[LETTERHEAD OF STARWOOD]

                                                                  EXHIBIT 99.1

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                      CONTACT: K.C. Kavanagh
                                                    Starwood Hotels & Resorts
                                                    (914) 640-8339

                 STARWOOD HOTELS & RESORTS SELECTS ERNST & YOUNG
                           AS ITS INDEPENDENT AUDITOR

WHITE PLAINS, NY - April 5, 2002 - Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.
(NYSE: HOT) announced today that its Board of Directors has appointed Ernst &
Young as the Company's independent auditors, replacing Arthur Andersen. The
selection was made after careful consideration of several firms by Starwood's
Board of Directors and Audit Committee.

"Arthur Andersen has served as Starwood's independent auditor since the
acquisition of ITT Corporation in early 1998, providing excellent service and
acting with professionalism and integrity. The decision to change auditors
followed a long and thoughtful review of various alternatives," said Ron Brown,
Starwood's EVP and CFO. "We would like to thank Arthur Andersen for their
efforts on behalf of Starwood, and particularly those individuals with whom we
have worked."

The appointment of Ernst & Young will be submitted to shareholders for
ratification at the Company's annual meeting on May 17, 2002. The Company will
file a Form 8-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission with respect to the
change in outside auditors.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE:HOT) is one of the leading hotel
and leisure companies in the world with more than 740 properties in more than 80
countries and 110,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. With
internationally renowned brands, Starwood is a fully integrated owner, operator
and franchiser of hotels and resorts including: St. Regis, The Luxury
Collection, Sheraton, Westin, Four Points by Sheraton, W brands, as well as
Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., one of the premier developers and




operators of high quality vacation interval ownership resorts. For more
information, please visit www.starwood.com.

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