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W Hotels Opens the 57-story 509-room W in Times Square;
16th W to Open in Three Years

NEW YORK - Dec. 26, 2001-- W Hotels, the hottest brand in the Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide family, opens its flagship property in Times Square, New York City today. Situated in the heart of the Broadway Theater district, the new 57-story W is the 16th W to open in just three years. 

"The opening of the W New York-Times Square flagship marks another huge coup for this brand,'' said Barry Sternlicht, Chairman and C.E.O. of Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE:HOT). ``We are pleased to debut our flagship property in the world's most exhilarating
neighborhood, central to all that is New York City - the excitement, the diversity and the uniqueness.'' 

Times Square, one of the most famous neighborhoods in the world, is easily accessible from every part of Manhattan. The area is best known for its rich history, Broadway Theater, top restaurants and nightclubs, historic landmark buildings and as the new home to media giants Viacom, ABC and Conde Nast. 

The design of W New York-Times Square is a collaboration between Toronto-based design firm Yabu Pushelberg, known for its recent work redesigning Bergdorf Goodman, Carolina Herrera and Tiffany & Co.'s flagship, Brennan Beer Gorman/Architects (BBG), and the Starwood Design Group. The sleek ultra-modern 509-room hotel includes 43 suites on 57 floors with the most breathtaking views of New York and the surrounding area. 

From the flurry of 47th street, guests are transported as if through a looking glass into a dramatic glass-encased waterfall. Guests literally walk on water, Zen-like, as they step over the Terrazzo and enter the landing elevator to reception. Check-in on the seventh floor features a sleek black lacquer reception desk. From there, a 6,000-square-foot promenade reinterprets the famous W Living Room Asian-style with white leather seating squares, streamlined hanging lamps and a black lacquer bar.  Glowing resin alcoves line the perimeter providing intimate seating. The eclectic W store, a new innovation, will also be found on the promenade. 

Guestrooms at W New York-Times Square are modern and linear. Colors graduate from darker to lighter. Luminous amber-colored resin cubes serve as side tables next to the famously comfortable W signature bed. A bed-to-ceiling mirrored headboard adds light and depth while a floating glass desk in each room faces onto a New York City panorama, including the lights of Times Square. 

In each room, a white translucent sliding screen door opens onto a sexy bathroom with oversized open showers in all King rooms and luxurious tubs in Doubles. Round white sinks are suspended as if in mid-air, alongside a mounted silver ladder for towels and robes with provocative lighting creating a sensual glow. 

Additionally the hotel is home to W THE STORE, a partnership between Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide and Platform, LLC.  The partners of Platform include two of the world's premier retailers Stephen Werther, the founder of the Portico stores and Troy Halterman, proprietor of Troy. The shop is filled with an assortment of cool, modern and sophisticated products from high-end designers including Marc Jacobs, Comme des Garcons, D&G, Kate Spade and Helmut Lang. From fashion-forward items such as limited edition aviator sunglasses by Cutler & Gross, to cutting edge gadgets like APS' auto focus camera by Leica, the store is a haven for anyone seeking the best of the best in fashion, beauty, home furnishings and publishing. 

Below ground is the 7,500-square-foot bar/screening room, THE WHISKEY, operated by nightlife impresario Rande Gerber and his Midnight Oil Company. THE WHISKEY, located in the space formerly occupied by Club USA, is the newest property to be opened by Mr. Gerber, continuing a string of successes that include THE WHISKEY in Los Angeles, WHISKEY BLUE New York, Chicago and New Orleans, WHISKEY ROCKS Aspen, CHERRY, UNDERBAR, WETBAR, WHISKEY PARK in New York, and WHISKEY PARK Boston. 

W New York-Times Square also features 3,200 square feet of meeting space. The loft-like space is simply appointed in white wood, with dark carpet and a shimmering silver link-like screen for a touch of whimsy. A 1,500-square-foot fitness center makes daily exercise accessible and convenient. 

Blue Fin, the seafood restaurant at W New York-Times Square was conceived and is operated by master restaurateur Stephen Hanson and his company B.R. Guest (Ruby Foo's, Atlantic Grill, Blue Water Grill, Coconut Grill, Isabella's, Park Avalon and 206 Spring). The eatery seats 350 on two levels and faces directly onto the lights and energy of Broadway. A dramatic, floating staircase leads upstairs for semi-private alcove dining and live jazz. Blue Fin is responsible for all catering and room service. 

The property provides the latest in modern amenities and high-tech capabilities -- TVs with ultra-fast Internet access (via an infrared keyboard); high-speed dataport connectivity at speeds up to 100 times faster than conventional data modems, and private, secure E-mail access, VHS and DVD players. Also standard for W Hotels: each room has two telephones, one with dataport and speakerphone capabilities, the other a 900MHz cordless dual-line phone. 

The focus of all guestrooms is the luxurious W bed with a pillow-top mattress, 250 thread-count linens, and goose down comforters and pillows. In addition to the amenities one would expect in an upscale hotel, the W guestroom includes a W CD player; a coffeemaker with W's own blend of coffee; a plush terry-lined, cotton pique W bathrobe; and custom-formulated Aveda bath products.

W Hotels have a signature service commitment that provides "whatever you want, whenever you want it.'' The outstanding "Whatever, Whenever'' amenity provides guests with anything, at any time, with just a push of a button on the phone -- from a laser printer at 2 a.m. to a last-minute tuxedo fitting or a bath filled with chocolate milk. 

Associates at the property are outfitted in sophisticated urban attire that complement W's sleek, elegant design. Designed to make employees virtually indistinguishable from guests, the line includes charcoal pinstriped pants for men with black button-down dress shirts or turtlenecks. Black leather belts with silver flat front buckles and black leather blazers complete the look. Women staffers wear similar charcoal pinstriped pants, a sexy sleeveless matte jersey drape front shirt in black and a leather blazer. 

The first W Hotel opened in New York in December 1998. There are now five W Hotels in New York City (W New York, W New York - Court, W New York - Tuscany, W New York - Union Square and W New York - Times Square) and 16 hotels brand-wide in the U.S.  and abroad. New W Hotels are in development or under construction in San Diego, South Beach, Miami, Mexico City and Seoul, Korea. 

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Contact:

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. 
www.starwoodhotels.com

Also See Starwood Reports a 71% Drop in 3rd Qtr Earnings; Expecting a Loss in 4th Qtr / October 2001 
Starwood Soon to be Manhattan's Dominant Hotel Player with 6,100 Rooms / April 1999 


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