Le Meridien Takeover Completed

Starwood Hotels & Resorts has acquired the Le Meridien brand for approximately $225 million. The acquisition will significantly increase the company´s presence in Europe, Africa, Middle East and Asia Pacific.

The acquisition supports Starwood´s strategic shift from its significant real estate ownership to a management and franchise fee focused model.

“Le Meridien hotels are located in many markets where we don´t already have a strong presence. This coupled with the brand´s excellent reputation and its strong European DNA, is what made it such an attractive proposition for us,” Steven J. Heyer, CEO of Starwood Hotels & Resorts commented.

“In addition, we have great plans to expand the brand - particularly in the United States, Latin America and Asia-Pacific –to enhance the brand itself, and build on its great reputation and people. It provides us with another growth engine for our development team bringing the current hotel brand portfolio to eight, including our recently announced aloft,” he went on to say.

Le Meridien recently opened Le Meridien She Shan Shanghaiand has 10 planned hotel openings in 2006, in destinations such as India, Thailand and China.