Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) named Bill Oates Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer. Well respected as one of the hotel industry`s leaders in the technology arena, Oates will oversee Starwood`s global technology organization and systems for its portfolio of hotels including: St. Regis, The Luxury Collection, Sheraton, Westin, Four Points and W brands with more than 725 hotels in 80 countries.

Oates has 20 years of experience as an information technology professional and re-joins Starwood from tcmGlobal Services, LLC, a technology consulting and management practice which focuses on the travel/hospitality industry, where he served as Founder and Principal Partner. Prior to founding tcmGlobal, Oates spent 18 years with ITT Sheraton where he progressed through a variety of information technology posts. From 1998 through 1999, Oates was Vice President, Technology Resources for Starwood and was responsible for the company`s corporate technology including communications technology, central system/network computing, systems management/operations and end user support.

“I have had the great pleasure of working closely with Bill for many years, and we are thrilled to welcome him back,” said Bob Cotter, Starwood`s Chief Operating Officer. “With his expertise in managing technology systems, his outstanding leadership skills and his experience with challenges and opportunities presented when networking a global organization, he is a superior choice to take on this very important role within Starwood. As we aggressively develop and adapt new technologies, Bill will be instrumental in the implementation of these enhancements throughout our global enterprise.”

Active in industry affairs, Oates is a past Chairman of the AH&MA Technology and Telecommunications Committees. In 1996, Oates was the industry`s youngest inductee to the HFTP (Hospitality Finance and Technology Professionals) “International Technology Hall of Fame” for his vision and contribution to the application of hospitality technology. A graduate of Boston College and Suffolk University Law School, Oates is a member of the Massachusetts Bar. He is married with two children and is based at Starwood`s Technology Center in Braintree, Massachusetts.

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, 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 the Company at http://www.starwoodhotels.com. SOURCE Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.

——-