Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc. to Develop Westin Vacation Ownership Resort in Rancho Mirage, California

ORLANDO, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 7, 2000--Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc. is pleased to announce its newest Westin-branded vacation ownership resort at the acclaimed Westin Mission Hills Resort in Rancho Mirage, California.

Overlooking the Pete Dye Golf Course, Westin Mission Hills Resort Villas is adjacent to the hotel and offers its owners and guests full access to the multiple swimming pools, fitness center and spa, restaurants and recreational facilities of the Westin Mission Hills Resort.

The Westin vacation ownership villas will attract sophisticated travelers seeking new vacation experiences with the privilege of ownership. The villas offer flexible ownership plans with the ability to trade to select vacation ownership resorts within Starwood vacation ownership family of resorts as well as to any of the 1,800 resorts in the Interval International exchange network. In keeping with Westin's 70-year history of innovative leadership and impeccable style, each Westin ownership resort will feature luxurious accommodations and amenities guests would expect from one of the most popular and highly regarded brands in the industry.

Brands such as Sheraton and Westin will have a major impact on the future growth of the vacation ownership industry. Industry trends show that brands are an important component of the decision making process and we believe that there is a significant market for a Westin-branded vacation ownership product, said Raymond L. Rip Gellein, Jr., chairman and chief executive officer of Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc.

The Westin Mission Hills Resort Villas will begin presales later this year. The 158 villa resort is located on nearly 20 acres adjacent to the hotel overlooking the Pete Dye Golf Course and offers guests the combination of first class accommodations in a spectacular setting. The interiors feature soothing desert colors with jewel tones. The furniture is traditional with a cutting edge attitude to create simple elegance and modern casual comfort.

Each villa comes with the luxuries of a well appointed home including a fully-equipped kitchen, living and dining room, televisions in each of the private bedrooms, a fireplace in the master bedroom, a large whirlpool tub in the master suite, private balcony and a television and stereo system in the living room. No details have been overlooked including ceiling fans, black out draperies in the bedrooms, stone kitchens and baths as well as multiple showerheads in the large walk-in shower.

This resort is the perfect complement to the existing features of the Westin Mission Hills. Our owners and guests will have full access to all the amenities at the resort including the two championship golf courses, fitness center and spa and the Westin Kids Club. We are extremely excited to add this resort to our other Starwood Vacation Ownership Resorts, said Gellein.

Those guests and owners who choose to use the Westin Mission Hills Resort Villas' amenities will enjoy the oasis theme carried throughout the property with dramatic water features. One of the resort's main attractions will be the recreation area with a large adult pool with private cabanas and two water slides. Additional activities upon completion of the resort include a putting green, basketball court, private BBQ and picnic area and an activity center.

Westin Mission Hills Resort Villas is the second Westin Vacation Ownership resort built adjacent to an existing Westin hotel. The first opened in 1997 at the Westin Resort, St. John in the U.S.V.I. Since its formation last year, Starwood Vacation Ownership has branded the following resorts under the Sheraton flag: Sheraton's Vistana Resort in Orlando, Florida; Sheraton's Vistana Resort at World Golf Village in St. Augustine, Florida; and Sheraton's PGA Vacation Resort in Port St. Lucie, Florida. In addition, resorts under construction will also fly the Sheraton flag including: Sheraton's Mountain Vista in Avon, Colorado and Sheraton's Vistana Villages in Orlando, Florida.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) 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.

CONTACT: Vistana Inc., Orlando
David Matheson, 407/239-3155

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