The Westin St. Lucia Strikes a Perfect Balance of Architectural Majesty and Natural Beauty; Westin Hotel to Be Centerpiece of Le Paradis, Praslin Bay's New Luxury Development

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT)and DCG Properties Ltd., announce plans for a spectacular Westin hotelas the centerpiece of Le Paradis, a new luxury development on theidyllic Caribbean island of St. Lucia in the West Indies. Phase One ofthis luxury condominium resort will feature 92 two-bedroom units and16 three-bedroom units, totaling 232 guest rooms, all with views ofPraslin Bay. Amenities include an 18-hole Greg Norman-designed golfcourse managed by Troon, Clubhouse, a 9,125 square-foot spa with 16treatment rooms and a casino amenity. Future construction includesWestin branded and serviced residences; an additional 324 hotel rooms;expansion of the spa to 26 treatment rooms; a total of 23,000 squarefeet of indoor and outdoor meeting space; a 50-slip marina; marinavillage, additional mixed-use components and more. Starwood willmanage the hotel and condominiums under its upper-upscale brand,Westin Hotels & Resorts. Phase One is scheduled to open in August2007.

Nestled in the lush coastal foothills of the east coast of SaintLucia, the 554-acres of Le Paradis, showcases the island's stunningbeauty matched by no other location in the Caribbean. Providing asecluded yet accessible tropical haven and embraced by almost 3 milesof coastline, Le Paradis boasts small bays and distinctive peninsulasall within 20 minutes from the Hewennorah International Airport atVieux Fort. From the shoreline, the land rises to a height of morethan 600 feet, generating breathtaking and unforgettable views of theisland's natural wonders and the ocean beyond.

"St. Lucia is a perfect destination for Westin's strategicCaribbean expansion," said Sue Brush, senior vice president for WestinHotels & Resorts. "This resort will provide the perfect venue for aunique and memorable experience for our guests where they can relax,refresh and have a renewed outlook."

"Le Paradis is destined to be the next Caribbean paradise and St.Lucia's premier luxury development offering the best in resortliving," said Kierron Dolby, developer and managing director of DCGProperties Limited. "The Westin name and its strong loyalty base willattract the exact customer we are targeting for guests of the hotel,as well as potential owners of the condominiums."

The architecture of the hotel is reminiscent of its colonial pastwith a mix of Anglo-French Caribbean tones incorporating traditionalelements of timbered balconies and verandahs, stylish ship-lapboarding, shingled roofs of native wood and spectacular roof linesincorporating ginger-bread fret work. Designed to maximize the indoorand outdoor living experience while encompassing every modern amenity,the exterior finishes of rustic detail ensure that the buildingelevations harmonize with nature and the topography of the landscape.

Westin's signature Heavenly Bed(R) and Heavenly Bath(R) will graceevery guestroom and the hotel will also offer the brand's newfully-equipped WestinWORKOUT(R) Rooms and WestinWORKOUT(R) Powered byReebok fitness center. The Westin St. Lucia will provide indoorconference facilities totaling more than 8,000 square feet. Futureconstruction will add 9,000 square feet of indoor space and anadditional 6,000 square feet in two outside pavilion areas for a totalof more than 23,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting space.Other guest services include a specialty restaurant, entertainmentlounge and bar and a poolside snack bar.

The 18-hole Greg Norman championship course will featurebreathtaking ocean views from each hole, including a signature hole atthe 14th green - 175 yard, par 3 - elevated at 130 feet above sea-level with magnificent views of coral-rich coastlines and soothingaquamarine seas. As one of the most challenging and exhilarating golfholes in the world, the green is situated at the end of the peninsula,almost completely surrounded by ocean with dramatic vertical cliffsfacing to the ocean below. To culminate the golfing experience, the19th hole will be located at an elevation of more than 275 feet withstunning panoramic views over the course, the bay and the ocean.

Westin's new brand positioning is centered on renewal and offeringguests the services, products and amenities that will help themrejuvenate, relax and restore their mind, body and spirit. In keepingwith this brand message, all Westin hotels in the U.S., Canada and theCaribbean will be smoke-free as of February 2006.

Westin Hotels & Resorts, with 121 hotels and resorts in 31countries and territories, is owned by Starwood Hotels & ResortsWorldwide, Inc. and was ranked "Highest in Guest Satisfaction AmongUpscale Hotels Chains." in the J.D. Power and Associates' 2004 NorthAmerica Hotel Guest Satisfaction Study(SM) and voted Best DomesticHotel Chain by Global Traveler Magazine. Starwood Hotels & ResortsWorldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies inthe world with approximately 850 properties in more than 95 countriesand 145,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. Starwood(R)Hotels is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotelsand resorts with the following internationally renowned brands: St.Regis(R), The Luxury Collection(R), Sheraton(R), Westin(R), FourPoints(R) by Sheraton, W(R), Le Meridien(R) and the recently announcedAloft(SM). Starwood Hotels also owns Starwood Vacation Ownership,Inc., one of the premier developers and operators of high qualityvacation interval ownership resorts. For more information, pleasevisit www.starwoodhotels.com.

(Note: This press release contains forward-looking statementswithin the meaning of federal securities regulations. Forward-lookingstatements are not guarantees of future performance or events andinvolve risks and uncertainties and other factors that may causeactual results or events to differ materially from those anticipatedat the time the forward-looking statements are made. These risks anduncertainties are presented in detail in our filings with theSecurities and Exchange Commission. Although we believe theexpectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are basedupon reasonable assumptions, we can give no assurance that ourexpectations will be attained or that results and events will notmaterially differ. We undertake no obligation to publicly update orrevise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of newinformation, future events or otherwise.)
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