Starwood Preferred Guest

NEW YORK, April 7 /Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.'s HOT global portfolio of hotels and its newly developed loyalty program, Starwood Preferred Guest, have proven to be very popular with today's traveler. In just two months, over 500,000 new members have enrolled. An average of 9,000 new members join each day.

And members are redeeming for free stays. Since the February 1999 launch of Starwood Preferred Guest, more than 10,000 members have redeemed their Starpoints for a total of 17,000 free nights. The most popular hotels honoring award stays are:

  • (1)The St. RegisNew York NY
  • (2)Caesars PalaceLas Vegas NV
  • (3)Sheraton RomaRome, Italy
  • (4)Walt Disney World Swan& Dolphin, Orlando
  • (5)The Park LaneLondon, UK
  • (6)Prince de GallesParis, France
  • (7)The Westin MauiMaui
  • (8)Sheraton at Fisherman's WharfSan Francisco
  • (9)Sheraton World ResortOrlando
  • (10)The Westin Copley PlazaBoston

"We designed Starwood Preferred Guest to be the best hotel loyalty program in the world," said Juergen Bartels, Chief Executive Officer-Hotel Group, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. "In the past, most travelers avoided frequent guest programs because they were confusing, cumbersome and highly restrictive due to blackout dates and capacity controls. No more! We wanted to be simple, valuable and flexible_we are_and people are responding."

Starwood Preferred Guest boasts no blackout dates, no capacity controls and offers members access to a superior luxury portfolio, including 53 upscale properties and resorts featured in the 1999 Conde Nast Traveler Gold List. As long as one of our hotels is not sold out, our standard guestrooms are available for redemption. Simply, if a Starwood hotel has a room, program members have an award stay, just the same as our top paying guests.

Members can redeem Starpoints for free nights at Starwood's six renowned hotel brands: Westin Hotels & Resorts, Sheraton Hotels & Resorts, St Regis./Luxury Collection, Four Points Hotels, Caesars World and W Hotels. With more than 600 participating hotels and resorts in more than 70 countries, Starwood Preferred Guest is the industry's most global rewards program. Its simplicity, flexibility and availability make Starwood Preferred Guest the best and most rewarding loyalty program in the industry.

Starwood is the world's largest hotel and gaming company which, through its subsidiaries, operates the Sheraton, Westin, St. Regis/Luxury Collection, Ciga, Four Points by Sheraton, W and Caesars brands. Starwood's portfolio of owned, manages and franchised hotels and casinos include approximately 690 hotels and casinos in 72 countries with over 223,000 rooms.

K.C. Kavanagh
914 640-8339
Starwood