WHITE PLAINS, N.Y.-October 5, 2010 - -Extending its reach in Latin America, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE:HOT) today announced it will debut its Westin brand in Panama with two new properties slated to open in the next two years. The Westin Playa Bonita Panama will open in 2011, just 20 minutes from downtown, followed by the opening of The Westin Panama Hotel in 2012 in the heart of Panama City�s Costa del Este business district.

The two new Westin hotels in Panama will be operated as franchised properties under an agreement between Starwood and Bern Hotels & Resorts Panama. Starwood previously partnered with Bern Hotels & Resorts Panama to open Le Méridien Panama in September 2009.

�We are delighted to accelerate the expansion of our Westin brand in Latin America with the addition of these two new hotels in Panama,� said Nancy London, Vice President and global leader for Westin Hotels. �The Westin brand is at a pivotal point in its life cycle, with an unprecedented opportunity for global growth. Fueled by the international appeal of its distinctive wellness positioning, Westin is well on its way to establishing itself as an international market leader.�

�Owners and developers are increasingly turning to the world-renowned Westin brand for new construction opportunities in various emerging and rapidly developing economies,� said Osvaldo Librizzi, President of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Latin America. �These upcoming openings in Panama will expand the Westin portfolio to four Latin American countries, and we anticipate even more growth in this dynamic market over the next decade across all of Starwood�s global brands.�

�We are proud and pleased to expand our relationship with Starwood by reaching an agreement to manage The Westin Panama Hotel and Westin Playa Bonita Resort & Spa,� said Glen Champion, Vice-president of Bern Hotels & Resorts Panama. �The opportunity to partner with Starwood means our work throughout these years has been recognized and we believe that these two Westin properties will be landmarks in Panama.�

Boasting spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean and the Panama Canal, The Westin Playa Bonita Panama will offer guests a prime location just minutes from Panama City, close to major urban tourist attractions including the Panama Canal and Casco Viejo � the historic old city. The newly constructed hotel will feature 611 luxurious guest rooms, three restaurants, a pool bar, entertainment area, lobby lounge and approximately 12,000 square feet of meeting and function space. Recreational facilities will include several pools and a full-service spa with 20 treatment rooms.

The Westin Panama Hotel is ideally situated within a premium lifestyle development next to the Costa del Este Business Park. Close to both downtown Panama City and the Tocumen International airport, Costa del Este is Panama City�s fastest growing new business center and a key destination for business travelers, with numerous corporate offices and upscale real estate developments. The Westin Panama Hotel will offer 198 guestrooms including 45 suites, a restaurant, snack bar, lobby lounge, executive lounge, swimming pool, and approximately 10,000 square feet of meeting space equipped with state-of-the-art technology.

The Westin Panama Hotel and The Westin Playa Bonita Panama will offer guests the full suite of Westin signature services and amenities. The soothing Westin Sensory Welcome will create an a oasis of calm as guests enter the hotel, with its subtle White Tea by Westin fragrante, gentle music, botanicals and mood lighting. The brand�s world-renowned Heavenly BedTM is an oasis of lush sheets, down cushioning, and a patented pillow-top mattress. With ten layers of comfort, this custom bed is designed for a deep, undisturbed sleep that energizes your body and brain. The Westin Heavenly Bathexperience will transform guests shower or bath time into an intensely rejuvenating spa-like experience. The brand�s signature White Tea Aloe bath amenities, thick Brazilian combed cotton bath sheets and plush bathrobe add bliss to every guest�s bath routine. Both hotels will feature a 24-hour WestinWORKOUT gym, enabling guests to maintain their exercise program and stay in the best possible shape, physically and mentally as well as the brands signature SuperfoodsRX menu offerings packed with healthy delights like blueberries, salmon and dark chocolate.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts currently has six hotels open in Central America including the Four Points by Sheraton Colon, Four Points by Sheraton Panama, Sheraton Panama Hotel & Convention Center the Le Méridien Panama, the Sheraton Presidente San Salvador and in The Westin Camino Real.

About Westin Hotels & Resorts
Westin Hotels & Resorts makes the healthiest choices irresistibly appealing, so guests leave feeling better than when they arrived. With over 170 hotels and resorts in over 36 countries and territories, Westin is owned by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. Starwood Hotels is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with 1000 properties in nearly 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. 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 Bern Hotels & Resorts
Empresas Bern boasts a history of more than 30 years in the marketplace. The hotel and tourism division of Bern Hotels & Resorts currently operates eight hotels in the Republic of Panama, including the Le Méridien Panama.