MILAN - March 9, 2011 - Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, Inc.  (NYSE:HOT) today announces that its global powerhouse Sheraton Hotels & Resorts has opened a new hotel in Milan, Italy, further expanding the brand's international portfolio. Architecturally stunning and modern in its design, the new Sheraton Milan Malpensa Airport Hotel & Conference Centre is designed by King Roselli Architects and Saporiti Hotel Design. Inspired by Italy's design capital, the chic, contemporary hotel offers amazing views of the Italian Alps, convenient access to the T1 terminal at MalpensaAirport and is only 30 minutes from Milan's city center.

The opening of Sheraton Milan Malpensa is part of the Sheraton brand's strategic expansion plan that includes adding more than 50 new hotels and over 20,000 rooms to the Sheraton portfolio over the next three years. Owned by the Degennaro Group in collaboration with SEA - Airports of Milan, Sheraton Milan Malpensa features 433 rooms, 19 Suites, 58 Club Rooms and a 2100 square foot dedicated Club Lounge for all Sheraton Club Guests. The hotel also features over 21,000 square feet of ultra-modern meeting and event space including a multi-functional room suitable for up to 1,000 people, as well as 22 meeting rooms, making the property an ideal place for business meetings of various sizes, large-scale events, incentive trips, weddings and more.

"We are proud of our long-standing partnership with Mr. Daniele Degennaro and his group that dates back to the early 90s", said Roeland Vos, President, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Europe, Africa and Middle East. "The opening of the new Sheraton Milan Malpensa underlines Starwood's commitment to our continued growth in Italy. This is an iconic addition to the Sheraton brand's impressive portfolio of airport hotels and is sure to set a new industry standard for airport hotels around the world."

"The Sheraton Milan Malpensa is emblematic of our continued focus to grow the Sheraton brand's already robust presence globally by working with our proven development partners to ensure we have best-in-class properties wherever our guests want to travel, " Hoyt H. Harper II, Senior Vice President for Sheraton Hotels & Resorts. Sheraton Milan Malpensa showcases many Sheraton signature brand initiatives, including the brand's signature "Link@SheratonSM experienced with Microsoft®". Complimentary wireless broadband and computer terminals are available in two locations in the hotel, providing travelers with the opportunity to stay connected with instant access to information and technology for work, leisure and social networking. The hotel also features the luxurious, all-white Sheraton Sweet Sleeper Beds®, designed to meet AAA's Five Diamond Award® criteria. Hotel guests and global jet-setters alike have a variety of culinary options at the Sheraton Milan Malpensa, including MonteRosaBarfor casual dining and Mediterranean cuisine and fine wines at Il Canneto. Guests can relax and indulge in an array of beauty and wellness treatments in the Shine SPA for Sheraton, a 10,000 square foot spa and fitness center complete with indoor swimming pool. The hotel also features the brand's revolutionary new health and fitness program, Sheraton Fitness, Programmed by Core Performance.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts currently operates nearly 30 hotels throughout Italy under the following brands: Sheraton, Westin, St. Regis, The Luxury Collection, Le Méridien and Four Points by Sheraton. The Sheraton Milan Malpensa is the latest addition to the existing 10 Sheraton hotels in Italy.