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SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico-September 15, 2009 - Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, Inc (NYSE:HOT) and Interlink Group announced today that the new Sheraton Puerto Rico Convention Center Hotel & Casino will open its doors in November 2009. Located adjacent to the Puerto Rico Convention Center in San Juan’s newest vibrant commercial and residential district, the new 503-room property will accommodate both business and leisure travelers, offering exceptional meeting facilities, a full-service casino and resort-like amenities, including a sundeck/pool, spa and retail space. Sheraton Puerto Rico will be the first new full-service hotel and casino built in San Juan in more than 10 years and is part of a $6 billion worldwide effort to revitalize Starwood’s most global, iconic brand. This effort includes an investment of over $2 billion in new hotels internationally and, in North America, an investment of $2.3 billion in new hotels, $1.5 billion in renovations and $400 million in signature brand initiatives. Sheraton Puerto Rico’s superior meeting facilities include 35,000 square feet of meeting space, access to more than 580,000 square feet of additional space at the adjacent Convention Center and the largest hotel ballroom in the San Juan metropolitan area. Guests attending meetings will enjoy several open-air balcony verandas and dedicated outdoor event space on a 57,000 square-foot pool deck with stunning views. The hotel is also the first and only property in the Caribbean pursuing LEED Certification by the U.S. Green Building Council. At 20,000 square feet, the hotel’s casino, which is operated by CCHRP Hospitality, will be the largest in Puerto Rico and will offer a circular casino bar and entertainment space – the first in Puerto Rico. The ‘smoke-free’ 24-hour casino will feature 448 slot machines, 16 table games, a full player’s reward program, state-of-the-art specialty video, sound and light features and the island’s first multi-denominational slot machines. Sheraton Puerto Rico will offer guests a wide array of urban resort features. The hotel’s 57,000 square-foot sun and pool deck includes sweeping panoramic views of San Juan Bay, multiple pools -- for both adults and kids -- poolside cabanas and poolside dining. A 7,000 square-foot spa will offer a comprehensive array of treatments for women and men. The hotel will also feature a revolutionary new health and fitness program, “Sheraton Fitness, Programmed by Core Performance,” a holistic program designed exclusively for Sheraton guests through its partner, Core Performance. The program offers a 24-hour fitness center with state-of-the-art Life Fitness equipment. Guests can also shop in more than 70,000 square feet of retail space. “The Sheraton Puerto Rico Convention Center Hotel & Casino is a $210 million investment to create the area’s premier hotel for both business and leisure travelers, with exceptional offerings for guests either at work or at play” said Federico J. Sanchez, President and Chief Executive Officer of Interlink Group. “We are proud that this significant investment is part of Starwood’s larger multi-billion-dollar worldwide effort to revitalize the iconic Sheraton brand with distinctive amenities and initiatives, including spacious accommodations and state-of-the-art technology. We look forward to opening the doors of this brand new property in November.” Sheraton Puerto Rico will feature one of the signature offerings of Sheraton’s brand revitalization effort: Sheraton’s “Link@SheratonSM experienced with Microsoft®.” This unique lounge enables today’s travelers to stay connected with instant access to information and technology for work, leisure and social networking. Designed as a social environment, The Link invites guests to interact with each other while they check their email, research local attractions and even print boarding passes using free Wi-Fi and Internet-enabled computer stations. “Sheraton Puerto Rico will be one of our brand’s signature properties and we are eagerly anticipating its opening,” said Hoyt Harper, Senior Vice President for Sheraton Hotels and Resorts. “This property will reflect the new, superior level of amenities, offerings and services of the Sheraton brand and I’m confident both business and leisure guests will be impressed.” Additional amenities of Sheraton Puerto Rico include: 22 Suites, including a presidential suite overlooking San Juan Bay; Sheraton Club level guest rooms and suites on the penthouse level with access to a 3,200 square-foot lounge, featuring an al fresco terrace, the area’s only club level with this amenity; Sweet Sleeper all-white, 300 thread count bedding in all guest rooms; All-day dining restaurant, 24-hour in-room dining and three fine dining restaurants. About Sheraton Hotels & Resorts Helping guests make connections at more than 400 hotels in 75 countries around the world, Sheraton Hotels & Resorts is currently implementing a $6 billion worldwide, multi-year revitalization program. This effort includes a $4 billion investment in North America, with over $2 billion in new hotels, $1.5 billion in renovations and $400 million in signature brand initiatives around the Sheraton brand. Sheraton is owned by and is the largest and most global brand of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with 960 properties in 97 countries and 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. 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 Interlink Group Interlink Group, founded in 1977 and based in San Juan, is the premier resort, hotel and high-end residential developer in the Caribbean. The Company is responsible for creating world-class destinations such as Las Casitas Village, the first AAA Five-Diamond hotel in Puerto Rico, located at El Conquistador Resort & Golden Door Spa, which is part of the Waldorf Astoria Collection; the redevelopment of Hotel El Convento in Old San Juan, a 350-year old historic property and member of Small Luxury Hotels. Opening in 2009 is the 503-room Sheraton Puerto Rico Convention Center Hotel & Casino; and Cosmopolitan, a luxury residential condominium development overlooking Condado Lagoon in San Juan. Interlink is currently developing Bahía Beach Resort & Golf Club, a 500-acre master-planned resort community, anchored by the St. Regis Resort (opening in late 2010) and a Robert Trent Jones Jr. championship golf course. Interlink is also the developer of the proposed Beef Island Resort & Country Club, a 650-acre master planned resort community in the British Virgin Islands. For more information, please visit www.interlinkgroupllc.com.

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