STARWOOD SAYS “BONJOUR” TO FRENCH POLYNESIA WITH ADDITION OF THREE HOTELS IN TAHITI

SINGAPORE – (April 18, 2000) – Tahiti, long regarded as one of the world’s most romantic and alluring destinations, is now home to the Sheraton Hotel Tahiti, the newest addition to the Sheraton Hotels & Resorts portfolio. Sheraton announced today it has taken over the management contract for the 200-room property in Papeete, one of three properties in French Polynesia that will become part of the Starwood Hotels & Resorts family.

Next to join Starwood will be the exotic, 108-unit Sheraton Moorea Lagoon Resort on Moorea, which will open this fall, and a luxury resort in Bora Bora, scheduled for construction later this year. More than half of the Moorea resort’s private bungalows are “on stilts,” offering French Polynesia’s first air-conditioned, over-water accommodations, as well as dramatic views of Opunohu Bay and Cooks Bay.

The Sheraton Hotel Tahiti, formerly the Outrigger Hotel Tahiti, is set on a tranquil lagoon with panoramic views of Papeete Harbor and the island of Moorea. Tahitian style is reflected throughout the resort. Each guestroom is richly appointed with exotic woods from around the world and has a balcony, air conditioning, ceiling fan, refrigerator, in-room safe and coffee service.

“Tahiti is an ideal destination for the incentive, leisure and honeymoon markets, as well as for the small meetings and corporate transient visitor,” says John Greenleaf, vice president of Sheraton brand management. “It’s an excellent addition to our global portfolio, and one that will thrill our Starwood Preferred Guest members, who can now earn and redeem points (without blackout periods) in paradise.”

An exclusive “Club” level offers a business center, library and hospitality lounge, where continental breakfast and evening hors d’oeuvres are served daily. Meeting and banquet facilities can accommodate up to 500, and an expansive courtyard can cater to groups of up to 1,000. Guests also can take advantage of a swimming pool, water sports program, “over-water” restaurant and two cocktail lounges. A health and fitness center is under development.

The Sheraton Hotel Tahiti, owned by the Societe des Hotels Tahitiens S.A., is conveniently located just minutes from Faa’a International Airport and historic downtown Papeete, the cruise ship harbor and the inter-island ferry to Moorea.

Sheraton, the largest brand of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., has more than 375 hotels in 67 countries. Guests at Sheraton hotels and other Starwood properties can take advantage of the Starwood Preferred Guest program, the only frequent guest program in the industry without blackout dates.

Starwood, through its St. Regis, Luxury Collection, Westin, Sheraton, Four Points and W brands, is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with more than 700 hotels in 80 countries and 120,000 employees at its owned and managed properties.