Lincoln Square will be located on the southeast corner of Northeast 8th and Bellevue Way, across from Bellevue Square and adjacent to the new Bellevue Art Museum. Bellevue, in the heart of the technology corridor, is located 15 minutes east of downtown Seattle. In addition to The Westin Bellevue, the complex will also include a 27-floor office tower, 182 residential units above the hotel, 150,000 square feet of retail space, five restaurants, an athletic club, an 18-screen AMC Megaplex theater and an underground garage for over 2,200 vehicles.

"We are extremely pleased to partner with Westin as our hotel flag for Lincoln Square," said Ian Gillespie, of Westbank Projects Corp. in Vancouver, B.C., a partner of Lincoln Square, LLC. "Westin's level of excellence is consistent with the high standards which we have set for this project."

Preliminary plans call for a 304-room hotel with over 13,000 square feet of meeting space including a 7,300 square foot ballroom, a three-meal-a-day restaurant, lobby lounge, gift shop and full-service business center with technology support for computer troubleshooting, configuration, maintenance and repair. Microsoft Consulting Services (MCS) has taken a key role in the project and will provide all essential system integration and software design management, as technology is one of the main focuses of the Lincoln Square development. The hotel will utilize the latest advances in communication technology and design, allowing guests to experience the ultimate personalization, integration and recognition services, delivered via high-speed technology infrastructure. It is anticipated that guest rooms will feature an integrated state-of-the-art "information appliance," serving as a central access point for all types of entertainment, voice, data and video streaming services.

"We are very excited about the prospect of bringing together the talents and collective experience of Westin Hotels Resorts, Westbank Projects Corp. and Microsoft," remarked Juergen Bartels, chief executive officer of Starwood Hotels Resorts Worldwide, Inc.-Hotel Group. "This hotel will be a wonderful addition to the Westin collection. We are confident that the power of the Westin brand combined with the technological features and prime location of this project will make The Westin Bellevue one of the area's top hotels."

Guests of The Westin Bellevue will enjoy added benefits unique to Westin. Service Express(R), a "one call does it all" concept exclusive to Westin hotels and resorts allows guests to dial one number on their telephone to order room service, call for a bellman or a room attendant or have any other request filled.

Additionally, Westin addresses the special needs of families traveling with children with its Westin Kids Club(R) program. The club includes provisions for children's safety and security as well as conveniences designed to make overnight and dining experiences more enjoyable for both parents and children. Guests who stay at the Westin will be able to earn their way toward free travel in Starwood's new frequent guest program, Starwood Preferred Guest. With more than 550 participating hotels and resorts in more than 60 countries, including 100 resorts around the world, the new program is the industry's most global and promises to be the best of the competition with a structure focused on simplicity, flexibility in redemption options and inclusion of all of Starwood's brands.

Starwood operates 17 hotels in the Pacific Northwest including the 891-room Westin Seattle and The Westin Bayshore in Vancouver, B.C., currently undergoing a multi-million dollar renovation. The Salishan Lodge on the Oregon Coast joins Westin as The Westin Salishan Lodge Golf Resort, Gleneden Beach effective March 1.

Additionally, Westin has four Pacific Northwest properties under development including The Westin Grand in downtown Vancouver, B.C. (slated to open in April), The Westin Portland (scheduled to open in August), The Westin Resort Whistler (set to open Jan. 2000) and The Westin Sea-Tac (estimated opening in 2000). Westin Hotels Resorts, with more than 105 hotels and resorts in 23 countries, is owned by Starwood Hotels Resorts Worldwide, Inc. Starwood Hotels Resorts Worldwide, Inc., through its Sheraton, Westin, St. Regis/Luxury Collection, Four Points, W and Caesars subsidiaries, has approximately 690 hotels in nearly 71 countries with some 230,000 rooms and 125,000 employees, and is one of the largest hotel and gaming companies in the world.