Starwood Announce Realignment of International Divisions

Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) has announced a reorganization of several of its international divisions. Effective immediately, reporting responsibility for the Africa and Middle East regions will be shifted to Starwood's European Division, according to Bob Cotter, Starwood's Chief Operating Officer. The India region will now become part of the Asia Pacific Division, Cotter said.

The regions were formerly part of the Africa, India, and Middle East Division, based in Cairo. With the reorganization, the new divisions will be known as the Europe, Africa, and Middle East Division, headed by Roeland Vos as President, and the Asia, Pacific, and India Division, whose president is Miguel Ko.

'This reorganization will enable us to streamline our operations in a way that produces the maximum benefit for our guests and the owners of the hotels which carry the Starwood brands,' said Cotter.

Cotter also announced the appointment of Philippe Cassis as Senior Vice President and Director of Operations for Africa and the Middle East, reporting to Roeland Vos. Cassis, a 20-year veteran of the hotel industry, was most recently Area Managing Director for Argentina and Uruguay. He will be based in Cairo.

'We are delighted that an executive of Mr. Cassis's stature and experience has consented to undertake this important responsibility on behalf of Starwood's more than 50 hotels in Africa and the Middle East,' Cotter said. 'He is committed, as all of us in Starwood are, to growing our brands and to ensuring that the hotels which carry the Starwood brands remain the finest in the region.'

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with more than 725 properties in 80 countries and 120,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. With internationally renowned brands, Starwood is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchiser of hotels and resorts including: St. Regis, The Luxury Collection, Sheraton, Westin, Four Points by Sheraton and W brands, as well as Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc. one of the premier developers and operators of high quality vacation interval ownership resorts.