WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., Oct 1, 2002 (BUSINESS WIRE)—Today heralds the opening of one of the country`s most distinctive resorts, Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort & Spa, managed by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE:HOT).

The resort is Sheraton`s 400th property to open and located just 11 miles from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport on the Gila River Indian Community in Arizona. For hundreds of years, the Pima and Maricopa tribes have called this land home. They welcomed new arrivals to their land with graciousness and friendship. They shared their secrets of the desert, its plants, animals and mysterious beauty.

Now, the Gila River Indian Community shares this and more in an incredibly pristine, serene setting with a destination resort that showcases and celebrates their heritage and culture featuring:

— 500 culturally themed rooms — 100,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting and event venues— The 1,000 -acre Koli Equestrian Center— The 17,500 square foot Aji Spa with treatments incorporating Native traditions— Two 18-hole golf courses managed by Troon Golf (one course is currently open); home of the second annual PGA Buy.com Gila River Golf Classic October 3-15, 2002 — Kai, an indigenous restaurant concept created by James Beard Award-winning Chef, Janos Wilder of Tucson— A 2-1/2 mile re-creation of the Gila River with indigenous flora and fauna, flowing through the property; boats will ferry guests to the Golf Club and the Casino — The wild horses that have roamed the surrounding high Sonoran Desert for hundreds of years— A riverside pool with cascading waterfalls and bridges leading to an adult pool, a sports pool and a kids pool with waterslide— Wild Horse Pass Casino, adjacent to the resort. For reservations and information: 800/325-3535 or www.sheraton.com/wildhorsepass.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with more than 750 properties in more than 80 countries and 110,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. With internationally renowned brands, Starwood is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor 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. For more information, please visit www.starwood.com.

** Please contact Starwood`s new, toll-free media hotline at 866/4-STAR-PR (866/478-2777) for photography or additional information.

CONTACT: Sally Cooper and Company Sally Cooper, 480/946-9446 [email protected] www.sallycooperandcompany.com

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