From the AAHOA Lodging Conference in Chicago, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) today announced that the opening of Aloft Winchester in Winchester, Virginia earlier this month marked the opening of Starwood’s 200th select-service property worldwide, contributing to a growth trajectory for the group of 56 percent in the last three years.

Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has launched SPG Free Weekends, giving new and existing SPG members the opportunity to earn a Free Weekend Night Award for every three stays at a Starwood property between May 1 and July 31.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts has continued its European expansion with the opening of the first Sheraton branded location in the Black Sea resort of Batumi. Operated in partnership with Turkish construction company Nurol Insaat ve Ticaret AS, the Georgia based property will be the first internationally branded hotel in the emerging destination.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. and its award-winning Starwood Preferred Guest(R) program today announce the global launch of On Tour with SPG - an exciting, new program that gives SPG members the chance to redeem Starpoints on premium Live Nation concert tickets to see headliners around the globe.

Two former W hotels in Manhattan, now operating as St Giles Hotels, have selected Utell® Hotels & Resorts for worldwide marketing, sales and representation.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.announced today that the company has reached an important milestone in its history, opening its 1000th hotel and resort. Starwood’s 1000th hotel, which debuts today, is the Sheraton Qiandao Lake Resort located on the shores of China’s famed Qiandao Lake, also, aptly known as the Lake of Thousand Islands.