First Westin Hotel in Kuala Lumpur opens

Starwood Hotels & Resorts marked a milestone today in its upper upscale brand, Westin Hotels & Resorts, as it celebrates the opening of the brand's 120th property.

Standing majestically on Jalan Bukit Bintang, the main shopping and entertainment thoroughfare in Kuala Lumpur, The Westin Kuala Lumpur marks the entry of Westin Hotels & Resorts to Malaysia.

The soft opening ceremony of The Westin Kuala Lumpur earlier today was graced with the attendance of local government dignitaries, Board of Directors from the owning company Ireka Corporation Berhad, Starwood executives and distinguished guests from the media and multi-national corporations. The opening ceremony included a ribbon cutting and a Lion Dance performance by the renowned Kun Seng Keng Lion and Dragon Association.

"We are very proud to introduce Westin and its many innovative and signature services and products to travelers visiting Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Westin is known as a highly innovative brand and has launched several "firsts" in the industry, including the groundbreaking introduction of the Heavenly Bed® in 1999, a product that is now available at the magnificent Westin Kuala Lumpur," stated Miguel Ko, President of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Asia Pacific.

"I would also like to applaud the initiatives of the Malaysian Government and Tourism Malaysia in developing Malaysia as one of Asia's primary venues for business, meetings, conferences and of course as a world-class destination for leisure. Malaysia has developed a reputation for its excellent standard of hospitality and customer service and Starwood Hotels & Resorts is proud to contribute towards the continuing growth of Malaysia as a key business and leisure destination," added Ko.

Located on Jalan Bukit Bintang, the famous shopping street in downtown Kuala Lumpur, the 5-Star deluxe Westin Kuala Lumpur boasts 384 rooms and 68 executive residences. The elegant and exclusive guestrooms comprise:

· Deluxe Rooms - contemporary and chic, with a modern décor with magnificent views of the city skyline. All Deluxe rooms feature the famous Heavenly Bed®, separate bath and shower, natural daylight and broadband internet access.

· Westin Suites - Impeccably sleek and inviting, the Westin suite features lots of natural daylight from the living room, bedroom and bathroom. Featuring the Heavenly Bed®, all suites also have spectacular city views from the bathtub.

The Westin Kuala Lumpur also serves a palette of some of the world's finest cuisines with its unique restaurants:

· Prego - a multi-level Ristorante Italiano with a stone Terrazza overlooking vibrant Bintang Walk. It features a food live performance from a show kitchen concept.

· The Living Room - A modern restaurant and stylish lounge that is more than just a café.

· Splash - An ideal location for a refreshing beverage and snack by the pool.

Other facilities at The Westin Kuala Lumpur include a 600 sq meter pillar-less grand ballroom featuring the famous Martin Architectural Lighting that creates unique lighting effects and logo projections for meetings, launches and special events; 12 meeting rooms; a full-service Business Center; and an Executive Club Lounge with 24-hour broadband Internet service.

Westin Hotels & Resorts, with 120 hotels and resorts in 30 countries and territories, is owned by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.