July 14, 2011 (Bora Bora) - Le Méridien Bora Bora has announced the appointment of Boumédiène Ouadjed as Assistant General Manager. A thirteen-year veteran of Starwood Hotels & Resort, Ouadjed will oversee all resort operations including sales, marketing and guest services.

"We are pleased to welcome Boumédiène to our little slice of paradise in Bora Bora and anticipate a seamless resort operation and the most attentive guest service under his leadership," said Denis Le Nohaïc, General Manager of Le Méridien Bora Bora.

Ouadjed's appointment follows the completion of a multi-million dollar renovation of Le Méridien Bora Bora. The multi-year project, completed in February 2011, included the renovation of all public spaces, interiors for all beach and overwater bungalows and a new Turtle Observatory.

Ouadjed arrived in Bora Bora from Le Méridien Libreville in Gabon, where he served as Complex Director of Sales & Marketing for the past five years. Previously, he was stationed in Europe for ten years as Sales Manager and Front Office Manager for Sheraton Luxembourg Aerogolf Hotel. Ouadjed got his start at the Starwood Central Reservation Center in Cork, Ireland, in 1998.

A native of France, Ouadjed studied French Literature at Valenciennes University  (France). He is fluent in Italian, English and French.

About Le Méridien Bora Bora
Set on the "Pearl of the Pacific," Le Méridien Bora Bora is located on a six-mile-long "motu" islet, facing Otemanu Mountain, within one of the most beautiful lagoons in the world. The resort's 99 bungalows include: three lagoon bungalows, 10 beach bungalows, four Pool Beach Villas and 82 over-water bungalows, including 22 Premium over-water bungalows.  All over-water bungalows feature glass flooring for stunning views of marine life frolicking in the clear blue sea below. Le Tiaré restaurant is among the best gourmet dining venues in Bora Bora; Te Ava is a lovely setting for romantic lunches on the beach; and the Miki Miki bar resembles the prow of a ship headed for Mount Otemanu. Le Méridien Bora Bora's turtle sanctuary is a private lagoon that is home to more than 100 species; the resort is active in environmental efforts to protect marine turtles, which guests can experience on-site in their natural habitat. Watersports equipment is available, along with the Kaïnalu Canoë Club. www.lemeridien-borabora.com

About Le Méridien
Le Méridien, the Paris-born hotel brand currently represented over 100 properties in 50 countries, was acquired by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) in November 2005. Since then, Le Méridien has gone through a brand re-launch, which included a large scale hotels product consolidation as well as redefining its brand strategy. By appointing a full-time Cultural Curator - French arts-provocateur Jérôme Sans - Le Méridien transformed numerous guest touch points, thus brining unique and interactive experiences to its guests.  With close to 80 of its properties located in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific, Le Méridien provides a strong international complement to Starwood's primarily North American holdings. Plans call for dynamic expansion of Le Méridien hotels and resorts within the next five years, concentrating in the U.S., Latin America, and Asia-Pacific, including destinations such as India, Thailand and China.  Le Méridien recently opened new hotels in Bangkok, Dallas, Philadelphia, Minneapolis, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Shimei Bay, Xiamen, Chongqing Nan'an and Qingdao (China), and Taipei, and recently signed a new deal in Coimbatore, India. The launch of Le Méridien in Turkey, a key fast growing market for Starwood, will also be opening this year. For more information, please visit www.lemeridien.com.

About Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with 1,051 properties in 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.  The company boasts one of the industry's leading loyalty programs, Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG), allowing members to earn and redeem points for room stays, room upgrades and flights, with no blackout dates. 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.