Three of Starwood Hotels & Resorts` (NYSE: HOT) hotels were designated as the “Best in Hotel” category in the February 2001 Conde Nast Traveler`s European “Top 25 Seaside Resorts” list. Hotels were selected for their appeal to travelers in the areas of style, fashion and taste and were rated by category, such as ambience, beaches, village life and hotels. Resorts selected were located in such exotic locales as the Italian and French Riviera, Greek isles, the Adriatic coastline and both the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts. Starwood`s three hotels were nominated in the Top 15 List under the “Hotel” category.

The Westin Excelsior is located on Venice Lido, one of the world`s most fabled resorts situated on the beautiful Adriatic Sea. Nestled among flowering terraces, lush gardens and a manicured beach, the hotel features outstanding graphic tile work and dramatic architecture, a combination of Venetian palatial splendor and Byzantine influences. The hotel, which was inaugurated at the beginning of the last century, evokes a rich, colorful past with its Oriental-Moorish architectural flourishes. The Westin Excelsior offers all the amenities and services expected from a great resort hotel. Three restaurants featuring outstanding Mediterranean cuisine and regional specialties native to the Veneto and Friuli-Venezia Guilia regions are on- site, while the Blue Bar offers pre-dinner aperitifs or after-meeting relaxation with discreet live music in the evening. A seaside beach, large heated outdoor swimming pool, tennis courts and horseback riding stables are also located at the hotel. The 18-hole Venice Golf Club is only 10 minutes away, and a courtesy launch boat tours guests to the historic center of Venice.

Overlooking the Urmea River and the sea on the north coast of Spain, the Hotel Maria Cristina, A Westin Hotel, evokes the era of “La Belle Epoque” and has been a social and cultural center since 1912, hosting the most important events held in San Sebastian. Home to the International Film Festival, the hotel is surrounded by promenades and gardens, and many rooms offer views of the sea and Urmea River. Enjoy live piano music nightly at the Gritti Bar, and savor classic Basque cuisine, creative seasonal dishes and an extensive selection of Spanish wines at Easo, the hotel`s restaurant. From winter`s cider cellar dinners to September`s regattas, the elegant city of San Sebastian is devoted to the good life. The beach is only a few blocks away and the world-renowned Guggenheim Bilbao Museum is a short drive from the hotel.

A member of The Luxury Collection, the legendary Hotel Cala di Volpe is located in Costa Smeralda, (English translation -“Emerald Coast”) and is situated on the northeast corner of the large Italian Mediterranean island of Sardinia. It is a charming, isolated village-style resort directly on the sea that blends magnificently with beautiful views from the terraces of all rooms. The pastel colors of the hotel`s characteristic “old village” design contrast beautifully with the hues of a supple turquoise sea. Embraced by the charm of Restaurant Cala di Volpe, guests dine upon Mediterranean delicacies prepared from the finest local fare. The hotel`s sumptuous poolside buffets are legendary among vacationing travelers. The Pontile Bar is the perfect setting for a more intimate rendezvous and favorite drinks. To complete the resort experience, sports and recreational facilities include tennis courts, putting green, water skiing school, the adjacent Pevero Golf Club and an Olympic-size saltwater swimming pool set in the hotel`s landscaped gardens. Hotel Cala di Volpe is accessible to many of Sardinia`s historical and archeological attractions of past civilizations including Roman and Carthaginian ruins, Genoan fortresses and Pisan churches.

For reservations or more information on The Westin Excelsior or the Hotel Maria Cristina, A Westin Hotel, please call (800)-WESTIN-1, contact your travel counselor or visit http://www.westin.com. Reservations for the Hotel Cala di Volpe may be made through the worldwide Luxury Collection Reservations offices, reachable toll-free in 34 countries (1-800-325-3589 in the U.S. or Canada). Reservations also may be made by visiting the worldwide web site http://www.luxurycollection.com.

Starwood 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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