PHOENIX, Mar 10, 2011 - Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) today announces the opening of its second Westin hotel in Phoenix, Arizona. The Westin Phoenix Downtown offers a prime location just one block from Phoenix Civic Plaza, the city's largest convention and entertainment facility. Owned by National Electrical Benefit Fund, the new hotel offers 242 luxurious guest rooms featuring the brand-new Westin room design, as well as ample meeting facilities and the full suite of Westin signature amenities and services designed to inspire wellbeing in a sophisticated and elegant setting.

The Westin Phoenix Downtown occupies nine floors of a sleek, new 26-story Freeport McMoRan Center located at 333 North Central Avenue. The hotel is a key element to the new development which includes premium office space and valet parking. The hotel is located five miles from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport and is within easy walking distance to the Phoenix Convention Center, US Airways Center, Chase Field, Herberger Theater Center, Phoenix Symphony Hall, Arizona State University's downtown campus, city government and major regional and local business headquarters.

"We are delighted to introduce Westin to dynamic downtown Phoenix, as we continue to accelerate our portfolio growth in key markets across the United States," said Nancy London, Vice President and global leader for Westin Hotels. "Staying at a Westin is simply different. We make the healthiest choices irresistibly appealing, with innovative programs that ensure guests always leave a Westin feeling better than when they arrived."

Upon entering the lobby at street level, guests are immediately greeted with Westin's calming Sensory Welcome, with its subtle White Tea by Westin(R) fragrance, gentle music, customized botanical arrangements and mood lighting. Nature has inspired the color palette and sustainable materials used in the hotel lobby. Reminiscent of the clean lines of Art Deco, the furniture is a relaxing blend of classic and contemporary.

Located immediately off the lobby is Province restaurant, featuring a distinctly American menu with South American and Spanish inspirations. This is Chef Randy Zweiban's second Province (the original is in Chicago). All of the seasonal products are selected from natural and sustainable sources. Organic, biodynamic and sustainable wines from around the world are offered in the restaurant and the bar, along with hand-crafted cocktails. A large patio is available for al fresco dining, and a cascading waterfall from the second level Lapis pool provides a cool and calming backdrop.

The Westin Phoenix Showcases the Brand's New Room Design

Westin is rolling out its highly anticipated, new room design at The Westin Phoenix Downtown. The hotel features the new Westin Classic guestroom design scheme, inspired by natural elements and featuring neutral color palettes, natural woods and stone. The new design concept brings to life the brand's philosophy of preserving wellness on the road in three dimensions and evokes a sense of balance. Decorated with calming colors, rich textures and elegantly sleek furniture, the oversized rooms boast floor-to-ceiling windows, in-room, high-speed Internet access, and an ergonomic work space.

Guests will awaken their senses with the Westin Heavenly Bath(R) experience and restore in the Heavenly Bed(R), a 10-layer ensemble of luxurious comfort featuring a pillow-top mattress set, a cozy down blanket, three crisp sheets, a comforter, duvet and five plush pillows. Guest rooms, along with all areas of the hotel feature LED lighting and were designed to be energy-efficient. For example, key cards rest in a slot near the door and control the lighting - when guests retrieve their keys and leave their rooms, all but one lamp is automatically shut off for maximum efficiency.

Refreshing Alternative to City's Large Convention Hotels

The Westin Phoenix Downtown was designed to serve a different market than the massive downtown convention hotels, explained General Manager, Debra Barton.

"We are delighted to introduce the Westin brand and its signature services and amenities to Phoenix," said Barton. "We are targeting individual business and leisure travelers, smaller upscale corporate meetings, and more intimate social galas and weddings. Our Executive Club provides an even higher level of amenities in its private relaxation lounge with dramatic city and mountain views to the northeast and complimentary continental breakfast, cocktails and hors d'oeuvres."

The Westin Phoenix Downtown offers more than 15,000 square feet of meeting and event space including the 3,000 square foot Copper Ballroom, three large pre-function areas, three smaller meeting rooms, six hospitality suites, a boardroom and the Lapis pool terrace. The unique meeting spaces on Floors 11 and 12 are defined by the grand floor-to-ceiling windows and views of downtown Phoenix and the surrounding Valley, desert and mountains. No other Valley resort or hotel offers this unique conference and event environment, which includes the latest technology offerings, relaxing yet luxurious design scheme, and catering options.

The 24-hour WestinWORKOUT(R) gym is a spacious area, again with spectacular views from its Life Fitness treadmills, cross trainers and upright bikes, strength machines and free weights. The RunWESTIN(R) program provides guests with local three- and five-mile running/walking maps, towels and bottled water.

Westin Hotels & Resorts, like all brands within Starwood's robust portfolio, is proud to offer the Starwood Preferred Guest(R) program, which made headlines when it launched in 1999 with a breakthrough policy of no blackout dates on Free Night Awards. SPG(R) offers members the ability to redeem awards at more resorts, more luxury properties, more European hotels and more golf properties than any other hotel program.

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 1025 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(R), The Luxury Collection(R), W(R), Westin(R), Le Méridien(R), Sheraton(R), Four Points(R) by Sheraton, and the recently launched Aloft(R), 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.