St. Regis Hotels & Resorts Celebrates The 26th Annual FOOD & WINE Classic in Aspen with Exceptional Epicurean Events Featuring Celebrated Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten

The magnificent St. Regis Resort in Aspen will once again transform into the ultimate epicurean oasis for a weekend of unparalleled decadence at The 26th Annual FOOD & WINE Classic. Throughout the celebration, St. Regis will offer the festival’s guests the exceptional services and bespoke experiences for which the brand is renowned at one of the best addresses in the world. Combining the legendary St. Regis Butler Service, the crème de la crème of America’s premier chefs, noted wine authorities and leading taste makers, this celebrated event will deliver unrivalled dimensions of luxury to even the most discerning food and wine aficionados. Beginning Thursday, June 12th through Sunday, June 15th, St. Regis Hotels & Resorts will host a series of exclusive culinary events including the official Grand Opening Night Welcome Reception, a private dinner at The St. Regis Aspen Resort with Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten, daily tastings with the nation’s top chefs and wine experts and a private wine tasting and collection preview at the Judith Ripka boutique in Aspen. To complete the quintessential St. Regis experience, the brand’s iconic St. Regis Bloody Mary will be served throughout the FOOD & WINE Classic by the legendary St. Regis Butler Service. Originally created at The St. Regis New York’s famed King Cole Bar in the 1930s, the Bloody Mary has become as synonymous with the St. Regis brand as its renowned St. Regis Butler Service. Both became hallmarks of St. Regis by way of one of New York’s most innovative hoteliers, John Jacob Astor, who looked beyond the opulent flourish to bring meaningful innovation to the experience of luxury. With that goal, service was redefined and a revolutionary institution was created in St. Regis. OPENING NIGHT WELCOME RECEPTION WITH CHEF PATRICK DAHMS Thursday, June 12, 2008 6:00 – 8:00 PM, The St. Regis Aspen Resort Commencing the 26th annual FOOD & WINE Classic, St. Regis Hotels & Resorts will host the Grand Opening Night Welcome Reception. The exclusive event will feature a specially crafted menu of signature dishes by The St. Regis Aspen Resort’s Executive Chef Patrick Dahms and will host a star-studded crowd of over 700 guests including José Andrés, Michelle Bernstein, David Chang, Tom Colicchio, Bobby Flay, Anthony Giglio, Danny Meyer, Masaharu Morimoto, Jacques Pépin, Ming Tsai, Jean-Georges Vongerichten and Joshua Wesson. Guests will sample a unique menu of globally inspired culinary creations from St. Regis’ spectacular destinations around the world including Dungeness Crab and Snapper Ceviche with Crisp Prosciutto from The St. Regis San Francisco, Virgin Mermaids, Oyster and Bloody Mary Shooters from The St. Regis New York, and Eggplant Caponata and Cippolini Onion on Black Olive Focaccia from The St. Regis Rome. EXCLUSIVE DINNER WITH GUEST CHEF JEAN-GEORGES VONGERICHTEN Friday, June 13, 2008 7:00 PM cocktails, 8:00 PM dinner Olives Restaurant at The St. Regis Aspen Resort Tickets $400, Can be purchased by emailing rsvp@stregis.com St. Regis Hotels & Resorts will host a private dinner with celebrity Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten accompanied by a special flight of vintage wines from the Wagner Family's Caymus Vineyards in the Napa Valley. The evening will showcase outstanding wines including Mer Soleil Chardonnay from California's Central Coast, Belle Glos "Gambit Series" single-vineyard pinot noirs, and iconic Caymus Vineyards "Special Selection" Cabernet Sauvignons. Guests will also be invited to enjoy exceptional Ruinart Blanc de Blanc Chardonnay Champagne from Premier Cru Vineyards as well as magnums of Dow’s 1977 Port. One guest of the exclusive dinner will receive an exquisite Judith Ripka ring, in beautiful Lucite box, with a combined value of $3,600. A portion of proceeds from the event will benefit Grow for Good, a national initiative to support local farms and sustainable agriculture. PRIVATE WINE TASTING EVENT AT JUDITH RIPKA, ASPEN Saturday, June 14, 2008 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM, Judith Ripka Aspen The St. Regis Aspen Resort and Judith Ripka will co-host an exclusive wine tasting for 50 VIP guests staying at the Resort during the Aspen FOOD & WINE Classic. Guests are invited to enjoy Trapiche Torrontes wines while previewing the latest jewelry from the Judith Ripka collection. Torrontes, an aromatic, floral white wine comes from Trapiche, the leading winery in Argentina. MOMENTS BY STARWOOD PREFERRED GUEST The Aspen Food & Wine Festival Package Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) members will be treated to exclusive culinary experiences during the 26th annual FOOD & WINE festival with the opportunity to bid "Starpoints” through Moments, the SPG loyalty program’s online auction at www.spg.com/moments. Winners of the Aspen FOOD & WINE package will receive two tickets for admittance to the 26th FOOD & WINE Classic; two seats for the intimate charity dinner prepared and hosted by Chef Jean-Georges; a private tour of The St. Regis Aspen Resort kitchen with Jean-Georges; a signed copy of Jean-Georges' book; and a once-in-a-lifetime chance to spend 20 minutes helping Jean-Georges and his team prepare dinner. ST. REGIS HOTELS & RESORTS GRAND TASTING EVENT Underscoring its commitment to offering exclusive one-of-a-kind events and experiences, St. Regis Hotels & Resorts will host the ultimate Grand Tasting events with America’s top epicurean talent. Guests will have the opportunity to win a fabulous trip to the new St. Regis Bali while indulging in signature St. Regis Bloody Marys. Friday, June 13th 10:45 - 1:00PM 4:30 - 6:15PM Saturday, June 14th 11:30 – 1:30 PM 3:45 – 4:30 PM 4:30 – 6:15 PM Sunday, June 15th 12:30 – 2:00 PM About St. Regis Hotels & Resorts Combining timeless sophistication with modern luxury, the St. Regis brand is uncompromising in its commitment to excellence. Founded by John Jacob Astor with the landmark St. Regis Hotel, New York over a century ago, St. Regis is known for delivering an unrivaled dimension of luxury, bespoke service and refined elegance at the best addresses in the world. The brand plans to further its legacy globally and will unveil highly anticipated St. Regis properties in Atlanta-Buckhead, Baha Mar, The Bahamas, Bahía Beach, Puerto Rico, Bal Harbour and Deer Crest in North America, and in Buenos Aires, Costa Rica, Mexico City and Punta Mita in Latin America. In Asia, St. Regis has announced plans to open properties in Bali, Bangkok, Jakarta, Lhasa, Macao, Osaka and Tianjin. In the Middle East, St. Regis will expand in Cairo, Doha and Bahrain. Personalized service and amenities, enviable locations and luxuriously localized design are recognized worldwide as hallmarks of the St. Regis experience. For more information on St. Regis Hotels & Resorts, please visit www.stregis.com. About Starwood Hotels & Resorts Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE:HOT) is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with approximately 900 properties in more than 100 countries and 155,000 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 AloftSM, and ElementSM. 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.