Brighter Future for Planet is the Goal as Le Meridien Amman Goes Dark for Earth Hour 2011

For Third Year, Starwood Hotels and Resorts Around the Globe Join Together to Mark Environmental Awareness Event

Amman, Jordan, March 30, 2011 --(PR.com)-- By spending an hour in the dark last week, Le Meridien Amman joined millions around the world to send a powerful message about a brighter future for the planet.

Le Meridien Amman turned off its lights in observance of Earth Hour, the global environmental awareness event created by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). Last year, Earth Hour 2010 became the biggest Earth Hour ever. A record 128 countries and territories joined the global display of climate action. Iconic buildings and landmarks from Asia Pacific to Europe and Africa to the Americas switched off. People across the world from all walks of life turned off their lights and came together in celebration and contemplation of the one thing we all have in common – our planet.

To underscore parent Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.’s (NYSE: HOT) dedication to environmental sustainability, Le Meridien Amman also shared other energy-saving measures during Earth Hour, March 26 at 8:30 p.m. local time. Among them: Turning off exterior signage lighting, dimming or turning off non-essential interior lighting, using candlelight in appropriate public areas such as restaurants and bars, and using in-room voicemail messages to inform guests about Earth Hour observances.

Earth Hour is drawing strong support from Starwood hotels around the globe. Last year, unlit hotels offered striking visual imagery that provided an apt symbol of Earth Hour. This year will mark Starwood’s third annual participation in Earth Hour, making it one of the biggest worldwide companies to make a global statement with a voluntary hour of darkness.

About Earth Hour
Earth Hour is a global grassroots movement encouraging individuals, businesses and governments around the world to take positive actions for the environment, and celebrating their commitment to the planet by switching off their lights for one designated hour.

The highlight of Earth Hour 2011 will see the world’s most iconic landmarks go dark for one designated hour, as hundreds of millions of people transcend race, religion, culture, society, generation and geography, switching off their lights in a global celebration of their commitment to protect the one thing that unites us all – the planet. Earth Hour 2011 took place on Saturday 26 March at 8.30PM (local time). More at earthhour.org.

About Le Méridien
Le Méridien, the French-born hotel brand currently represented by 105 properties in 50 countries, was acquired by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) in November 2005. Since then, Le Méridien has undergone a brand transformation, which included a consolidation of its hotels and resorts, appointing a full-time Cultural Curator (French arts-provocateur Jérôme Sans) and re-inventing numerous consumer touch points, by bringing unique, curated and interactive experiences to its guests. With nearly 70 of its hotels located in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific, Le Méridien provides a strong international complement to Starwood’s primarily North American holdings and consumer base. Plans call for dynamic expansion of Le Méridien hotels and resorts within the next five years, concentrating in the U.S., Latin America, and Asia-Pacific, including destinations such as India, Thailand and China. Le Méridien recently opened new hotels in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and Chiang Rai in Thailand, Shimei Bay in China, and Dallas, Texas in the United States. Le Méridien will open hotels in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Panama City, Panama, and Xiamen, Chongqing Nan’an, and Qingdao in China. The company recently signed new hotel deals in Taipei, Taiwan. For more information, please visit www.lemeridien.com.

About Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.:
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with 960 properties in 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.

For more information, please contact the PR department:
Sewar Sawalha
Telephone: 00962 6 5696511 x 1636
Email: sewar.sawalha@lemeridien.com

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Le Meridien - Amman
Sewar Sawalha
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www.lemeridienamman.com
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