Starwood Hotels & Resorts Expands Presence In Eastern Europe with Le Meridien Batumi

Le Méridien Brand to Debut in the Republic of Georgia’s Spectacular Resort Destination in 2018, Unlocking the City’s Rich Cultural Heritage, Modern Architecture & Diverse Cuisine.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE:HOT), in partnership with Red-Co Ltd, today announced that its Paris-born Le Méridien brand will open in Batumi, the brand's first location in the Republic of Georgia. Scheduled to open in 2018, the 110-room newly constructed hotel will showcase modern architecture and design within the iconic Batumi Tower, a mixed-use development project that also includes a casino and unbranded residences. Designed by the Hausart Project, the landmark Batumi Tower is the tallest structure in the city and features a unique eight-cabin carousel wheel on the 27th floor.

"We thank the owners, Red-Co Ltd, for putting their trust in Starwood, and we look forward to a long and successful working relationship with them," said Michael Wale, President, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Europe, Africa and Middle East. "Le Méridien promises to 'unlock' each destination it enters for its guests and this hotel will inspire creative and curious minded travelers to discover the culture, the arts and cuisine of Batumi."

Located in southwest Georgia on the Black Sea, Batumi is a popular resort destination and the country's summer holiday capital. Le Méridien Batumi will be located within the heart of the city centre, ideally situated on the boulevard along the stunning Black Sea, just steps away from the port of Batumi and adjacent to the captivating Dancing Fountains.

Guests will experience signature amenities from the Paris-born hotel brand including Le Méridien Hub, the brand's innovative reinterpretation of the traditional hotel lobby into an experiential space for creative and curious minded guests to converse, socialize and exchange. The signature Latitude Bar will serve coffee specialties from the brand's long term partner, illy, as well as light bites by day and Sparkling aperitifs by night. The 110 modern guest rooms and suites will offer sweeping Black Sea views and will feature the signature Le Méridien Bed, a spacious work area and functional technology with modern design elements. The curated culinary offerings in the two restaurants promise discovery of new tastes while the Explore Spa, swimming pool and fitness centre will provide guests the opportunity to relax and unwind. The interiors of Le Méridien Batumi will be designed by Tbilisi-based design firm Rooms.

"We are thrilled to expand our presence in Georgia, a growing market at the crossroads of Asia and Europe," said Bart Carnahan, Senior Vice President, Acquisitions & Development, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Europe, Africa and Middle East. "Le Méridien Batumi will join our Sheraton Batumi and Sheraton Metechi Palace hotels in the Republic of Georgia, and will be a great addition to the vibrant city of Batumi."

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 1,200 properties in some 100 countries and over 180,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. Starwood 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, Aloft®, element® and the recently introduced Tribute Portfolio™. The Company boasts one of the industry"s leading loyalty programs, Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG®), allowing members to earn and redeem points for room stays, room upgrades and flights, with no blackout dates. Starwood recently announced plans to spin off its Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc. business, a premier provider of world-class vacation experiences through villa-style resorts and privileged access to Starwood brands, into a standalone public company by the end of 2015. For more information, please visit www.starwoodhotels.com.

Le Meridien
Le Méridien, the Paris-born hotel brand currently represented by nearly 100 properties in more than 40 countries, was acquired by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) in November 2005. With more than 80 of its properties located in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific, Le Méridien provided a strong international complement to Starwood’s then primarily North American holdings at the time of purchase. Since then, Le Méridien has gone through a brand re-launch, which included a large scale hotels product consolidation as well as redefining its brand strategy. Through creation of the LM100 artist community, Le Méridien has transformed numerous guest touch points, thus bringing unique, interactive and curated experiences to its guests. Plans call for dynamic expansion of Le Méridien Hotels and Resorts within the next five years, concentrating on markets in Asia-Pacific and the Americas. Le Méridien recently opened new hotels in Bali (Indonesia), Atlanta (Georgia, USA), Dallas (Texas, USA), Santa Monica (California, USA), Yixing (China), Zhengzhou (China), Cairo (Egypt), and will open in the next 12 months in Bangkok (Thailand), Gujarat (India), Mahabaleshwar (India), Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam), Dhaka (Bangladesh), Chicago (Illinois, USA), Indianapolis (Indiana, USA), Tampa (Florida, USA) and Columbus (Ohio, USA).