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                                                                    Exhibit 10.9

PRIVILEGED & CONFIDENTIAL

March 25, 1998

Mr. Juergen Bartels
The Highlands
Seattle, WA 98177

Dear JB:

We are very pleased to extend this offer of Chief Executive Officer, The Hotel
Group for Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. ("Starwood"). The following
will outline the specifics of your offer of employment:

POSITION:

You shall be the Chief Executive Officer of The Hotel Group and shall perform
such duties and services as may be assigned to you by the Board of Directors.
You shall devote your full time and attention to the affairs of the Company and
to your duties as Chief Executive Officer of the Hotel Group.

BASE SALARY:

Your initial base salary, expressed in semi-monthly terms, will be $21,875.00
(on an annualized basis equivalent to $525,000.00), annualized from date of
acceptance and will be subject to the appropriate withholdings for FICA, state
and federal taxes, and Medicare.

BONUS:

You will be eligible to receive a performance bonus based upon achieving
specified performance criteria which will be established and approved. The
maximum bonus will be defined in accordance with the Company's new plan (see
attached) which will be recommended and must be approved by the Board of
Directors.
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Mr. Juergen Bartels
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OPTIONS:

The Company will recommend to the Options Committee a grant of options for
250,000 Paired Shares for you in accordance with the Long Term Incentive Plan
(the "LTIP"), at current market which would be exercisable at the then fair
market value of the Paired Shares in accordance with the LTIP and would vest
over the normal three year period following grant. The strike price of the
options will be the current market price at the close of market on the day prior
to the grant date.

RELOCATION EXPENSES:

The Company will pay the reasonable, out-of-pocket costs of relocating your
household furnishings and your family; all relocation expenses will be grossed
up. Other relocation costs to be covered as necessary include third party
purchase of your Seattle home to facilitate an expedient relocation.

TERMINATION/SEVERANCE:

The Company reserves the right to terminate your employment with or without
cause at any time. In the event of an involuntary termination without cause, the
reduction of your role or responsibilities, a change in control of the Company,
or in the event of any breach by the Company of your employment agreement
entitling you to terminate same (after expiration of applicable notice and cure
periods for the benefit of the Company), you shall receive, as your sole right,
exclusive remedy and liquidated damages, a one time termination payment equal to
twelve (12) months base salary. In addition, the vesting of your options shall
be accelerated at the date of such termination. The Company will also continue
to provide medical benefits coverage during the 12 month period subsequent to
the termination of your employment.

No severance shall be due in the event that you are terminated for gross
misconduct or in the event that you leave the full-time employ of the Company
voluntarily.

In the event of any employment-related disputes with respect to your employment
by the Company, you and the Company agree that the same shall be resolved
through binding arbitration in the jurisdiction of the Company's headquarters
and in accordance with the rules and procedures from time to time of the
American Arbitration Association.

NON-SOLICITATION/CONFIDENTIALITY:

All benefits provided hereunder shall be contingent on your compliance with the
non-solicitation/confidentiality covenants which will be set forth in a separate
agreement.
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Mr. Juergen Bartels
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This letter represents the entirety of our agreement with respect to your
employment and any prior discussions or negotiations are hereby merged herein.
If this offer is acceptable to you, please sign this letter in the space
provided below and send it to my attention.

Very truly yours,

STARWOOD HOTELS & RESORTS WORLDWIDE, INC.


/s/ Susan R. Bolger
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Susan R. Bolger
Executive Vice President, Human Resources




ACCEPTED AND AGREED TO:

/s/ Juergen Bartels
-----------------------------------------
Juergen Bartels

cc:  Personnel File