The Luxury Collection® Hotels & Resorts Boosts Global Growth with Four Marquee Hotel Openings in Europe

Following the announcement of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE:HOT) investing $300 million in coordination with its owner partners to expand and improve The Luxury Collection® portfolio in North America, Starwood’s largest luxury brand today announced that it will expand its European portfolio by four. . With the addition of Augustine in Prague, Caresse Resort & Spa in Bodrum, Falisia Resort & Spa in Portopiccolo, Italy and Grand Hotel River Park in Bratislava to its illustrious portfolio, The Luxury Collection will surpass 100 hotels globally by the end of this year. This effort is made in tandem with the ongoing investment of more than $500 million by Starwood and hotel owners to restore some of the most iconic The Luxury Collection hotels in Europe.

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Augustine, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Prague - Refectory Bar 1887 (Photo: Business Wire)

"We look forward to building a long-term relationship with our owner partners with each of these exciting projects under The Luxury Collection brand, as we continue to grow in both established and emerging destinations in Europe,” said Michael Wale, President, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Europe, Africa and Middle East. "Growing in lockstep with the increasing global demand for luxury, Starwood remains focused on working with the right partners on the right properties in destinations emblematic of new luxury travel trends.”

"There is enormous untapped potential for The Luxury Collection; and with these new hotel openings, Starwood is putting a stake in the ground for The Luxury Collection to become the world’s largest luxury hotel brand by year’s end,” said Hoyt H. Harper II, Global Brand Leader, The Luxury Collection Hotels & Resorts. "Owners of independent luxury hotels are finding tremendous value in Starwood’s powerful distribution, loyalty and sales platforms; and this announcement reinforces that The Luxury Collection is a brand that celebrates the unique character of each of its hotels while driving greater returns.”

Augustine, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Prague (opened June 30)

Located in the picturesque Malá Strana district in the heart of the city’s UNESCO World Heritage center, Augustine is adjacent to Wallenstein Garden and within walking distance of Prague Castle and Charles Bridge. With just over 100 luxuriously-appointed guestrooms and suites, the hotel occupies seven historic buildings, the largest of which is the 13^th century St. Thomas Monastery. Set against a varied architecture of Baroque, Renaissance and Gothic styles, the hotel’s elegant interiors reflect the building’s monastic history, complete with furnishings inspired by the 1930s Czech cubism movement. The hotel as also features an intimate ballroom, four meeting rooms, fitness center and spa. Guests can enjoy hearty Czech cuisine in The Augustine restaurant, as well as cocktails and beer in the Refectory Bar 1887, a barrel-vaulted hall that used to be the monastery refectory. Owned by Augustine Management S.R.O., Augustine marks the entry of The Luxury Collection brand into the Czech Republic.

Caresse, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Bodrum (opened July 1)

Marking the entry of Starwood and The Luxury Collection brand into Bodrum, Turkey’s most prestigious resort destination, Caresse Resort & Spa features 84 contemporary rooms, suites and residences with panoramic views of the tranquil bay. Caresse offers five culinary venues including all-day dining restaurant: Glass and Glass Lounge, La Plage beach restaurant and a sushi bar. Luxury leisure facilities at the resort include an extensive 17,000 square foot spa, offering ESPA products and relaxing treatments; a yacht for private excursions; indoor and outdoor pools, a fitness center, as well as tennis and basketball courts. The resort’s white sand beach and overwater deck are ideal for intimate celebrations as well as sophisticated events for up to 500 guests, while the two meeting and board rooms are perfectly suited for business presentations. The newly opened resort is the center piece of an exclusive development owned by A.E.B. Turizm Yatirim Ticaret A.S. (part of the Büyükhanli Kardesler group of companies), which also includes 64 branded residences, a beach club and various dining and retail venues.

Falisia, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Portopiccolo (opening July 18)

Owned and operated by Rilke Srl, Falisia Resort & Spa is located in the exclusive Portopiccolo Sistiana beachfront development in northeastern Italy on the Adriatic coast. The idyllic resort will feature 65 elegant rooms and suites, a private beach with an infinity pool, two restaurants serving gourmet and healthy cuisine, a lounge bar, a dedicated spa and three meeting rooms. Falisia Resort & Spa will become part of a contemporary and sustainable village, poised to become a thriving coastal retreat with residential units, a beach club, marina, several retail and dining venues. Offering breathtaking sea views, the resort is ideally situated within a short drive from the airports in Venice and Trieste, and close to the borders of Slovenia and Croatia. Falisia will be the seventh Luxury Collection hotel in Italy, where the brand has its origins and continues to grow with the recent opening of the newly renovated Excelsior Hotel Gallia in Milan.

Grand Hotel River Park, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Bratislava (opening August 1)

Designed by the award-winning Dutch architect Erick van Egeraat, the prestigious hotel is owned by Best Hotel Properties a.s., which will also take over management of the hotel when it joins The Luxury Collection in August. Grand Hotel River Park is at the heart of an ambitious city development project, which includes residences, offices and retail shops, appealing to the cosmopolitan lifestyle of young and modern Slovakia. Located directly on the river bank of the Danube, the hotel is situated 10 minutes on foot from the old city center. Grand Hotel River Park features 231 rooms and suites, two restaurants and a lobby bar, an indoor pool, as well as a fitness center and spa, two ballrooms and five meeting rooms.

"We continue to see new-build opportunities in the region, such as Caresse and Falisia, which are part of multi-unit developments,” said Bart Carnahan, Senior Vice President Acquisition & Development, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Europe, Africa & Middle East. "At the same time, conversions remain a key part of our growth strategy, enabling us to add established hotels, such as Augustine and Grand Hotel River Park into the Starwood system. With these new additions to The Luxury Collection, the brand will boast 43 unique hotels and resorts in Europe.”

About The Luxury Collection Hotels & Resorts

The Luxury Collection® is a collection of hotels and resorts offering unique, authentic experiences that evoke lasting, treasured memories. For the global explorer, The Luxury Collection offers a gateway to the world's most exciting and desirable destinations. Each hotel and resort is a unique and cherished expression of its location; a portal to the destination's indigenous charms and treasures. Magnificent decor, spectacular settings, impeccable service and the latest modern conveniences combine to provide a uniquely enriching experience. Originated in 1906 under the CIGA brand as a collection of Europe's most celebrated and iconic properties, today The Luxury Collection brand is a glittering ensemble of more than 90 of the world's finest hotels and resorts in 30 countries in bustling cities and spectacular destinations around the world. The Luxury Collection includes award-winning properties that continuously exceed guest expectations by offering unparalleled service, style and class while celebrating each hotel's distinctive heritage and unique character. All of these hotels, many of them centuries old, are internationally recognized as being among the world's finest. For more information, please visit www.luxurycollection.com

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