The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, Abu Dhabi to Stage Environmental Initiative on March 23

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, March 21, 2013

The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, Abu Dhabi will join millions around the world in turning off lights for Earth Hour 2013 to illuminate a powerful message about environmental awareness and action.

Earth Hour 2013 takes place on March 23 at 8:30 p.m. local time.  Created by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Earth Hour is the largest movement for the planet in human history, spanning 7,000 cities, 152 countries, with a digital reach of 200 million. 

This year's theme is "Uniting People to Protect the Planet." With that in mind, The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort will activate a range of energy-saving measures during Earth Hour. These include: turning off exterior signage lighting, dimming or turning off non-essential interior lighting, using candlelight in appropriate public areas (such as lobby and restaurants) and using personalized notes in-room  to inform guests about Earth Hour observances.

Last year, Earth Hour broke records to cement itself as the largest voluntary action for the environment.  Iconic buildings and landmarks from Asia Pacific to Europe and Africa to the Americas switched off.  People across the world from all walks of life turned off their lights and came together in celebration and contemplation of the one thing we all have in common - our planet.

Starwood's pioneering Global Citizenship philosophy reflects the same dedication to sustainability among its 171,000 associates worldwide. In 2012, more than 650 hotels participated in Earth Hour in various ways. 

This year will mark Starwood's fifth annual participation in Earth Hour, making it one of the largest worldwide companies to make a pronounced global statement with a voluntary hour of darkness.  Earth Hour is just one of the many ways Starwood acts in support of its 30/20 by 20 goals, which is the company's commitment to reduce energy consumption by 30% and water consumption by 20% by 2020 across its entire portfolio.   

The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, Abu Dhabi is located at Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Phone: 971)(2) 4988888.  Online:  www.stregissaadiyatisland.com/

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About Earth Hour
Earth Hour is a global environmental initiative in partnership with WWF. Individuals, businesses, governments and communities are invited to turn out their lights for one hour on Saturday March 23, 2013 at 8:30 PM to show their support for environmentally sustainable action. In 2013, Earth Hour's I Will If You Will concept invites individuals and organizations to challenge others to an ongoing environmental commitment beyond the hour. Earth Hour began in one city in 2007 and by 2012 involved hundreds of millions of people in 152 countries across every continent, receiving reports as 'the world's largest campaign for the planet'.

About St. Regis Hotels & Resorts
Combining classic sophistication with a modern sensibility, St. Regis is committed to delivering exceptional experiences at 30 luxury hotels and resorts in the best addresses around the world. Since the opening of the first St. Regis Hotel in New York City over a century ago by John Jacob Astor IV,  the brand has remained committed to an uncompromising level of bespoke and anticipatory service for all of its guests, delivered flawlessly by signature St. Regis Butler Service. From Bal Harbour to Bangkok, Saadiyat Island to Shenzhen, the St. Regis brand caters to a new generation of luxury travelers and continues to thoughtfully build its portfolio in the most sought after destinations at the heart of today's grand tour. Plans for the brand to expand its legacy include much-anticipated St. Regis Hotels & Resorts in the Riviera Maya and in Asia, where St. Regis has announced plans to open hotels in Changsha, Chengdu, Kuala Lumpur, Lijiang, Nanjing, New Delhi and Zhuhai. Additionally in Europe, Africa and the Middle East, St. Regis will continue to expand in Abu Dhabi, Amman, Cairo and Dubai. For more information on St. Regis Hotels & Resorts, please visit www.stregis.com, to explore our recent debuts visit www.stregis.com/newgrandtour and for the privilege of residential ownership, please visit www.stregis.com/residences.

About Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with 1,134 properties in nearly 100 countries and 171,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. Starwood 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, Aloft®, and ElementSM. The Company boasts one of the industry's leading loyalty programs, Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG), allowing members to earn and redeem points for room stays, room upgrades and flights, with no blackout dates. Starwood also owns Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., a premier provider of world-class vacation experiences through villa-style resorts and privileged access to Starwood brands. For more information, please visit www.starwoodhotels.com.

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© Press Release 2013