Aloft Hotels Makes Landmark Debut in the United Kingdom

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.® (NYSE:HOT) today announces the debut of its new destination sensation brand, AloftSM Hotels, in the United Kingdom with the opening of Aloft London Excel.

In the same year that Starwood launched its world-renowned W Hotels brand in London, the innovative hotel giant has once again reinvented hotel design and launched a second new brand in the UK market. Aloft has been created to shake up the staid and traditional mid-market hotel sector by delivering urban-influenced, modern and vibrant design and an energetic guest experience at an affordable price point.

Situated in the heart of London´s Docklands, next to the ExCeL International Exhibition and Convention Centre, Aloft London Excel features 252 loft-like guest rooms, a buzzing bar scene, a grab-and-go food pantry and industrial design elements throughout. Aloft London Excel is owned by ADNEC (Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company) which also owns ExCeL London as well as Aloft Abu Dhabi, the Middle East´s first Aloft hotel, which is located adjacent to the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre.

"The launch of Aloft in the UK underscores the strength of the Starwood network and the power of the Aloft brand," said Brian McGuinness, Senior Vice President, Speciality Select Brands for Starwood Hotels & Resorts. "Aloft´s emphasis on high design and affordability translates globally and is attracting a growing group of loyal travellers. In fact, Aloft represents one of the strongest brand launches in industry history and its international expansion so early in the brand´s life cycle is unprecedented."

With more than 50 hotels open since its June 2008 debut, Aloft Hotels has become the talk of the hospitality industry by going global while in launch mode. Aloft currently operates hotels in seven countries "´ the United States, Canada, China, the United Arab Emirates, India, Belgium and now the UK. Aloft is continuing its global expansion with further openings planned in India and the United States as well as brand introductions in Thailand, Turkey and Colombia.

Roeland Vos, President, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Europe, Africa and Middle East commented: "We are proud of our long-standing partnership with ADNEC, first with Aloft Abu Dhabi, and are delighted to be working with them once again to introduce the Aloft brand to the United Kingdom. The launch of two new hotel brands in London this year underlines Starwood´s long-term commitment to the UK market."

Aloft London Excel boasts atmospheric public spaces where guests can mix and mingle, read the paper, work on laptops, play a game of pool or grab a drink with friends at the re:mixSM lounge and w xyzSM bar. The spacious guest rooms feature the brand´s signature ceilings of nearly three metres high, oversized windows and an ultra-comfortable platform bed as well as large walk-in showers with complimentary Bliss Spa® products. Designed with the digital generation in mind, Aloft London Excel has free wireless internet access throughout the whole hotel, including all guest rooms. Each room is also equipped with a unique plug-and-play connectivity solution which connects most electronic devices to the 42´´ flat-screen TV, turning the room into a high-tech office as well as an entertainment centre.

Guests will be able to de-stress and re-energise in the re:chargeSM fitness centre and SplashSM pool and grab a bite to eat at re:fuelSM by Aloft, a one-stop, 24-hour grab-and-go food and beverage area, offering sweet, savoury and healthy food, snacks and drinks. The hotel will also feature a new restaurant concept, FEDE, which will serve contemporary British food and drink in an unpretentious, welcoming environment.

For work meetings, training courses and presentations, the hotel´s five Tactic meeting rooms are equipped with the latest generation of audio-visual hardware, providing the perfect creative space for groups of up to 15 people.

Sanjay Tanna, ADNEC´s Director of Business Development & Investments said: "The launch of Aloft London Excel is an exciting new development as both London and ExCeL prepare to host next year´s Olympic Games. This new property enhances ADNEC´s investment in ExCeL expanding our ties with the city, as well as building on our already strong partnership with Starwood. I am very confident the success ADNEC and Starwood have enjoyed with Aloft Abu Dhabi, will be replicated with the new Aloft property at ExCeL."

Aloft London Excel is located at ExCeL´s Eastern entrance at the Royal Victoria Dock and has direct covered access to Prince Regent Station on the Docklands Light Railway. With East London seeing much regeneration ahead of the 2012 Olympic Games, the hotel is perfectly situated within easy reach of the Olympic Park, Westfield Stratford City, Canary Wharf and The O2 arena.

Notes to Editors:

About Aloft Hotels

Created to shake up the staid, traditional select service segment of the hotel industry, Aloft delivers urban-influenced, open and vibrant design and a social guest experience at an affordable price point. In the same way that W Hotels broke through the clutter of conformity in the upscale hotel arena a decade ago, Aloft is shaking up the industry for the next generation of traveller. Starwood recognised opportunity in the select serve market for reinvention and innovation and selected world renowned design and architecture firm Rockwell Group to collaborate on the new hotel concept. Aloft hotels are geared toward savvy, design-conscious consumers who grew up with the democratisation of design. Aloft hotels are wired for the future and an aggressive growth plan is in place. With more than 50 hotels open in the three years since the Aloft brand first arrived on the scene, Aloft hotels can be found everywhere from Abu Dhabi and Baltimore to Dallas and Beijing. www.alofthotels.com

About Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with 1058 properties in 100 countries and territories with 145,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. Starwood Hotels is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels, resorts and residences with the following internationally renowned brands: St. Regis®, The Luxury Collection®, W®, Westin®, Le Méridien®, Sheraton®, Four Points® by Sheraton, and the recently launched Aloft®, and Element SM. The company boasts one of the industry´s leading loyalty programs, Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG), allowing members to earn and redeem points for room stays, room upgrades and flights, with no blackout dates. Starwood Hotels also owns Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., one of the premier developers and operators of high quality vacation interval ownership resorts. For more information, please visit www.starwoodhotels.com.

About Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company (ADNEC)

Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company (ADNEC) is a strategic international venue development and management company. ADNEC´s venue portfolio includes one of the most modern exhibition centres in the world - the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, and the UK capital´s largest exhibition and conference venue, ExCeL London. ADNEC is creating unique business districts to serve Abu Dhabi´s rapid expansion and emergence on the global stage. Development projects surrounding the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre include Capital Centre (a mixed-use development of 23 hotel, residential, commercial and mixed-use towers adjacent to the exhibition centre), Capital Gate (an iconic 35-storey, gravity defying feature tower, featuring the 5-star hotel - "˜Hyatt Capital Gate´), the Aloft Abu Dhabi and a 2.4km Marina zone on Al Bateen Channel opposite to the exhibition centre. In addition, ADNEC is expanding within the region, with The Al Ain Convention Centre, a residential and business micro city around a state-of-the-art convention centre.