive White Tea Aloe bath amenities. In-room, high-speed Internet access and an ergonomic work space will offer travelers convenience and productivity in a tranquil setting.

An ideal venue for weddings, social galas and business functions, The Westin Cleveland Convention Center will feature 26,000 square feet of meeting and banquet facilities equipped with the latest in meeting technology. The hotel will also include a full-service restaurant and the brand’s signature WestinWORKOUT® Gym experience.

Westin Hotels & Resorts, like all brands within Starwood’s 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 Sage Hospitality

Founded in 1984, Sage Hospitality has strategically grown into one of the largest privately held hotel management companies in the nation operating a variety of large, full-service hotels and extended-stay and select-service properties. Sage Hospitality’s comprehensive management portfolio includes several major international hotel brands, as well as independent boutique hotels. Sage Hospitality has further differentiated with the creation of the Sage Restaurant Group, which has created and is managing 10 unique restaurant concepts including the acclaimed Mercat a la Planxa in Chicago. For more information, visit www.sagehospitality.com.

About Westin Hotels & Resorts

Westin Hotels & Resorts makes the healthiest choices irresistibly appealing, so guests leave feeling better than when they arrived. With more than 180 hotels and resorts in over 36 countries and territories, Westin is owned by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. Starwood Hotels is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with 1,071 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, 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.