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Aloft Brand Gains Momentum in Latin America with New Hotels
Coming Soon to Panama, Mexico, Paraguay and Uruguay

The Aloft Panama City, Aloft Merida, Aloft Montevideo
and Aloft Asuncion to Open in the Next Two Years


STAMFORD, Conn.--Dec. 6, 2012-- Less than a year after premiering the Aloft brand in Latin America, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) forges ahead with its expansion plans to open four new Aloft hotels: Aloft Panama, which will debut in 2013, Aloft Merida and Aloft Asuncion slated to open by 2014, and Aloft Montevideo in 2015.

“Aloft is taking Latin America by storm,” said Brian McGuinness, Senior Vice President of Specialty Select Brands for Starwood. “The brand continues to develop a fiercely loyal following and experience strong momentum as it enters new markets around the world. We are excited about the brand’s growth in the region over the next two years.”

The expansion of the Aloft brand in Latin America is part of Starwood’s accelerated growth strategy. The company is strengthening its existing portfolio of 71 hotels in the region by 25 percent with 17 new Starwood properties already scheduled to open by 2016.

“This is an exciting time in Latin America as we continue to see economic growth, rising personal incomes and a growing middle class,” said Osvaldo Librizzi, Co-president of the Americas, Starwood Hotels and Resorts. “The expansion of Aloft into these key markets is yet another milestone in our overall development strategy and is an important step in strengthening our position as the leading hotel operator in Latin America.”

The Aloft brand’s momentum began when the brand made its debut in Latin America in December 2011 with the opening of Aloft Bogota Airport. Only three months later, Aloft San Jose in Costa Rica made its debut reinventing the local landscape with their bold design and a buzzing social atmosphere – all at an affordable price point. Both hotels earned certification for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), from the US Green Building Council (USGBC). Shortly after, Starwood signed a deal to build Aloft Panama City. Now, Aloft is slated for further expansion in three more important markets.

“The Aloft brand is a key part of our aggressive expansion strategy in the region,” said Ricardo Suarez, Vice President of Development & Acquisitions for Starwood in Latin America. “When Aloft premiered in Latin America, it made a bold statement by providing a true alternative to the existing select service products in the marketplace. We’ve seen strong guest and developer demand for this brand and its momentum clearly demonstrates that the region is ready for the next-generation Aloft hotel experience.”

The Aloft brand is a game-changing hotel concept with smart technology and a unique social atmosphere that has made it a worldwide hit. Every Aloft guestroom will feature soaring nine-foot ceilings, bold industrial touches, ultra-comfortable signature platform beds with plush bedding, and plug-n-play docking stations which link tablets, laptops or music devices to the room’s 42” LCD TV.

Aloft hotel’s cool initiatives in music, design, and technology have made it a must-have brand for the next generation traveler. Guests will be able to meet and mingle with friends at the buzzing w xyz® bar, happening re:mix™ lounge. Select properties will also have a rooftop “backyard” for social gatherings. The hotels also feature the hugely popular Aloft signature amenities, including re:fuel by Aloft®, its 24/7 pantry for self-service light meals and snacks with healthy options, and re:charge™, 24/7 gym, as well as relaxation at the hotel’s pool at selected properties.
  • Starwood currently operates 24 hotels in Mexico. Aloft Merida will mark the entrance of the eighth Starwood brand in the country making it yet another milestone for the company. Aloft Merida will be located in the prestigious area of San Antonio, a corporate and shopping destination, just minutes away from the city’s Country Club, Golf Course and the Merida International Airport. Aloft Merida will have 136 rooms and 530 square feet of meeting space.
  • Paraguay’s economy is growing as the country evolves into a relevant business center in Latin America; as its capital, Asuncion is the cornerstone of this transformation. Aloft Asuncion will meet the demands of this growing economy, providing an alternative to business and leisure travelers as well as a social gathering place for local professionals. It will be steps away from the World Trade Center (WTC), an important real estate complex featuring mixed-use real estate development, including corporate offices and conference spaces, food and beverage outlets, support services, and entertainment options. The hotel will feature 120 loft-like rooms and 614 square feet of meeting space.
  • Montevideo is the main economic, political and industrial center of Uruguay, an important country in Latin America. Aloft Montevideo will be located in the heart of Montevideo’s business center minutes from downtown, providing business and leisure travelers a unique option. The hotel will feature 100 loft-like rooms and 2,267 square feet of meeting space, designed to accommodate business and group travel to this important business destination.
  • Aloft Panama will offer business and leisure travelers easy access to downtown and local attractions. This new urban development boasts an ideal location across from the Atlapa Convention Center, 15 minutes from the Tocumen International Airport and 10 minutes away from the financial center. The hotel will be built in two phases. The first phase, with 126 rooms will open in 2013 and the second phase with 186 more rooms will debut in 2016.
About Aloft Hotels
With more than 60 hotels in 10 countries, Aloft has changed the hotel landscape by offering “style at a steal” everywhere from Baltimore to Beijing to Bogota to Brussels – and everywhere in between. For more information, please visit www.alofthotels.com

