Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. announced recently the appointment of Simon Turner as President, Global Development. In this role, Turner will be responsible for the company's global development activities including hotel and resort development, property acquisitions and dispositions, franchise and management pipeline expansion and real estate investment management. Turner will join Starwood's Senior Leadership Team and will report to Frits van Paasschen, Starwood's President and Chief Executive Officer.

"I am thrilled to welcome Simon during this very exciting time in Starwood's history," said Frits van Paasschen, Starwood's President and Chief Executive Officer. "Our global pipeline is the strongest it has ever been and Simon's broad and deep knowledge of hotel financing and international development and established industry relations will prove to be a tremendous asset as we grow our global footprint, introduce exciting new hotel brands and execute on the company's branded lifestyle strategy. We are well positioned for tremendous growth and I am confident Simon will help lead the charge."

Turner brings to Starwood extensive experience in global hotel development and investment management, as well as expertise in hotel acquisitions and dispositions, corporate and asset joint ventures, renovations, financing and asset-management. Prior to joining Starwood, Turner spent more than ten years as a Principal for Hotel Capital Advisers, Inc., a hotel investment advisory and asset management firm. In that position, he led a number of high-profile hotel projects including the acquisition, financing and repositioning of Hotel George V in Paris and Copley Plaza Hotel in Boston. Turner previously served on the board of directors of Four Seasons Hotels, Inc. for almost 10 years, serving as a member of the human resources committee and chairman of the audit committee. He was also a member of the board of Fairmont Raffles Hotels International and was chairman of the audit committee.

Prior to 1996, Turner was a Director of Investment Banking at Salomon Brothers, based in both New York and London, where he was responsible for the structuring and execution of a broad range of hotel sector strategic, financial advising and capital-raising assignments. Prior to this, he worked for Pannell Kerr Forster and Gustar Hoteliers. He received his Bachelor of Science in Hotel Administration from Cornell University and will be based in Starwood's corporate headquarters in White Plains, New York. Turner currently resides in Westchester County, New York.