Paradise Found: The Dominican Republic's New Westin Roco Ki Beach & G

Paradise Found: The Dominican Republic's New Westin Roco Ki Beach & Golf Resort Will Feature Native Cultural Influences Set in a Lush Tropical Setting

    Business Editors

    WHITE PLAINS, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 4, 2005--

New Westin Resort Breaks Ground Near Punta Cana on the Eastern Shore
    Paradise has found a new address - The Westin Roco Ki Beach & Golf Resort, currently under construction in the Dominican Republic and scheduled to open in November 2006. Nestled in a lush tropical landscape on the azure-blue waters of the Caribbean Sea, and adjacent to the white silky sands of Macao Beach, this spectacular resort will be situated near the popular resort area of Punta Cana. Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) will manage the resort under its upper-upscale brand, Westin Hotels & Resorts. The property is owned by Macao Beach Resort, Inc., a subsidiary of Geostar, Inc. which has tourism investments worldwide.
    The 315-room resort is taking great care to achieve a harmonious balance between luxurious comfort for guests and the diversity of environments on the property - ocean, wetlands, tropical forests, mangroves, cliffs and rolling hills. The property will feature architecture and exhibits honoring the ancient Taino culture. The resort's name, Roco Ki, which in the Taino language means "honoring the land," reflects the cultural and ecological balance of the area's natural attributes.
    "This spectacular and unique resort will be Westin's fifth property in the Caribbean and strengthen the brand's presence in this region," said Sue Brush, senior vice president, Westin Hotels & Resorts. "The Westin Roco Ki will feature a regional and cultural flavor that will strike a chord with our guests who want to experience a distinctive, one-of-a-kind resort."
    The resort will include 315 guest accommodations including 20 Jungle Luxe Bungalows, and 56 two and three bedroom luxury condo units. These exotic bungalows celebrate the historical heritage of the site and are the embodiment of the spiritual, tranquil and romantic ambiance the resort will bring to guests. Roco Ki also includes a residential community, comprised of private luxury homes as well as "Cliffside" Villas and Jungle Luxe Bungalows.
    All resort guestrooms will be outfitted with Westin's signature Heavenly Bed, the epitome of luxury bedding replete with a sumptuous pillow top mattress, high-thread count sheets, down duvet and down pillows. Guests will also enjoy Westin's Heavenly Bath which consists of custom-designed dual showerheads with a choice of spray options from light mist to massaging needles and amenities which feature plush bathrobes, oversized Brazilian combed cotton bath sheets and invigorating bath products.
    The resort will also feature a multitude of world-class amenities including an 18-hole championship Nick Faldo Signature Golf Course managed by Troon, The Spa at Westin Roco Ki, seven restaurants, seven elegant lounges and bars, a gourmet market, six tennis courts, six swimming pools, an aquatic sports complex, marina and over three miles of magnificent white-sand beach. There will also be a two-story, 2,700 square foot Activity Center that will house a Westin Kids Club, arts and crafts rooms, game arcade, movies, lecture hall and evening entertainment.
    The resort will have 20,000 square feet of versatile state-of-the-art meeting and conference space in 14 different rooms, the largest accommodating over 700 persons. All public and function space areas will have wireless Internet. The Spa at The Westin Roco Ki Beach & Golf Resort will encompass 18,000 square feet, featuring 15 treatment rooms with specialty treatments that incorporate the rejuvenating methods and natural ingredients indigenous to this tropical region.
    Westin Hotels & Resorts, with 121 hotels and resorts in 31 countries and territories, is owned by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. and was ranked "Highest in Guest Satisfaction Among Upscale Hotels Chains." in the J.D. Power and Associates' 2004 North America Hotel Guest Satisfaction Study(SM) and voted Best Domestic Hotel Chain by Global Traveler Magazine. Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with approximately 750 properties in more than 80 countries and 120,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. With internationally renowned brands, Starwood(R) corporation is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels and resorts including: St. Regis(R), The Luxury Collection(R), Sheraton(R), Westin(R), Four Points(R) by Sheraton, and W(R), Hotels and Resorts as well as Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., one of the premier developers and operators of high quality vacation interval ownership resorts. For more information, please visit www.starwoodhotels.com

Please contact Starwood's new, toll-free media hotline at (866)4-STAR-PR (866-478-2777) for photography or additional information.

JOURNALISTS - PLEASE NOTE: JOIN STARWOOD'S PRESS RELEASE ALERT SERVICE TO RECEIVE STARWOOD COMPANY NEWS AND INFORMATION

To become a member, simply access the Starwood website, at: www.starwood.com/press Once you reach the home page, enter your e-mail address, and click "Subscribe".

--30--RC/ny*

CONTACT: Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. Media Ellen Gallo / Mark Ricci 914-640-8167 / 914-640-8496 or M. Silver Associates Linda Ayares, 212-754-6500 Fax: 212-754-6711 linda@msilver-pr.com or The Westin Roco Ki, Beach & Golf Resort David H. Krech, 305-792-1501 Fax: 305-792-1505 david.krech@westin.com

KEYWORD: NEW YORK INTERNATIONAL LATIN AMERICA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: SPORTS TRAVEL REAL ESTATE BUILDING/CONSTRUCTION PRODUCT SOURCE: Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.

Copyright Business Wire 2005