Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide,announced today that the company`s Board of Directors and Barry S. Sternlicht, Chairman and CEO, have named Robert F. Cotter President and Chief Operating Officer. He was formerly Chief Operating Officer for the company since 2000. Mr. Cotter will remain responsible for the company`s hotel and timeshare operations.

“Bob has been a valuable asset to Starwood and a wonderful partner to me,” said Sternlicht. ” A 30-year hotel veteran, he is one of the most well respected hotel operators in the world. His ability to help execute the company`s strategy throughout our global network of hotels has been fundamental to our success. Bob has been uniquely able to adapt and integrate our hotel operations to the challenges of rapid, industry shaping changes in technology and distribution. I am pleased to be able to announce his promotion.”
Before being named COO, Mr. Cotter served as President, International Operations, a post he was named to in December 1999, after serving as President and Chief Operating Officer, Europe, a position he held since 1994. Prior to that role, he served as Senior Vice President and President of the company`s Asia-Pacific Division, based in Hong Kong.
Mr. Cotter joined Sheraton in 1973 and held numerous sales and marketing positions, including Area Director of Marketing for the company`s hotels in Hawaii (1980 - 1982); Vice President, Director of Advertising for the then Hawaii, Japan & Far East Division (1983-1985) and Senior Vice President, Director of Marketing for the Hawaii-Japan Division based in Honolulu (1985-1988). While based in Honolulu, Mr. Cotter also served as President of the Waikiki Beach Operators Association.
For more information, please visit www.starwood.com.

——-