National Sleep Foundation and Westin Hotels & Resorts Launch Free Sleep Hotline

(888)TIME-4-SLEEP Debuts in Celebration of 10th Anniversary of the Heavenly Bed®

WASHINGTON, DC, August 17, 2009 — The National Sleep Foundation is proud to announce the launch of a free sleep hotline. The National Sleep Foundation Hotline brought to you by Westin Hotels will debut on August 17th at 6:00 p.m. and, for 30 days, will help callers identify and troubleshoot common sleep issues. Westin Hotels is sponsoring this public service in celebration of its 10th Anniversary of the Heavenly Bed®.

The hotline, 888-TIME 4 SLEEP (846-3475), will be staffed by NSF sleep center members, medically trained sleep professionals who will offer tailored solutions to callers with common sleep problems and provide screening for common sleep disorders. The hotline will be open until September 15, Monday through Friday, 6:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. Eastern Time. The hotline's hours of operation coincide with the peak hours when people are getting ready for bed or experiencing sleep problems.

"Many people have questions about what normal sleep is," said David M. Cloud, CEO of the National Sleep Foundation. "We hope that the hotline will encourage people to take more of an active interest in their sleep, and if we can answer a question for someone who needs help, we will have provided a real benefit. The National Sleep Foundation is thrilled to partner with the Westin to provide this public service."

Nancy London, Vice President, Global Brand Management, Westin Hotels & Resorts, says the hotline is the right way to celebrate an important anniversary: "10 years ago Westin Hotels made a commitment to better the hotel sleep experience for millions with the introduction of the Heavenly Bed. Today, we want to build upon this commitment and better the sleep experience for everyone. Modern pressures and other factors hinder the ability for many to get a good night's rest. We are proud to partner with the National Sleep Foundation and offer the public a free resource to help them get a good night's sleep."

Sleep professionals will provide screening for common sleep disorders and offer healthy sleep tips such as:

• Do not eat for two hours before bed
• Sleep in complete darkness in a cool environment
• Exercise regularly, but don’t exercise for at least 3 hours before bedtime – a workout after that time may actually keep you awake because your body has not had a chance to cool down
• Don’t smoke or drink alcohol or caffeinated beverages before bedtime
• If you’re lying in bed for more than 15 minutes, get up and do something relaxing, like taking a warm bath, reading or meditating. Try to clear your mind; don’t use this time to solve your daily problems.
• When staying in a hotel, ask for a room with eastern or southern exposure for more morning sun to help reset your clock to new time zones
• When traveling, bring a nightlight or penlight if you get up at night to avoid disturbing the body's circadian clock.

NSF call-center associates will also recommend helpful sleep resources and refer callers to their physicians for medical advice.

About the National Sleep Foundation

The National Sleep Foundation is dedicated to improving sleep health and safety through education, public awareness, and advocacy. It is well-known for its annual Sleep in America™ poll. The Foundation is a charitable, educational and scientific not-for-profit organization located in Washington, DC. Its membership includes researchers and clinicians focused on sleep medicine, professionals in the health, medical and science fields, individuals, patients, people affected by drowsy driving and more than 900 healthcare facilities throughout North America. For more information about the National Sleep Foundation and a directory of its sleep center members, please visit www.sleepfoundation.org.

About Westin Hotels & Resorts

Westin Hotels & Resorts, with 169 hotels and resorts in more than 31 countries and territories, is owned by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT). Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with 960 properties in 97 countries and 145,000 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®, The Luxury Collection®, W®, Westin®, Le Méridien®, Sheraton®, Four Points® by Sheraton, and the recently launched Aloft®, 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.