Employees at Sheraton Dongguan Hotel are rising to a new challenge in August and September to celebrate "The Right to Play" for UNICEF (United Nations Children's Fund) through the Check Out for Children fundraising initiative.

The Sheraton Dongguan Hotel is hosting a series of fundraising events during the two month period as part of the Check out for Children Challenge -- a special campaign to raise enough money to immunize thousands of children in the region against the major childhood diseases that are preventable by vaccination.

The cost of immunizing each child includes: buying vaccines, training vaccinators and volunteers, cold storage and transport of vaccines to ensure they arrive safely and conducting important community awareness and education campaigns.

30,000 children die everyday, mostly from preventable disease.  Immunizing children, particularly in emergencies, is among the most cost-effective preventive public health measures.

Staff at hotels across the Asia Pacific regions are aiming to raise a minimum of USD50,000 for UNICEF immunization programs in the Asia Pacific region through celebration children's Right to Play through a number of fundraising activities with a "Play" theme throughout the two months (August 1 to September 30, 2005).

"We are very proud to celebrate children's Right to Play whilst raising money for immunization programs which help them survive and thrive," said Charlie Dang, Sheraton Dongguan Hotel's General Manager.  "Now, we are hoping to give an extra boost through the series of fundraising activities in our hotel."

The Check Out for Children program -- which encourages guests to make a USD1.00 donation to UNICEF as they check out of the hotel -- was launched in the Asia Pacific region in 1996 by UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Sir Roger Moore, the program has since raised over USD4 million.  The money is used to support UNICEF¡¯s life-saving immunization work, and for each USD1 million raised, more than 50,000 children can be immunized against the six major preventive childhood diseases.

"It is thanks to the dedication and motivation of Starwood employees that we have been able to raise such an impressive sum for UNICEF" said Miguel Ko, President Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide Inc., Asia Pacific. "I am delighted that we are rising to this new Challenge".

UNICEF is the largest global organization working specifically for children and their rights.  UNICEF works with local communities and governments in 157 countries to help every child reach their full potential through long term and emergency work on healthcare, education and protection for children at risk. 

For more information, please contact Alisa Zhou, UNICEF Ambassador, Sheraton Dongguan Hotel, S256 Provincial Highway, Houjie Town, Dongguan City, Guangdong Province, China.  Tel. No. 598 8888.

Sheraton Dongguan Hotel is centrally located in Dongguan's bustling Houjie District.  It is the region's most opulent address for business, entertainment and shopping pleasures.  It is less than one hour from Guangzhou International Airport, 35 minutes from Shenzhen Baoan International Airport and just a 90 minute ferry ride from Hongkong and Macau.

About Starwood Hotels & Resorts

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with approximately 750 properties in more than 80 countries and 120,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. With internationally renowned brands, Starwood is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels and resorts including: St. Regis, The Luxury Collection, Sheraton, Westin, Four Points by Sheraton, W brands, as well as 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

Editor: Donald