St. Regis Hotels & Resorts Kicks off the 2013 Polo Season With HRH Prince Henry of Wales & St. Regis Connoisseur Nacho Figueras

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) announces today that St. Regis Hotels & Resorts will join Sentebale for the highly-anticipated charitable polo match. Taking place at The Greenwich Polo Club on May 15, the event marks the luxury brand’s fourth year supporting Sentebale. Prince Harry, playing for the Sentebale Land Rover Team, and Nacho Figueras, captaining the St. Regis team, will compete in an exhilarating match in an effort to raise awareness and support for the improved healthcare and education of the children of Lesotho, Africa.

St. Regis Connoisseur Nacho Figueras & HRH Prince Harry at an "Evening to Honor Sentebale" at The St. Regis New York in 2010. (Photo: Business Wire)

"I am proud to join St. Regis, Prince Harry and Sentebale once again, and look forward to a great day of polo that will help raise awareness and funds to better the lives of the children of Lesotho,” said Nacho Figueras, St. Regis Connoisseur.

"Polo and philanthropy are innate to the legacy of St. Regis, and we are honoured to continue our support of Sentebale through ‘the sport of kings’,” said Paul James, Global Brand Leader, St. Regis, The Luxury Collection and W Hotels Worldwide. "With Prince Harry and Nacho Figueras on the polo field, it is sure to be a thrilling and memorable day.”

The Sentebale Royal Salute Polo Cup signifies St. Regis’ ongoing support for Sentebale. Last year, Nacho Figueras led the St. Regis team against Prince Harry’s Sentebale team in Sao Paulo, Brazil to raise funds and awareness for the charity. In 2010, Prince Harry attended an "Evening to Honor Sentebale” at The St. Regis New York.

The polo match will mark St. Regis’ return to The Greenwich Polo Club, one of the most prestigious polo clubs in the United States. In 2011, St. Regis held the inaugural St. Regis 1904 Polo Cup at the club, where the St. Regis team took home the winning trophy against the Airstream team, captained by Peter Brant.

St. Regis has long been associated with the world of polo, beginning at the turn of the last century when polo matches on Manhattan’s Governors Island were the highlight of the New York social calendar and where St. Regis’ founding family, the Astors, were a prominent fixture. As St. Regis continues to grow globally, the brand expands its polo presence in nearly as many destinations: this year, hosting spirited polo matches and marquee events in London, Mexico City, Abu Dhabi, Bangkok and Beijing.

Following The Sentebale Royal Salute Polo Cup in Connecticut, St. Regis will host its sixth annual St. Regis International Cup on May 18 at Cowdray Park Polo Club in the United Kingdom. The Audi England team will play against South America, again captained by St. Regis Connoisseur Nacho Figueras, and VIP guests will enjoy the brand’s signature cocktail, the Bloody Mary, champagne and signature St. Regis Afternoon Tea.

For more information on the St. Regis brand’s exclusive polo offerings and events, please visit www.stregis.com/polo. For more information about Sentebale, please visit www.sentebale.org.

About St. Regis Hotels & Resorts

Combining classic sophistication with a modern sensibility, St. Regis is committed to delivering exceptional experiences at 30 luxury hotels and resorts in the best addresses around the world. Since the opening of the first St. Regis Hotel in New York City over a century ago by John Jacob Astor IV, the brand has remained committed to an uncompromising level of bespoke and anticipatory service for all of its guests, delivered flawlessly by signature St. Regis Butler Service. From Bal Harbour to Bangkok, Saadiyat Island to Shenzhen, the St. Regis brand caters to a new generation of luxury travelers and continues to thoughtfully build its portfolio in the most sought after destinations at the heart of today’s grand tour. Plans for the brand to expand its legacy include much-anticipated St. Regis Hotels & Resorts in the Riviera Maya and in Asia, where St. Regis has announced plans to open hotels in Changsha, Chengdu, Kuala Lumpur, Lijiang, Nanjing, New Delhi and Zhuhai. Additionally in Europe, Africa and the Middle East, St. Regis will continue to expand in Abu Dhabi, Amman, Cairo and Dubai. For more information on St. Regis Hotels & Resorts, please visit www.stregis.com, to explore our recent debuts visit www.stregis.com/newgrandtour and for the privilege of residential ownership, please visit www.stregis.com/residences.

About Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with 1,134 properties in nearly 100 countries and 171,000 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®, and Element. 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 also owns Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., a premier provider of world-class vacation experiences through villa-style resorts and privileged access to Starwood brands. For more information, please visit www.starwoodhotels.com.

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