The opening day�s festivities took place in front of the resort�s magnificent wrought iron gates, which were opened by resort general manager, Seamus McManus and owner, Paul Makarechian, in a ribbon cutting ceremony that was attended by Dana Point city officials and followed by public tours. Several thousand residents of the local community toured the resort�s 30,000-square-foot spa Gaucin, marble corridors and public spaces accented by contemporary artwork and throughout the lushly landscaped pool area and Pacific Lawn, which was set up for a mock wedding with a flower decked gazebo and hanging baskets of roses.

The $240 million Tuscan-inspired resort offers 400 elegantly appointed and oversized guestrooms, including 74 suites, most with views of the coastline and Pacific Ocean. Guestrooms feature the latest in technology, such as 32� Sony Wega flat-screen televisions, data ports, Web TV, wireless keyboards, high-speed Internet access and a DVD/CD player with access to a library with more than 300 titles. In true St. Regis style, guests of the resort will also enjoy 24-hour room and butler service.

A highlight of the St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort & Spa is its spa Gaucin (named after a secluded Spanish village), which is making its mark as the premier destination resort spa to be built in Orange County, California. The serene and elegant Gaucin caters to hotel guests of the upscale resort as well as area residents seeking an
extraordinary spa experience. It offers 25 treatment rooms, some with marble fireplaces; state-of-the-art fitness center and soothing water features such as fountains, a wishing well and a lap pool. In addition to the spa, guests can also find rejuvenation at the lagoon family pool; the ocean terrace pool offering 10 cabanas with fax, data ports, high-speed Internet access, sound system, mini-bar, private safe and ceiling fans; the tennis courts; an 18-hole championship oceanfront golf course designed by Trent Jones, Jr. and landscaped walking trails leading to a 6.1-acre beach with exclusive access to a private beach club. Other amenities include a beauty salon, specialty retail shops and a business center.

Chef Michael Mina�s acclaimed four-star restaurant, Aqua, highlights the dining venues at the St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort & Spa. The contemporary seafood restaurant also serves lunch on the terrace and offers an innovative appetizer menu along with three different types of afternoon tea on a rotating basis in the adjoining
Lobby Lounge and Bar. Other dining outlets include Chianti�an all-day bistro, the Pool Bar & Grill, Club 19 at the golf clubhouse, Monarch Bay Club at the beach and Crust, a gourmet deli/espresso bar. Guests can enjoy dining indoors or out, with terrace seats providing spectacular golf course and ocean views. A Wine Cellar and large tasting room are also available for private wine tasting events.

Highlighted by a Mediterranean ambiance, the resort is overflowing with charm and character - from its gracious entries and soaring palm trees to its elegant fountains and flower filled courtyards. Magnificent groves of olive, pine and cypress trees and a botanical garden accent the stunning vistas from private balconies and ocean
terraces. Interiors feature marble floors and public rooms that painted in a pastel color palette and are offset by vibrant contemporary artwork and dramatic, custom designed furniture. Major art pieces include four radiantly colored glassworks displayed in the lobby rotunda by Dale Chihuly, one of the foremost contemporary glass artists, and a magnificent reproduction of Maxfield Parrish�s �Garden of Allah� that was created especially for the Lobby Bar by painter Russell Carter. The Parrish-inspired painting was selected to tie in with the St. Regis New York, which features a mural by Parrish in its King Cole Bar.

The St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort & Spa is one of eight St. Regis hotels owned or managed by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. There are currently St. Regis properties in Aspen, Houston, Washington D.C., Rome and Beijing, in addition to the flagship St. Regis New York, built by Colonel John Jacob Astor IV in 1904. The St. Regis Los Angeles recently opened in November 2000 in the
heart of Century City while The St. Regis Shanghai officially opened July 2001. In 2002, St. Regis properties will open in San Francisco and Fort Lauderdale.

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.