Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. today announced that it has completed the sale of W® New Orleans to Chesapeake Lodging Trust (NYSE: CHSP) for $65 million. This sale comes on the heels of the sale of W New Orleans – French Quarter to Chesapeake Lodging Trust in March 2013.

"Starwood continues its systematic pursuit of an asset-light strategy by selling hotels to owners who share our vision for each property."

"We are delighted to further expand our partnership with Chesapeake Lodging Trust with the sale of our second hotel in New Orleans this year," said Simon Turner, President of Global Development for Starwood. "Starwood continues its systematic pursuit of an asset-light strategy by selling hotels to owners who share our vision for each property."

Mr. Turner added: "We are fortunate to have a quality portfolio of owned assets in a number of high barrier-to-entry markets. With continuing improvements in hotel industry fundamentals, historically low interest rates and improving capital markets conditions, we've seen a meaningful increase in buyer interest in our assets from an increasingly diverse global buyer universe."

As part of the agreement, Chesapeake Lodging Trust will renovate the 410-room hotel located at 333 Poydras Street. Walking distance to the boutiques, art galleries and jazz clubs of the city's historic French Quarter and the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, W New Orleans is also convenient to the Riverwalk Marketplace, Harrah's Casino and the Warehouse District.

The hotel is Chesapeake Lodging Trust's fifth Starwood property, joining W New Orleans – French Quarter, W Chicago – City Center, W Chicago – Lakeshore and Le Méridien San Francisco.

About Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.
Starwood Hotels &

Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with more than 1,300 properties in some 100 countries and approximately 188,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. Starwood is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels, resorts and residences under the renowned brands: St. Regis®, The Luxury Collection®, W®, Westin®, Le Méridien®, Sheraton®,Tribute Portfolio™, Four Points® by Sheraton, Aloft®, and Element®, along with an expanded partnership withDesign Hotels™. The company also boasts one of the industry’s leading loyalty programs, Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG®). Visit www.starwoodhotels.com for more information and stay connected @starwoodbuzz on Twitterand Instagram and facebook.com/Starwood.