$75 Food and Beverage Credit Offered Exclusively Through Gold Card Destinations Program

NEW YORK, Jul 16, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- American Express and Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.
today announced a new hotel benefit for all consumer American Express
Gold Card members in the United States that will provide a $75 food
and beverage credit whenever Gold Card members book a stay of two or
more consecutive nights at over 500 properties around the world across
four prestigious Starwood brands: W Hotels, Westin Hotels & Resorts,
Le Meridien Hotels & Resorts and Sheraton Hotels & Resorts. The new
hotel benefit is available through the Gold Card Destinations program,
a collection of special travel benefits offered at no additional cost
on all consumer American Express Gold Cards. To take advantage of the
new hotel benefit, Card members need to book through American Express
by visiting their local American Express Travel Service Location or
calling 1-888-559-5576.

"We are always looking for new ways to give Card members more
travel choices and add valuable extras that will make their journeys
even more memorable," said Christopher Fred, Vice President, Gold
Card, American Express. "With the addition of the Starwood Hotel
benefit, Gold Card members can now take advantage of added savings at
hundreds of hotels every time they book a stay at one of the
participating Starwood properties."

"With exhilarating hotel and resort destinations all around the
world, we provide travelers with memorable experiences every
day," said Chris Austin, Vice President, Global Customer Partnerships,
Leisure & Luxury Sales, Starwood Hotels & Resort. "This benefit
presents our guests with the opportunity to discover one-of-a-kind
dining at our properties, from famed Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten's
gourmet breakfasts at Le Meridien to selections from the SuperFoods
menu, such as green-tea-infused salmon and molten dark chocolate cake,
served at Westin Hotels & Resorts."

The new Starwood hotel benefit is the latest addition to the
lineup of benefits currently offered through the Gold Card
Destinations program, which includes special amenities valued at
$100-$150 on virtually any trip from American Express Gold Card
Destinations travel partners.

Through the Gold Card Destinations program, Card members have
access to a wide variety of exclusive, unique travel and entertainment
packages that are updated monthly at
www.americanexpress.com/goldtravel. The site also includes a listing
of participating Starwood properties under the new partnership, which
will continue to be updated as new properties are added.

Other Gold Card Destinations benefits include:

-- Upgraded Experiences and Valuable Extras(1) - Card members
have access to amenities valued at $100-$150 on virtually any
trip, value-added vacation package or cruise from select
American Express Gold Tour and Gold Cruise partners.
Participating partners include: Abercrombie & Kent, American
Express Vacations, Brendan Worldwide Vacations, Classic
Vacations, Smithsonian Journeys, Ski.com, Azamara, Celebrity
Cruises, Crystal Cruises, Holland America Line, Regent Seven
Seas Cruises, The Yachts of Seabourn, Silversea, Uniworld and
Windstar. Sample amenities include:

-- $100 credit towards lift tickets on qualifying vacations
from Ski.com

-- $100 American Express Gift Cheque from American Express
Vacations

-- Two monogrammed robes, one bottle of champagne, and
chocolate-covered strawberries on any American Express
Mariner Club(2) sailing with Holland America Line

-- Monthly Featured Offers(1) - Card members have access to a
collection of unique, value-enhanced travel packages. New
packages are offered monthly. Current offers include:

-- Smithsonian Journeys Arizona -- $100 American Express gift
cheque with any qualifying Smithsonian Journeys Southern
Arizona Focus on Astronomy tour. Package includes an
exclusive visit to Smithsonian's Whipple Observatory and
hands-on telescope viewing from dark desert sites. Few
places on earth offer better opportunities to study
astronomy than the ultra-clear skies of southern Arizona.
Plus, Gold Card members receive an additional $100 credit
at Smithsonian's online bookstore.

-- Signature California Wine Country -- Book any 2008
Signature California Wine Country journey with Abercrombie
& Kent and receive a complimentary lunch for two including
a glass of local California wine. Plus, Gold Card members
receive a $100 credit to Abercrombie and Kent's online
store to buy clothing or accessories for the trip on
qualifying vacations.

-- Gold Card Events - Travel(1) - Card members have access to a
variety of deluxe vacation packages paired with Gold Card
Events tickets to some of the most sought-after events, such
as concerts, sporting and other events. This benefit provides
Card members with access to some of the best seats, often
before they go on sale to the general public. For more
information, Card members can view a complete listing of
current and upcoming events, and sign up for the Gold Card
Events weekly email at www.americanexpress.com/entertainment.
Samples of current offers include:

-- Stay two nights at Caesars Palace in fabulous Las Vegas
and receive two tickets to see Cher perform live in
concert.

