Press Releases

03/30/2009

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Hosts Customer Advisory Boards

Industry Leaders Convene at St. Regis Punta Mita Resort in Mexico and
Unite to Stand Up for Travel

White Plains, NY – March 30, 2009 – Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) hosted more than 40 of the travel industry’s top executives for its Luxury and Leisure Customer Advisory Board meetings last week at the recently opened St. Regis Punta Mita Resort in Nayarit, Mexico. 

Starwood formed its customer advisory boards more than 10 years ago as an opportunity to connect with its most valued partners in an interactive and personal setting. For Starwood, the advisory board meetings are an invaluable way to solicit feedback on current programs, while also brainstorming new ways to better meet the needs of travel professionals and guests. This year, the topic that dominated the dialogue was the current state of the travel industry. 

“The members of our advisory boards are seasoned professionals who have experienced the industry in both good times and bad, but they acknowledged the challenges we face today are unprecedented,” said Matt Avril, President, Hotel Group for Starwood Hotels & Resorts. “At this year’s meetings, there was a real spirit of collaboration and sense of urgency to seek ways we could band together to stand up for travel. We all share a mutual need for consumers to renew their commitment to leisure travel and much of our discussion centered around how we can do that together.”

Coming out of the meetings, board members agreed to join Starwood, US Travel and engage their associates in a grassroots campaign to defend and encourage travel of all kinds, and within all segments.

Last week’s summit was of heightened significance not only due to the current state of the industry, but also because of its location in Mexico.  Delegates at the meeting universally expressed the importance of continuing to encourage their clients to travel to the country’s premier tourist destinations.

"With all the warnings about travel to Mexico, it was in interesting time to attend a Starwood meeting at the St. Regis Punta Mita,” Valerie Ann Wilson, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of Valerie Wilson Travel, Inc. “During my stay, I personally felt totally safe.  I look forward to sharing my wonderful first-hand experience with our team and our clients. "


About Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with more than 940 properties in approximately 97 countries and 145,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. Starwood Hotels is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels, resorts and residences with the following internationally renowned brands: St. Regis®, The Luxury Collection®, W®, Westin®, Le Méridien®, Sheraton®, Four Points® by Sheraton, and the recently launched Aloft®, and Element SM.  Starwood Hotels also owns Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., one of the premier developers and operators of high quality vacation interval ownership resorts. For more information, please visit www.starwoodhotels.com.