-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 PeNC5NLDX430dhoPB/EpiAOPSCmMiWp2E/TbBc5SiXi0CkNXRyTudIi5D1Bcpc++
 0Z7GNQ+iTtVcKElvcBjwBQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001303990-08-000065.txt : 20080401
<SEC-HEADER>0001303990-08-000065.hdr.sgml : 20080401
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20080401161920
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001303990-08-000065
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20080331
FILED AS OF DATE:		20080401
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20080401

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			STARWOOD HOTEL & RESORTS WORLDWIDE INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000316206
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	HOTELS & MOTELS [7011]
		IRS NUMBER:				521193298
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MD
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1111 WESTCHESTER AVENUE
		CITY:			WHITE PLAINS
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10604
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9146408100

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2231 E CAMELBACK RD. 4TH FL
		STREET 2:		SUITE 4O0
		CITY:			PHOENIX
		STATE:			AZ
		ZIP:			85016

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	STARWOOD LODGING CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19950215

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	HOTEL INVESTORS CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			YOUNGBLOOD DR KNEELAND
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001137820

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-07959
		FILM NUMBER:		08729636

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		100 CRESCENT COURT
		STREET 2:		SUITE 1740
		CITY:			DALLAS
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			75201
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9146408100

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O READERS DIGEST ASSOCITATION INC
		STREET 2:		READERS DIGEST RD.
		CITY:			PLEASANTVILLE
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10570
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-03-31</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000316206</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>STARWOOD HOTEL &amp; RESORTS WORLDWIDE INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>HOT</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001137820</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>YOUNGBLOOD DR KNEELAND</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>PHAROS CAPITAL GROUP LLC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>100 CRESCENT COUNRT - SUITE 1740</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>DALLAS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>75201</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-03-31</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>229</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>6566</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Pursuant to Starwood's Long Term Incentive Compensation Plan, directors' fees are accrued quarterly at the end of each quarter.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Kenneth S. Siegel,  Attorney-In-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-04-01</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----