Starwood Hotels & Resorts and Interlink Group Unveil the New 503-Room Hotel – Part of a $6 Billion, Multi-Year Sheraton Brand Revitalization – with Superior Meeting Space, Casino, Pool, Spa and Club Lounge in Exquisite Surroundings

San Juan’s First New Full-Service Hotel and Casino in More than 10 Years is Also the First and Only in the Caribbean Pursuing LEED Certification

San Juan, PR – November 16, 2009 – Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, Inc (NYSE:HOT) and Interlink Group announced today the grand opening of the new Sheraton Puerto Rico Convention Center Hotel & Casino. Located adjacent to the Puerto Rico Convention Center in San Juan’s newest vibrant commercial and residential district, the new 503-room property welcomes both business and leisure travelers, offering exceptional meeting facilities, a full-service casino and resort-like amenities, including a sundeck/pool, spa and retail space. Sheraton Puerto Rico is the first new full-service hotel and casino built in San Juan in more than 10 years and is part of a $6 billion worldwide effort to revitalize Starwood’s most global, iconic brand. This effort includes an investment of over $2 billion in new hotels internationally and, in North America, an investment of $2.3 billion in new hotels, $1.5 billion in renovations and $400 million in signature brand initiatives.

“We are proud to announce the grand opening of the new Sheraton Puerto Rico Convention Center Hotel & Casino, the first new full-service property in San Juan in more than a decade,” said Federico J. Sanchez, President and Chief Executive Officer of Interlink Group. “The property is a $210 million investment to create the area’s premier hotel for both business and leisure travelers, with exceptional offerings for guests who are either at work or at play. This significant new property is a vital component of Starwood’s larger multi-billion-dollar worldwide effort to revitalize the iconic Sheraton brand with distinctive amenities and initiatives, including unprecedented meetings amenities, state-of-the-art technology and a casino that will appeal to both guests and locals.”

The Sheraton Puerto Rico is a member of The Starwood Convention Collection, an elite group of Starwood’s largest group and meeting hotels located in top destinations and offering exceptional service and unparalleled facilities. It also represents the brand’s focus, over the past three years, on developing “big box” and convention hotels with unprecedented meeting amenities in key markets. Sheraton Puerto Rico’s superior meeting facilities include 35,000 square feet of meeting space, access to more than 580,000 square feet of additional space at the adjacent Convention Center and the largest hotel ballroom in the San Juan metropolitan area. Guests attending meetings can enjoy several open-air balcony verandas and a dedicated outdoor event space on a 57,000 square-foot pool deck with stunning views. The hotel is also the first and only property in the Caribbean pursuing LEED Certification by the U.S. Green Building Council.

Sheraton Puerto Rico also features a signature offering of the Sheraton brand’s revitalization effort: Sheraton’s “Link@SheratonSM experienced with Microsoft®.” This unique lounge enables today’s travelers to stay connected with instant access to information and technology for work, leisure and social networking. Designed as a social environment, The Link invites guests to interact with each other while they check their email, research local attractions and even print boarding passes using free Wi-Fi and Internet-enabled computer stations.

At 20,000 square feet, the hotel’s casino, operated by CCHRP Hospitality, is the largest in Puerto Rico and offers a circular casino bar and entertainment space – the first in Puerto Rico. The ‘smoke-free’ 24-hour casino features 448 slot machines, 16 table games, a full player’s reward program, state-of-the-art specialty video, sound and light features and the island’s first multi-denominational slot machines.

“The grand opening of Sheraton Puerto Rico comes at one of the most significant moments in our brand’s storied history, as we complete an aggressive $6 billion growth plan unlike any other for Sheraton,” said Hoyt H. Harper II, Senior Vice President for Sheraton Hotels and Resorts. “This property not only reflects a dedication to open significant, new convention hotels across the globe, it showcases exceptional and unique offerings for both business and leisure travelers. From its robust meeting amenities, to an unprecedented casino, to coveted leisure and resort offerings, Sheraton Puerto Rico is truly a signature property for the Sheraton brand.”

Sheraton Puerto Rico offers guests a wide array of urban resort features. The hotel’s 57,000 square-foot sun and pool deck includes sweeping panoramic views of San Juan Bay, multiple pools—for both adults and kids—poolside cabanas and poolside dining. A 7,000 square-foot spa offers a comprehensive array of treatments for women and men. The hotel also features a revolutionary new health and fitness program, “Sheraton Fitness, Programmed by Core Performance,” a holistic program designed exclusively for Sheraton guests through its partner, Core Performance. The program offers a 24-hour fitness center with state-of-the-art Life Fitness equipment. Guests can also shop in more than 70,000 square feet of retail space.

Additional amenities of Sheraton Puerto Rico include:
• 22 Suites, including a presidential suite overlooking San Juan Bay;
• Sheraton Club level guest rooms and suites on the penthouse level with access to a 3,200 square-foot lounge, featuring an al fresco terrace, the area’s only club level with this amenity;
• Sweet Sleeper all-white, 300 thread count bedding in all guest rooms;
• All-day dining restaurant, 24-hour in-room dining and three fine dining restaurants.