The Westin Auckland, Lighter Quay will be New Zealand�s first purpose built upper-upscale hotel and promises to become a new Auckland icon. 

Property developers of the hotel, Melview Viaduct Harbour Limited (a subsidiary of Melview Developments Limited) are regarded as one of New Zealand�s leading property development companies.  The $300 million Lighter Quay project � where the new Westin is located � is Auckland�s largest single development that also incorporates luxury waterfront apartments.

�Melview is pleased to be able to deliver the first purpose built five-star hotel to New Zealand and to introduce the internationally recognized Westin brand to Auckland. New Zealand�s tourism industry is growing strongly and the demand for top end accommodation of the standard of The Westin is in short supply�, Melview Developments� Managing Director and founder Mr. Nigel McKenna said today.

Due to open by mid 2007, The Westin Auckland, Lighter Quay will be the fourth Westin property in the Pacific region, joining the renowned Westins in Melbourne, Sydney and the recently opened resort and spa on Denarau Island, Fiji. The signing of The Westin Auckland, Lighter Quay also marks the return of Starwood Hotels & Resorts to New Zealand, as well as another major step in Starwood Hotels & Resorts� fast-track expansion in Asia Pacific.  This is the eighth Westin development announced by Starwood in just the first three quarters of 2006.   New developments announced earlier in the year include Westins in Guangzhou, Zhejiang and Beijing in China; Bangalore and Sohna in India; Fiji and Langkawi, Malaysia. 

Located on the water at Lighter Quay, Viaduct Harbour in Auckland, The Westin Auckland, Lighter Quay will feature 173 rooms including 9 suites, an Executive Club lounge, an all-day dining restaurant, a bar and café, 11,000 square feet of meeting space, health club and spa.  Lighter Quay is one of New Zealand�s most prestigious waterfront neighborhoods and is located on the waterfront of Auckland�s central business district. 

�The location of this spectacular new hotel on the water at Lighter Quay, as well as its thoughtful design to feature Westin�s signature products and services reinforces Westin�s new brand positioning around personal renewal by offering guests the services and amenities that allow them to relax, rejuvenate and restore during their stay,� commented Miguel Ko, President of Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Asia Pacific.  "We look forward to offering Westin's signature amenities and services and providing a unique retreat from the rigors of the road so travelers can perform at their best.� added Ko.

Auckland, also known as City of Sails, is a vibrant harbor city in New Zealand that has attracted worldwide attention in recent years, playing host to some of the world's most prestigious sporting and business events such as the America's Cup and APEC. Surrounded by the unique Hauraki Gulf, which encompasses over 50 South Pacific Islands, Auckland provides visitors with an abundance of wonderful experiences and discoveries. Within an easy 30 minutes ferry ride of downtown Auckland, visitors can escape to idyllic island experience combining beautiful scenery with fabulous wineries, superb Pacific Rim dining and eco-tourism products.

Westin Hotels & Resorts has 121 hotels and resorts in 31 countries and territories, and is owned by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT). It was ranked "Highest in Guest Satisfaction among Upscale Hotel Chains" in the J.D. Power and Associates' 2004 North America Hotel Guest Satisfaction Study(SM) and was voted "Best Domestic Hotel Chain" by Global Traveler Magazine. Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with approximately 850 properties in more than 95 countries and 145,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. Starwood(R) Hotels is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels and resorts with the following internationally renowned brands: St. Regis(R), The Luxury Collection(R), Sheraton(R), Westin(R), Four Points(R) by Sheraton, W(R), Le Meridien(R) and the recently announced Aloft(SM). 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.

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of federal securities regulations. 

Hwee-Peng Yeo
Corporate Communications Manager
Starwood Asia Pacific Hotels & Resorts Pte Ltd
6 Temasek Boulevard
# 40-01 Suntec Tower Four
Singapore 038986 
  [email protected]
www.starwoodhotels.com