-- Attend the prestigious 2008 Ryder Cup Golf event.
Accommodations at the Griffin Gate Marriott(R) Resort &
Spa. Includes two tickets to Ryder Cup, access to the
grounds at Valhalla Golf Club with admission to the fully
catered American Express hospitality tent, and
transportation between the course and Griffin Gate
Marriott(R) Resort & Spa.

-- Additional Savings and Value(1)- Card members booking a Gold
Card Destinations vacation package can earn double Membership
Rewards(R) points(3) and, when booking a qualifying vacation
of $3,000 or more, are eligible to receive the Card member
Annual Travel Benefit(4), a $100 statement credit to their
Card account.

In addition to current travel offers, the website also provides a
variety of travel-related resources and tools that can help Card
members with travel planning, including a list of American Express
Travel Specialists. On the site, Card members can also sign up to
receive the monthly electronic Gold Card Destinations newsletter and
view a complete list of all the benefits and services offered on their
Gold Card.

About Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading
hotel and leisure companies in the world with approximately 900
properties in more than 100 countries and 155,000 employees at its
owned and managed properties. Starwood Hotels is a fully integrated
owner, operator and franchisor of hotels, resorts and residences with
the following internationally renowned brands: St. Regis(R), The
Luxury Collection(R), W(R), Westin(R), Le Meridien(R), Sheraton(R),
Four Points(R) by Sheraton, and the recently launched Aloft(SM), and
Element(SM). Starwood Hotels also owns Starwood Vacation Ownership,
Inc., one of the premier developers and operators of high quality
vacation interval ownership resorts. For more information, please
visit www.starwoodhotels.com.

About American Express Company

American Express Company (www.americanexpress.com) is a leading
global payments, network and travel company founded in 1850.

1. Terms, conditions and restrictions apply.

2. American Express Mariner's Club benefits include competitive
fares, professional and experienced Mariner Club Hosts, unique
complimentary shoreside excursions, exclusive onboard cocktail parties
and additional amenities including shipboard credits that vary by
individual sailings.

3. To be eligible to earn bonus points, Card members must be
enrolled in the Membership Rewards program (Program) at time of
purchase of vacation package, and must charge their qualifying
vacation package to an eligible, enrolled American Express Card.
Double Membership Rewards points are awarded on vacation package spend
only. Airfare, other purchase and arrangements made during a vacation
stay, any charges not included in the vacation package are not
eligible for Double Membership Rewards points. Bonus points will be
credited to your Program account within 10-12 weeks after completion
of travel. For more information on the Program, visit
www.americanexpress.com/rewards.

4. A qualifying vacation is a purchase of $3,000 or more per
booking offered by a participating cruise or vacation package operator
and purchased through a participating American Express Travel Services
location in the U.S. Benefit does not include independent air, hotel,
or car rental reservations. American Express Card members eligible to
receive a $100 statement credit for qualifying vacations of $3,000 or
more. Benefit only available to Card members in good standing and one
time per Card account per calendar year (regardless of the number of
qualifying vacations booked or the number of supplementary Cards on
the account). Annual Travel Benefit is considered redeemed in the
calendar year in which final payment is made on the qualifying
vacation. Card members having multiple accounts may only redeem one
Annual Travel Benefit per vacation booking. Both deposit and final
payment must be made on an American Express Card. Credit will be
posted to Card member's account 10-14 days business days after date of
final payment. Card member agrees account may be debited $100 if
vacation is cancelled for any reason and the purchase price (less any
applicable cancellation fees or penalties) is credited to the account.
All amounts in terms and conditions are U.S. dollars. American Express
reserves the right to withdraw or alter this benefit at any time
without advance notice. Not valid for group bookings and may not be
combinable with other promotions or savings.

SOURCE: American Express Company

American Express Company
Monica Beaupre, 212-640-2653
monica.beaupre@aexp.com
or
M.Silver Associates
Christopher Dale, 212-754-6500, ext. 224
chris@msilver-pr.com
or
Starwood Hotels & Resorts
Simon Neggers, 914-640-8408
simon.neggers@starwoodhotels.com

Copyright Business Wire 2008