DUBAI--May. 8, 2012 -- W Hotels Worldwide (NYSE: HOT) today announced it has signed an agreement with Al Sharq Investment LLC to debut a new W Hotel in Dubai on The Palm Jumeirah. Set to debut in 2016, W Dubai – The Palm will be located in the emirate’s most prestigious residential, leisure and tourism hub and will offer spectacular views of the iconic island, Dubai Marina and the azure waters of the Arabian Gulf.

“We are proud to partner with Al Sharq Investment as we open a new W Hotel in this iconic destination in Dubai,” said Roeland Vos, President, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Europe, Africa and Middle East. “This signing marks an important milestone in our overall growth strategy to expand the W brand in primary cities throughout the Middle East including Doha, Amman, Muscat, Abu Dhabi and Dubai.”

Mr. Ali Al Shehri of Al Sharq Investment added, “We are delighted to work with Starwood in bringing the vibrancy and energy of the W brand to The Palm Jumeirah. Once complete in 2016, W Dubai – The Palm will become the top place to be amongst the icons of The Palm Jumeirah, further elevating Dubai as an unbeatable tourist destination.”

“The W brand’s expansion into Dubai is another milestone in bringing the global design powerhouse to the world’s most exciting and vibrant cities and resort destinations,” said Vincent Gillet, Global Brand Leader, W Hotels and Le Méridien. “W will offer a completely new and distinctive experience to the hotel market in Dubai, providing a stylish escape and innovative design in one of the city’s most premier destinations.”

Through the W brand’s unique and distinctive programming, W Dubai – The Palm will provide a contemporary lifestyle experience with a complete service offer. The hotel will feature 283 stylish guest rooms, including 102 suites, five WOW suites and two Extreme WOW suites (W’s interpretation of a Presidential Suite). W Dubai – The Palm will also offer W exclusives including the brand’s signature W Lounge experience (W’s transformation of the traditional lobby), a glamorous WET pool, SWEAT (W’s state-of-the-art fitness centre) and an AWAY Spa.

The hotel will offer eight contemporary dining and lounge concepts, more than 2,500 square metres of ultra-modern meeting and event space and a full-service WIRED business centre. These offerings will be complemented by the W brand’s signature service promise, Whatever/Whenever®, providing guests whatever they want, whenever they want it.

Starwood currently operates close to 50 hotels in the Middle East and continues to strengthen its long-established position as one of the leading luxury hotel operators in the region. The company is set to open more than 30 hotels in the region over the next few years, representing a portfolio growth of more than 50%. Starwood operates 15 hotels in Dubai, representing the largest concentration of Starwood hotels in any single city outside of New York.

About W Hotels Worldwide
W Hotels is a contemporary, design-led lifestyle brand and the industry innovator with 42 hotels and retreats, including 14 W-branded residences, in the most vibrant cities and exotic destinations around the world. Inspiring, iconic, innovative and influential, W Hotels provides the ultimate in insider access, offering a unique mix of cutting-edge design and passions around fashion, music and entertainment. W Hotels offers a holistic lifestyle experience that is integrated into the brand’s sensibility through contemporary restaurant concepts, glamorous entertainment experiences, stylish retail concepts, signature spas and inspiring residences. With more than 12 years of proven success, W Hotels is on track to reach more than 50 hotels by the end of 2012. W Hotels have been announced for Guangzhou, Milan, Shanghai, Singapore, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Bangkok, Muscat, Mumbai, and Santa Fe, Mexico, while upcoming W Retreats include Verbier and Mexico’s Riviera Maya. For more information, visit www.whotels.com. To live the W Hotels lifestyle 24/7/365, visit www.wresidences.com

About Al Sharq Investment
The unparalleled and enigmatic insight of founder, entrepreneur and visionary Ali S. Al Shehri, has taken the UAE’s real estate industry standards to enviable heights. His leadership has driven his team to create signature projects in the region that are world class, technologically futuristic and innovative the same qualities that have contributed significantly to the UAE’s phenomenal growth in the real estate industry.

Al Sharq Investment offers a rapidly expanding portfolio of state of the art and innovative projects that aims to provide an exclusive experience to its community. For investors in the region, Al Sharq Investment offers a unique and sophisticated window of opportunity. With a core team of dedicated professionals and the highest quality consultants culled from around the world, the company is a magnet for high net worth individuals and organizations who seek landmark investment opportunities and prodigious returns.

(Note: This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of federal securities regulations. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance or events and involve risks and uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated at the time the forward-looking statements are made. These risks and uncertainties are presented in detail in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Although we believe the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, we can give no assurance that our expectations will be attained or that results and events will not materially differ. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.). The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.