8-K

 

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported): October 31, 2013

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.
__________________________________________
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Maryland	1-7959	52-1193298
_____________________ (State or other jurisdiction	_____________ (Commission	______________ (I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation)	File Number)	Identification No.)
One StarPoint, Stamford, Connecticut		06902
_________________________________ (Address of principal executive offices)		___________ (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (203) 964-6000

Not Applicable
______________________________________________
Former name or former address, if changed since last report

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

[  ]  Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
[  ]  Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
[  ]  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
[  ]  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 8.01 Other Events.

On October 31, 2013, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (the "Company") announced that the Company's share repurchase authorization of its common stock under its Share Repurchase Program (the "Program") has increased by an additional $250 million. As of October 30, 2013, the total amount available under the authorization is approximately $614 million. The Company expects the purchases to be made from time to time in the open market, through block trades, tender offers or otherwise (including, without limitation, using Rule 10b5-1 plans), or in privately negotiated transactions (including, without limitation, accelerated share repurchase agreements). The timing of the share repurchases under the Program will depend on a variety of factors, including market conditions, and share repurchases may be suspended or discontinued at any time. Shares of common stock acquired through the Program will be held as treasury shares, until such time as they may be re-issued for general corporate purposes or retired by the Company. The press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated herein by reference.

Cautionary Statements

This Current Report on Form 8-K includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct.
Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in, or implied by, the forward-looking statements are disclosed in the "Risk Factors" contained in the Company’s 2012 Annual Report on Form 10-K and other periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by such factors. The Company does not undertake any duty to update any forward-looking statement except as required by law.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits

99.1 Press release dated October 31, 2013.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

	Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.
October 31, 2013	By:	Jason F. Cohen
		Name: Jason F. Cohen
		Title: Senior Vice President - Legal

Exhibit Index

Exhibit No.	Description
99.1	Press release dated October 31, 2013

EX-99.1

Investor Contact
Stephen Pettibone
203-351-3500

Media Contact
KC Kavanagh
866-478-2777

One StarPoint
Stamford, CT 06902
United States

STARWOOD INCREASES SHARE REPURCHASE AUTHORIZATION BY $250 MILLION

STAMFORD, Conn. (October 31, 2013) – Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) announced today that the Company’s share repurchase authorization has increased by an additional $250 million. As of October 30, 2013, the total amount available under the authorization is approximately $614 million.

About Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with 1,169 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 Element®. 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.