Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide LLC engages in the ownership and operation of hotels and resorts. It also owns Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., which provides vacation experiences through villa-style resorts. The firm operates hotel business in three separate hotel segments: the Americas, EAME and Asia Pacific. Each hotel segment owns and leases hotels and resorts operated primarily under their proprietary brand names includes St. Regis, The Luxury Collection, W, Westin, Le Méridien, Sheraton, Four Points by Sheraton, Aloft and Element. The company was founded by Barry Stuart Sternlicht in 1995 and is headquartered in Bethesda, MD.