LAS VEGAS, M.J. Dean Construction has been named general contractor of the 24.5-acre W Las Vegas Hotel, Casino and Residences project located at Harmon Avenue and Koval Lane. Also named to the project are Klai Juba Architects, Lacina Heitler Architects and Charles Allem Designs. The W Las Vegas is being developed through a partnership between Edge Resorts and Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE:HOT) . The project will encompass a mix of hotel and condo-hotel units and compelling lifestyle amenities.

"Securing our development team for W Las Vegas is a huge step forward," said Reagan Silber, Edge Group Co-Chairman. "M.J. Dean and Klai Juba are among the most respected names in casino-resort development and Lacina Heitler and Charles Allem are two of the world's most visionary design firms."

In January, W Las Vegas secured $232.5 million in pre-development financing led by Societe Generale Corporate & Investment Banking. Utility installation work has begun on the site and the W Las Vegas Residences Welcome Center is nearly complete.

"The market is clearly excited about a W Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas," said Adam Frank, Edge Group President. "The interest in our project and the depth of demand for our condo-hotel residences has far exceeded our lofty expectations."

Development Partners

The project's general contractor, M.J. Dean Construction, is one of Nevada's most prolific firms, managing the construction of 18 hotel/casino projects, many involving high profile Las Vegas mega-resorts on tight schedules including Mandalay Bay, Monte Carlo, LUXOR, Circus Circus, and Hard Rock. M.J. Dean is currently building the 7,200 square foot, $5 million Welcome Center at the site of the future property.

Las Vegas based Klai Juba Architects and Lacina Heitler Architects of New York City are designing the property. Klai Juba is credited with designing many of Las Vegas' premier projects including Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, THEhotel at Mandalay Bay, Hard Rock Hotel and Casino and Four Seasons Hotel. Boutique firm Lacina Heitler's designs for the W Las Vegas were selected from an international group of competing firms.

Charles Allem Designs has been commissioned to design the hotel interiors and condo residences. Allem has been recognized by Architectural Digest as one of the top 100 interior designers.

Overview of the W Las Vegas Hotel, Casino and Residences

The W Las Vegas will be located on 24.5 acres at the intersection of Harmon Avenue and Koval Lane, in the heart of Las Vegas' most exciting development corridor, 500 meters east of the famed Las Vegas Strip. The development will be comprised of a mix of hotel and condo-hotel units, offering owners the benefits of being attached to a W Hotel.

Lifestyle Amenities

The W Las Vegas will embrace the stylish, signature comforts W is renowned for, including striking architecture, multiple restaurants, exhilarating nightlife and a destination spa. It will also be the brand's first property with a casino.

The property will feature a significant collection of restaurants, bars, lounges and nightclubs. Renowned designers will create unique and captivating venues that will be paired with celebrated restaurant, club and bar operators and promoters.

Bliss(R) Spa will offer its trademark treatment menu of facials, massages and body treatments. Founded in 1996 and embraced by beauty obsessed buzz makers, there are currently six Bliss spas worldwide, including those at W Hotels in New York, San Francisco and Chicago.

Additional project plans incorporate a theatre and show venue, distinctive shopping, a premier high-end meetings facility and an expansive pool area.

Residences

W Hotels are celebrated for a modern design aesthetic and the residential units at the W Las Vegas will embody that signature style with floor plans and furnishings designed to delight at every turn and amenities to truly make the experience a home away from home.

Studios, one-bedroom units and suites ranging from 500 to 3,000 square feet will be available for purchase and can be combined to form larger residences. Residences will go on sale to the public in mid-2006 and a reservation list is currently forming at .

Owners will have the benefits of being attached to a W Hotel, including maid service, room service and Whatever/Whenever(TM) concierge services, along with preferred access to dining, nightlife and other amenities.

Residence owners have the option of placing their condo-hotel unit into an organized rental program, allowing owners to make their unit available through the hotel reservations department when they are not using it and share in the revenue that the unit generates.

Notable names reserving residences at the W Las Vegas include Dave Navarro and Carmen Electra, Anne Heche, Paul Walker, DJ AM, Ahman Green of the Green Bay Packers and others. Paris Hilton, a frequent staple of the Las Vegas social scene, reserved an exclusive penthouse, as did poker pro Phil Hellmuth. The World Poker Tour champion bested 50 celebrities and poker professionals to win the W Las Vegas Poker Invitational and celebrated his victory by immediately applying his studio condominium grand prize as a down payment on a $2 million penthouse.

About W Hotels Worldwide | W Hotels is a global lifestyle brand with 20 properties in the most vibrant cities around the world. Inspiring and indulging its guests with thoughtful, refreshing and stylish experiences, signature restaurants, bars and destination spas, W has become the fastest growing luxury hotel brand in the world. Each hotel offers a unique mix of innovative design, comfort and cultural influences from fashion to music to art and everything in between. Recent openings include W's first property in Asia, W Seoul - Walkerhill and its first property in Canada, W Montreal. W Residences, offering the W lifestyle at home, have been announced for Las Vegas, Hollywood, Dallas, South Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Phoenix, Scottsdale and Hoboken. Internationally, W has announced plans for hotels in the Maldives, Barcelona, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Dubai. For more information, visit .

About Edge Group | Edge Group LLC is a development and investment company formed in 2004 by principals Trevor Pearlman, Reagan Silber and Adam Frank to focus on real estate and gaming primarily in the Las Vegas market. Edge Group is the parent company of Edge Resorts LLC, which has formed a partnership with Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. to build The W Las Vegas Hotel, Casino and Residences. Edge Resorts owns 75% of the venture with Starwood owning the remainder. For more information, visit .

Maggie Feldman
+1-702-835-1930
Starwood