BILOXI, Miss. - June 17, 2010 - Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) announces the grand opening of Four Points by Sheraton Biloxi Beach Boulevard is scheduled for Thursday, July 1, 2010. Atlanta�s Live Oak Partners and Minneapolis-based Wischermann Partners, an award-winning team of development and hospitality professionals with over 25 years of experience, have developed and will manage the property. The hotel is owned by Ike Thrash and Chris Cope.

�We�re thrilled with this location � steps from the beach and casinos � and we�re ready to open at the height of the summer season,� said Euan McGlashan, project Managing Partner. �We�ve worked closely with Starwood Hotels & Resorts to bring this project to fruition to provide visitors to Biloxi a new, stylish hotel option at a value-driven price.�

The Four Points by Sheraton Biloxi Beach Boulevard represents a significant investment in the future of the Mississippi Gulf Coast in the midst of a troubled national economy. While generating 80 jobs for Biloxi, it is also one of the very few hotels to open since Hurricane Katrina in 2007. The hotel�s central Biloxi location provides immediate access to the restored beach, the famed Beau Rivage and Hard Rock Hotel casinos, numerous area golf courses and the Gulfport/Biloxi International Airport.

Situated across from the newly restored beachfront on the site of a former condominium building damaged by the hurricane, Four Points by Sheraton Biloxi Beach Boulevard offers commanding views of the Gulf of Mexico. The hotel�s 195 modern and stylish oversized, non-smoking rooms feature Four Points signature amenities, including the ultra-comfortable Four Comfort bed, free high-speed Internet access and daily in-room signature breakfast service. The hotel also boasts a beautiful outdoor pool and deck with water views, a fully-equipped fitness center, state-of-the-art meeting and conference facilities, and convenient services administered by a superb staff fully-trained to make every stay great.

�We pride ourselves on bringing our guests just what they want during their stay in Biloxi � comfort that isn�t complicated in an environment where they can put their feet up, let their hair down or get their work done,� noted the hotel�s General Manager Kenny Glavan. �Four Points by Sheraton Biloxi Beach Boulevard ushers in a new era for the Gulf Coast and will set the tone for the area�s hospitality industry in the future.�

Food and Beverage operations are spearheaded by Executive Chef Shayne Varone and include the Four Points by Sheraton lobby breakfast station complete with pastries and all-day coffee service. Lunch and dinner feature American classics and Gulf Coast favorites with Chef Varone�s contemporary twist. The hotel also features local craft brews, courtesy of the popular Four Points Best Brews® offering, and expansive outdoor dining poolside.

About Four Points by Sheraton
Four Points by Sheraton, with 150 great hotels in 24 countries, offers the self-sufficient traveler a new kind of style and comfort combined with a �can-do� service � all at an honest value. Four Points hotels are everywhere travelers need to be � located in easy-to-reach areas close to major airports, suburban centers, urban hot spots and resort and vacation destinations.

Four Points by Sheraton, like all brands within Starwood�s portfolio, is proud to offer the Starwood Preferred Guest® program, which made headlines when it launched in 1999 with a breakthrough policy of no blackout dates on Free Night Awards. To learn more, please visit www.spg.com.

About Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with 1000 properties in nearly 100 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 ElementSM. 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 visitwww.starwoodhotels.com.