WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., Apr 26, 2011 -- Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) today announced its global powerhouse, Sheraton Hotels, and its owners have invested more than $100 million into upgrading 120 Club Lounges around the world, including flagship properties such as Sheraton Waikiki, Sheraton Denver, Sheraton Centre Toronto, Sheraton Hong Kong, Sheraton Buenos Aires and Sheraton Edinburgh. The enhancement to Sheraton Club Lounges - one of the most popular Sheraton signature amenities - is the final chapter of the brand's recent $6 billion revitalization effort. In addition, Sheraton Club Lounges brand-wide are now open seven days a week in response to increased demand from premium corporate and leisure guests.

As business travelers return to the road en masse they will find the newest portfolio of Sheraton Club Lounges in the brand's history. Sheraton Club Lounges are rated as one of the top two benefits of staying at a Sheraton by Starwood Preferred Guest members, who account for half of all Sheraton hotel bookings. Additionally, 50% of Sheraton loyalists like the option of purchasing an upgrade to the Sheraton Club experience, which is available for an average of $75 extra per night. Sheraton boasts a greater percentage of hotels with Club Lounges than its rivals, with the majority offering spectacular views, in addition to upgraded Club amenities: complimentary breakfast, afternoon hors d'oeuvres, beverage service, flat-screen television, Wi-Fi, a selection of daily newspapers and more.

"At a time when our competitors have scaled back their offerings, Sheraton has done the opposite. We decided to invest even further in our global portfolio with significant enhancements to our Club Lounges in order to deliver a higher level of productivity and luxury to our guests, not just on weekdays, but every day of the week," said Hoyt Harper, Global Brand Leader, Sheraton Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. "And our timing couldn't be better. Travel has returned to pre-crisis levels and travelers are once again focused on upgraded amenities and services as key elements of the guest experience."

Most recently, Sheraton unveiled its re-designed Club Lounge at Sheraton Waikiki, a $1 million investment that topped off the hotel's comprehensive renovation. Hawaii's first Sheraton Club Lounge, Leahi, is perched 30 floors above Waikiki Beach and is accessible via Sheraton Waikiki's signature glass elevator on the mountain side of the resort. In May, the Sheraton New York Hotel & Towers will debut a brand new Club Lounge experience offering amazing New York City views and a sophisticated, inviting and warm space for families and business travelers alike.

To learn more about the Sheraton Club Lounge experience visit sheraton.com/club.

Sheraton 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 Sheraton Hotels & Resorts
Sheraton helps guests make connections at more than 400 hotels in 70 countries around the world and recently completed a $6 billion global revitalization and is now in the midst of a $5 billion global expansion over the next three years. Sheraton is owned by and is the largest and most global brand of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with 1025 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(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 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 visit www.starwoodhotels.com .

SOURCE: Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.