Aloft, like all brands within Starwood's portfolio, is proud to offer the Starwood Preferred Guest(R) program, which offers a breakthrough policy of no blackout dates on Free Night Awards. To learn more, please visit www.spg.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 1,128 properties in nearly 100 countries and 154,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. Starwood 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, Aloft®, and ElementSM. The Company boasts one of the industry’s leading loyalty programs, Starwood Preferred Guest(R) (SPG), allowing members to earn and redeem points for room stays, room upgrades and flights, with no blackout dates. Starwood also owns Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., a premier provider of world-class vacation experiences through villa-style resorts and privileged access to Starwood brands. For more information, please visit www.starwoodhotels.com.


Contact:

Aloft Global Public Relations
Stacy Trevino
203-964-4661
[email protected]
or
Starwood Hotels and Resorts Latin America
Gina Carriazo Hickey
786-219-5846
[email protected]


 
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Also See: Aloft Brand to Debut in Germany with the 2015 Openings of the 184-room Aloft Munich and the 165-room Aloft Stuttgart / November 2012

To Keep Up with Demand, Starwood Aloft Brand Steps up Growth Through Conversions; Opens the 253-room Aloft San Francisco Airport and the 139-room Aloft Nashville West End / September 2012

Aloft Brand to Debut in Russia with the 200-room Aloft St. Petersburg Slated to Open in 2015; Owned by Remstroyintour LLC and Ludmila Kudryavtseva / August 2012

Aloft Hotels to Debut in South Korea with the 120-room Aloft Suwon; To Be Developed in Partnership with Youngshin HRD, Slated to Open in October 2014 / August 2012

Starwood Breaks Ground for the 118-room Aloft Orlando Downtown in Florida; To be Developed by GDC Properties and Operated by Yedla Management Company, the Hotel is Expected to Open in 2013 / July 2012

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, in Partnership with Urbanedge Hotels, a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) of Auromatrix, Opens the 175-room Aloft Chandigarh Zirakpur in India / July 2012

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide and Silver Hotel Group Open the 131-room Aloft Vaughan Mills in Greater Toronto, Ontario, Canada / May 2012

Starwood to Reposition Four Points Property in Tucson, Arizona as Aloft Hotel; The 150-room Aloft Tucson University will Open Early in 2013 Following the Property Renovation and Conversion / April 2012

Conversions and Adaptive Reuse Projects Enhance Global Growth as Aloft Brand Spreads to New Markets Worldwide; Aims to Open 70th Hotel in 2013 / March 2012

Joint Venture Between Shashi Corporation and Somera Capital Management to Open the 123-room Aloft Cupertino in California in Summer 2013 / March 2012

Starwood’s Aloft Brand Debuts in Latin America with Opening of Aloft Bogota Airport in Colombia and Aloft San Jose in Costa Rica / February 2012

Starwood Closes 2011 Adding the Most New Hotel Rooms in Its History; Momentum Continues with 80 New Hotel Openings Scheduled in 2012 / January 2012

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Relocates Worldwide Headquarters to Stamford, Connecticut; Brings More than 800 Jobs to the State / January 2012

Starwood Hotels Aggressively Expanding its Footprint in India with Plans to Open 20 New Hotels by 2015; Opens New Regional Office in Gurgaon to Support Rapid Growth / January 2012

Starwood's Aloft, Element, and Four Points by Sheraton Portfolio Has Grown 67% in Last Three Years; Will Add Over 30 New Hotels in 2011 / June 2011


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