Richard Branson launches Westin personal helicopter service

Airborne airport transfers and sightseeing tours endorsed by Richard Branson, adds new hospitality dimension to Dubai

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, xx November 2007 – The Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi Beach Resort has

announced exclusive helicopter rides for guests checking into the new beachside property. Sir Richard

Branson, CEO and chairman of Virgin Atlantic Airways, was among the first to take a Westin helicopter

tour, on a recent visit to Dubai, thereby endorsing an affiliation with Virgin Holidays.

The flagship Westin property in the UAE is gearing up to greet its guests in lavish style, with dedicated

helicopter transfers to and from Dubai International Airport. Further, guests will also be able to book

airborne sight seeing tours of the city, with special helicopter rides starting and commencing at the property.

According to General Manager Michael Scully, the Westin guest experience is always unusual and

unforgettable, and the helicopter rides add a new dimension to the array of services on offer to them. "Most

guests will be excited to be received and dropped off to the airport in a helicopter – it is exciting, it is

personal, and it certainly is distinct. Alternatively, they can choose to see our city from aboard a helicopter:

it adds considerable flair to the concept of sightseeing. Theses helicopter rides are just one more reason why

they will choose Westin above other brands, here in Dubai, and elsewhere in the world," he stated.

He confirmed that the rides and tours have already been listed in the international Virgin Holidays brochure,

and that they will be available to all guests once the property is formally open. The service is managed by

domestic tour operator, Alpha Tours.

The Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi Beach Resort and Marina will feature 294 rooms, including 216 deluxe

rooms, 52 Westin Executive rooms, and 24 suites, apart from a spa, a health club, and three themed

restaurants. State-of-the-art conference and banqueting facilities include an 8,999 square feet ballroom, an

Italian designed conference centre with 10 meeting rooms, an outdoor beachside amphitheatre, and a variety

of lawn and barbecue locations accommodating up to 5,000 guests. The property is located on a stunning

1,200 metre private shoreline, and will feature a 238-berth marina, five swimming pools, a water sports

centre, a sailing academy, and facilities for deep sea fishing and boat chartering.

About Westin Hotels & ResortsWestin Hotels & Resorts, with more than 135 hotels and resorts in more than 31 countries and territories, is owned by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE:HOT). Starwood Hotels & Resorts is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with approximately 850 properties in more than 95 countries and 145,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. Starwood® Hotels is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels and resorts with the following internationally renowned brands: St. Regis®, The Luxury Collection®, Sheraton®, Westin®, Four Points® by Sheraton, W®, Le Méridien® and the recently announced AloftSM and ElementSM. 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.

Photo caption: Sir Richard Branson, CEO and President of Virgin Atlantic Airways, was among the

first to board a Westin helicopter on a recent Dubai visit. Seen here with Chris Greenhalgh - Resort

Manager of Virgin Holidays Dubai, Ghassan Aridi - Managing Director of Alpha Tours, and Ko Van

den Hill – Hotel Manager, The Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina

For further information, please contact

Nicki Page Charlotte WeatherallManaging Director Director of Sales and MarketingFusion Marketing Le Meridian Mina Seyahi ComplexTel: +971 4 318 1392 Tel: +971 4 399 3333n.page@fusion-mgt.com charlotte.weatherall@starwoodhotels.com

The Westin Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina

P.O.Box 24883 | Dubai, United Arab Emirates | Tel 971.4.399 3333 | Fax 971.4.3995505 Web: lemeridien.com/minaseyahi | westin.com/dubaiminaseyahi