Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has named Miguel Ko President of Asia-Pacific. Currently Deputy Chairman and CEO of CDL Hotels, Ko formerly served as President of Asia-Pacific for both Pepsi-Cola International and ITT Sheraton Corporation.

As President of Asia-Pacific for Starwood, Ko will assume responsibility for the strategic oversight, operating and financial performance of 70 hotels and resorts with more than 26,000 rooms in 16 countries in Asia-Pacific. In addition, he will oversee the growth and development of Starwood`s six hotel brands (St. Regis, The Luxury Collection, Sheraton, Westin, Four Points and W hotels) in Asia-Pacific. Starwood currently has 13 hotels under development in the region. Ko replaces Ted Teng who left Starwood in April to join Wyndham as Chief Operating Officer. Ko will report to Robert F. Cotter, Starwood`s Chief Operating Officer.

“Miguel and I were close colleagues for many years at ITT Sheraton, and I have long regarded him as one of the finest hotel executives in the world,” said Cotter. “His extensive tenure in the hospitality industry, coupled with his experience at Pepsi-Cola and his exceptional knowledge of the Asia-Pacific region make him uniquely qualified to lead Starwood in Asia-Pacific. I am delighted to welcome Miguel back to our family.”

Ko joined CDL Hotels International as Deputy Chairman and CEO in January 2000, after having served almost seven years as an independent director on the Board of CDL Hotels. Prior to his tenure at CDL, Ko was President of Asia-Pacific for Pepsi-Cola International from 1994 until 1999. Ko also spent two years as President, Greater China for Pepsi-Cola. From 1979 until 1992, Ko served in increasingly senior positions within ITT Sheraton Corporation, both in the company`s corporate headquarters in Boston and in the Asia-Pacific region. Ultimately Ko was named Corporate Senior Vice President and President and Director of Operations Asia-Pacific for ITT Sheraton.

A native of Hong Kong fluent in Chinese and English, Ko received a B.A. in economics from the University of Massachusetts and a Masters of Business Administration from Suffolk University. He serves as a director in several listed companies including Millennium & Copthorne plc., UK; Amarin Plaza Ltd., Thailand; and until recently, Serm Suk Company Ltd., Thailand. Ko and his family will reside in Singapore.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc (NYSE: HOT), 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 and W brands, as well as Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., one of the premier developers and operators of high quality vacation interval ownership resorts. More information is available from the company`s web site: http://www.starwoodhotels.com. SOURCE Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.

——-