Segment Information - Revenues, Adjusted Ebitda, Ebitda from Unconsolidated Ventures, Capital Expenditures, Total Assets, and Investments (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	$ 1,562	$ 1,618	$ 3,101	$ 3,333
Other revenues from managed and franchised hotels	668	627	1,302	1,225
Other corporate unallocated	23	23	44	42
Corporate selling, general, administrative and other - unallocated	(34)	(41)	(69)	(83)
Gain (loss) on asset dispositions and impairments, net	1	(1)	(8)	(8)
Restructuring and other special (charges) credits			1	11
Adjustments to equity earnings	(11)	(13)	(19)	(21)
Interest expense	(26)	(47)	(53)	(96)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt, net		(15)		(15)
Depreciation and amortization	(65)	(62)	(130)	(125)
Discontinued operations		(7)	70	(8)
Income tax benefit (expense)	(95)	(56)	(159)	(108)
Net income attributable to Starwood	137	122	350	250
Capital expenditures, net	73	88	157	168
Assets, net	8,966		8,966		8,861
Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	872	969	1,756	2,068
Total segment earnings	344	341	673	661
Total earnings from unconsolidated ventures	18	18	36	36
Total segment capital expenditures	47	70	121	132
Total segment assets	5,031		5,031		5,159
Total investments in unconsolidated ventures	266		266		260
Operating Segments [Member] | Americas [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	390	427	777	830
Total segment earnings	162	161	308	288
Total earnings from unconsolidated ventures	10	8	18	16
Total segment capital expenditures	45	41	103	73
Total segment assets	2,157		2,157		2,229
Total investments in unconsolidated ventures	73		73		71
Operating Segments [Member] | EAME [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	169	152	284	258
Total segment earnings	66	59	91	80
Total earnings from unconsolidated ventures		2		2
Total segment capital expenditures	5	29	20	49
Total segment assets	918		918		911
Total investments in unconsolidated ventures	25		25		25
Operating Segments [Member] | Asia Pacific [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	80	76	156	158
Total segment earnings	45	47	96	103
Total earnings from unconsolidated ventures	7	7	17	17
Total segment capital expenditures	1	1	10	2
Total segment assets	608		608		574
Total investments in unconsolidated ventures	146		146		143
Operating Segments [Member] | Vacation ownership & residential [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	233	314	539	822
Total segment earnings	71	74	178	190
Total earnings from unconsolidated ventures	1	1	1	1
Total segment capital expenditures	(4)	(1)	(12)	8
Total segment assets	1,348		1,348		1,445
Total investments in unconsolidated ventures	22		22		21
Segment Reconciling Items [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Other revenues from managed and franchised hotels	668	627	1,302	1,225
Corporate, Non-Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	22	22	43	40
Other corporate revenues-unallocated [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Capital expenditures, net	26	18	36	36
Other corporate assets [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Assets, net	$ 3,935		$ 3,935		$ 3,702