FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:

Jennifer Childs

The Westin Poinsett Hotel
(864) 421-9700

CHEFS FROM THE WESTIN POINSETT HOTEL TEAM UP FOR COPPER CHEF CHALLENGE

GREENVILLE, S.C. – January 15, 2010 – The Westin Poinsett’s own Curtis Wolf and Phil Gaulin, Executive Chef and Executive Sous Chef respectively, won the annual Copper Chef Challenge hosted by Firefox Gallery & Kitchen Shop last month.

The chef-versus-chef battle, won last year by Chef Steven Greene of Devereaux’s, teamed up chefs from the Westin Poinsett against Chef Vicky Moore of Table 301’s, The Lazy Goat.

Each team had an hour-and-a half to cook and received a “mystery” box of ingredients including apricot, passion fruit, lamb, apple wood smoked bacon, snapper and acorn squash. With these items, Chefs Wolf and Gaulin prepared a starter course of snapper with celery root, potatoes and acorn squash apple wood smoked bacon hash. For the second course, lamb tenderloin with quinoa (a grain that Chef Wolf had never cooked with before) and oven roasted yellow beets in an herb demi-glaze. To finish, the chefs prepared a passion fruit crêpe with mixed berries & apricot.

After sampling the courses from each team, the 18 guest judges declared the chefs from the Westin Poinsett as the winners and recipients of the Copper Pot Award. “It wasn’t easy, but Phil and I work well under pressure. We had a good time preparing these courses and we’re honored to receive the Copper Pot,” said Chef Wolf.

Chef Curtis’ culinary talents can be sampled at Spoonbread Restaurant in the Westin Poinsett Hotel.

About the Westin Poinsett Hotel

Constructed by W.L Stoddard in 1925, The Westin Poinsett Hotel boasts historic 1920’s elegance and charm paired with renovated facilities.

- more -

Pg. 2

The Westin Poinsett Hotel

Jennifer Childs

Situated around a newly renovated downtown, they are just paces from more than100 shops, restaurants and other attractions like The Peace Center for the Performing Arts, Falls Park on the Reedy River, and the Bi-Lo Center. Offering 200 guestrooms, its historic heritage is reflected in the meticulously restored interiors, designed to capture the original architecture and offer modern-day amenities. For more information on The Westin Poinsett Hotel call 864-421-9700 or visit www.westinpoinsettgreenville.com.

About Westin Hotels & Resorts

Westin Hotels & Resorts, with more than 145 hotels and resorts in more than 29 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 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 Hotels. 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 Foxfire Gallery & Kitchen Shop

Foxfire Gallery & Kitchen Shop celebrates its fifteenth year in business. Purchased in 1994, its owners have expanded the store to include a cooking school and another floor on the lower level of the original shop bringing the total square footage to over 6000. In 2005 Foxfire opened their second store, adding another cooking school venue.

###