500 Bonus Starpoints(SM) Awarded for Online Bookings Through November 30th
  Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) announces the complete redesign of its corporate and brand Web sites with a fresh new look that makes it easier for travelers to search for a hotel, find great rates and book reservations online.
  The functionality of the sites has been retooled with new and improved graphics, simplified navigation and a streamlined booking process. The intention is for Starwood`s new Web sites to make guests` online experience as easy as possible. Consumers can visit Starwood`s new Web sites, simply by accessing www.starwood.com, www.sheraton.com, www.westin.com, www.fourpoints.com, www.stregis.com, www.luxurycollection.com, or www.whotels.com.
 
As an added bonus, each time a traveler books online before November 30th (for travel before December 30 th, 2001), they will have 500 bonus Starpoints added to their Starwood Preferred Guest(SM) account. There is no limit to the amount of bonus Starpoints a traveler can earn - the more they book and stay, the more bonus points they will receive.
 
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  “We`ve spent a great deal of time researching and examining our sites and evaluating guest feedback to create Web sites that are easy to understand and simple to use,” said Mark Koehler, Vice President, Interactive Marketing for Starwood. “Our new Web sites will enable us to create a more fulfilling online guest experience. We`ve brought our sites` most popular features to the homepage, making it easier for guests to find exactly what they want right away. Additionally, we`ve enhanced features to enable guests to do more online; for example, guests can now not only make reservations online, they can also modify and cancel online - even if these reservations were not originally booked online. These features are a great timesaver that help guests efficiently manage their travel plans.”
 
Other features of the redesign include the following key components:
— Optimized search function, now allowing travelers to search by availability, proximity, specific address or point of interest. Results can also show approximate distance from a specified search point. 

— Recognition across all brand Web sites, including Preferred Guest.com Booking is already quick and easy - signing up on our sites makes it even faster. Once registered, travelers can:
 
— Store profile information - enter it only once and they will never have to re-enter the information for future reservations. 

— Track stays and account activity. 

— View, change and cancel any reservations - even if they weren`t booked online. 

— Request to receive special offers via e-mail. 

— Lastly, travelers will be recognized across the sites with their name. And, if a traveler is a Starwood Preferred Guest, they can view their Starpoint balance and recent stay activity. 

— Centralized “Special Offers” section, making it simpler for travelers to find the latest promotions. 

— Expanded property information with more photographs (some hotels even offer slideshows and virtual tours), a “What`s Nearby” section, added mapping features and driving directions. 

  Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with more than 725 properties in 80 countries and 120,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. With internationally renowned brands, Starwood is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchiser of hotels and resorts including: St. Regis, The Luxury Collection, Sheraton, Westin, Four Points by Sheraton, W brands, as well as Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., one of the premier developers and operators of high quality vacation interval ownership resorts.
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