Accenture Providing Starwood Hotels & Resorts with IT Outsourcing Services Through Multi-Year Transformation Program

Program designed to drive improvements in quality and cost and to accelerate innovation

NEW YORK - Accenture (NYSE: ACN) is providing Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT), one of the world’s largest hotel and leisure companies, with a range of information technology (IT) outsourcing services under a multi-year contract worth more than US$200 million.

Under the terms of the contract signed in May 2009, Accenture is providing Starwood with an integrated IT solution, including end-to-end application and infrastructure management. Under the terms of the contract signed in May 2009, Accenture is providing Starwood with an integrated IT solution, including end-to-end application and infrastructure management. Application outsourcing services include development, testing, maintenance and running of the applications. Infrastructure outsourcing services include server and storage management, data center management, end-user computing, network management, and service desk management.

These services are enabling Starwood to improve the quality and the efficiency of its IT operations. In addition, Starwood IT is better able to focus on driving new innovations into the marketplace to enhance Starwood’s competitive positioning.

Todd Thompson, CIO of Starwood, said, “This program with Accenture is key to the continued transformation of IT at Starwood into a team that is outstanding at execution and delivers initiatives that drive business results. In addition to improving quality and efficiency, we are excited about the ongoing opportunities to work with Accenture to increase and accelerate innovation to our business.”

“Accenture is delighted to have a vital role in the IT transformation at Starwood,” said Umar Riaz, a senior executive in Accenture’s Products practice. “By combining our experience in providing application and infrastructure outsourcing services, along with our deep knowledge of the hospitality industry, we are able to deliver consistent, cost effective and innovative IT solutions to Starwood as they seek to further drive a platform for profitable growth.”

Accenture is delivering the services to Starwood leveraging teams based in the United States and utilizing its Global Delivery Network.

About Accenture
Accenture is a global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing company, with more than 176,000 people serving clients in more than 120 countries. Combining unparalleled experience, comprehensive capabilities across all industries and business functions, and extensive research on the world’s most successful companies, Accenture collaborates with clients to help them become high-performance businesses and governments. The company generated net revenues of US$21.58 billion for the fiscal year ended Aug. 31, 2009. Its home page is www.accenture.com.

Learn more about Accenture’s application development services and listen to the podcast or download the pdf to learn more about the costs and complexities of managing multiple application development and maintenance providers.

About Starwood Hotels & Resorts
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with 992 properties in nearly 100 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.