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                                                                 Exhibit 10.57

September 25, 2000

Mr. Kenneth S. Siegel
57 Greenfield Drive
Weston, CT 06883



Dear Ken:

The specifics of your offer of employment with Starwood Hotels & Resorts
Worldwide, Inc. are outlined below:

START DATE:
Subject to the terms of this letter, your employment with Starwood will begin on
November 15, 2000.

POSITION:
Your position will be Executive Vice President, General Counsel at the White
Plains office, and you shall perform such duties and services as are assigned
to you by the Company from time to time. You acknowledge that your
prospective employment will be subject to all policies and practices of the
Company as may currently exist or as may be curtailed, modified or implemented
from time to time. Further, you shall devote your full time and attention to
the affairs of the Company and to your duties as Executive Vice President,
General Counsel. You will be reporting to the Company's Chief Executive
Officer.

BASE SALARY:
Your base salary will be $375,000 annually (Grade 15), paid in semi-monthly
intervals of $15,635, and subject to applicable withholdings for FICA, state
and federal taxes. The Starwood salary program provides performance-based
salary reviews for future salary progression.

ANNUAL INCENTIVE (BONUS):
You will be eligible to participate in the Starwood Annual Incentive Plan (AIP).
Your target incentive is 75% of base salary. Your actual incentive payout will
be based upon Company performance and your achieving specified performance
criteria to be established and approved with your manager.

Payment of your 2000 bonus will be guaranteed at $150,000, provided that you
are still employed by the Company at the time such bonuses are paid in
accordance with the AIP and Company practices. Thereafter, any annual bonus
shall not be deemed earned by you until the Company has determined your
entitlement to such bonus and only if you are



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employed by the Company at the time such bonus is payable in accordance with the
AIP and Company practices. The Company does not pay pro-rata bonuses upon
departure.

LONG TERM INCENTIVE:

You will be eligible to participate in the Starwood 1999 Long Term Incentive
Compensation Plan ("LTIP"). This plan provides for the award of stock options
at the Company's discretion to high performing executives. The actual number of
shares granted, if any, will be based upon your performance. For your 2001
annual option grant (to be granted in February 2001), you will be guaranteed a
minimum grant of at least the mid-point of the range of option grants
established for your pay grade (grade 15).

SIGN-ON STOCK OPTIONS:

Effective the first day of the month following your employment, you will be
granted 87,500 stock options pursuant to the terms of the LTIP. The options will
have an exercise price equal to the closing price of Starwood stock as reported
in the New York Stock Exchange Composite Transactions on the business day
immediately preceding the date of grant. The stock options will vest in
accordance with the LTIP and will otherwise be governed by the provisions of the
LTIP.

Further details will be provided in the award notification to be delivered to
you following your employment.

BENEFITS:
Starwood offers "StarShare", a comprehensive array of employee benefit programs,
to provide peace of mind on various personal concerns. New employees are
eligible for the StarShare health and welfare benefit programs and the 401(k)
plan on the first day of the month following 90 days of employment. You and your
eligible dependents will be covered by these benefits as per your coverage
elections.

Information on these plans and other benefit programs such as the HOT Rates (the
employee discount room rates program), short-term disability, long-term
disability, employee life insurance, and vacation programs will be provided to
you after you begin your employment with us.

In the event that changes are made to any of the benefit plans, the changes will
apply to you as they do other employees of the Company.

COBRA PAYMENTS:
We realize that there may be a transitional benefits cost to you because of the
waiting period before you become eligible for the Starwood health plans.
Therefore, during your benefits waiting period, Starwood agrees to reimburse you
for any COBRA payments until the date you become eligible for Starwood health
benefits. Starwood will reimburse you the difference between the applicable
contribution rate and your COBRA amount.

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VACATION BENEFITS:
You will be entitled to take four weeks of paid vacation for each full calendar
year you remain employed by the Company. In all other respects, your vacation
benefits will be governed by Starwood's vacation policy as is in effect from
time to time.

EXCLUSIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION PROCEDURE:
Any and all disputes relating to this offer letter, your employment with
Starwood or the termination of that employment will be resolved solely and
exclusively through binding arbitration pursuant to the employment rules of the
American Arbitration Association. Accordingly, you acknowledge and agree that
this offer of employment and the benefits provided herein are contingent upon
your execution of the Arbitration Agreement attached hereto as Attachment A.

EMPLOYMENT TERM:
In accepting this offer you understand and agree that your employment with the
Company is "at will." As such, you agree that either you or Starwood may end the
employment relationship at any time, with or without notice and with or without
cause. By signing below, you understand and acknowledge that except for this
letter, there is not and shall not be any written contract between you and the
Company concerning this offer of employment or your prospective employment, and
that this letter is not intended to be and is not a contract of employment.

SEVERANCE:
In the event that Starwood terminates your employment for any reason other than
"cause," Starwood will pay to you 12 months of your then current base salary, in
a lump sum less all applicable withholdings (the "Termination Payments").
Starwood will reimburse you for your COBRA expenses minus your last level of
contribution for up to 12 months commencing on the termination date. You will
not be entitled to any Termination Payments if you resign your employment with
the Company. As a condition for, and prior to, your entitlement to and receipt
of any Termination Payments, you must enter into a written waiver and release of
any and all claims against Starwood arising out of or relating to your
employment with Starwood, in such form that Starwood may reasonably require.

For purposes of this paragraph, "cause," shall mean (i) any material breach by
you of any of the duties, responsibilities or obligations of your employment, or
any of the policies or practices of Starwood; (ii) any willful failure or
refusal by you to properly perform (as determined by Starwood in its reasonable
discretion and judgment) the duties, responsibilities or obligations of your
employment, or to properly perform or follow (as determined by Starwood in its
reasonable discretion and judgment) any lawful order or direction by Starwood;
(iii) any acts or omissions by you that constitute (as determined by Starwood in
its reasonable discretion and judgment) fraud, dishonesty, breach of your duty
of loyalty, gross negligence, civil or criminal illegality, or any other
misconduct in your employment or which could tend to bring Starwood into
disrepute, could create civil or criminal liability for Starwood or could
adversely affect Starwood's business or interests.


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OTHER CONDITIONS AND OBLIGATIONS:
You have represented, and hereby confirm, that you are not subject to any
currently effective employment contract, or any other contractual or other
binding obligations pursuant to which your employment or employment activities
with or on behalf of the Company may be subject to any restrictions, including
without limitation, any agreements or other obligations or documents relating
to non-competition, confidentiality, trade secrets, proprietary information or
works for hire.

As a further condition of this offer and your right to receive any of the
benefits detailed herein, you agree to execute and be bound by the
Non-solicitation, Confidentiality Agreement attached hereto as Attachment B.

INTEGRATED AGREEMENT:
This offer letter represents the sole and complete understanding between you
and the Company relating to your employment and there are no other written or
oral agreements, understandings or representations relating to this offer of
employment. The terms of your employment, including the at-will nature of the
employment, may be amended only through a written instrument signed by you and
the Executive Vice President, Human Resources.

You should not resign from your current employment until you have received
notification from the Company of the completion of all pre-employment
investigation and verification.

By signing and returning this letter, you confirm that this letter accurately
sets forth the current understanding between you and Starwood and that you
accept and agree to the terms as outlined.



Very truly yours,

/s/ David Norton

D. Norton
Executive Vice President, Human Resources
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.

cc:  Personnel File

ACCEPTED AND AGREED TO:


/s/Kenneth S. Siegel                                     9/26/00
________________________                                 _______________________
  Kenneth S. Siegel                                            Date


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                                                                    Attachment A


                             ARBITRATION AGREEMENT

     In consideration of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. ("Starwood")
having extended an offer of employment to me and/or having hired me, I agree
that all disputes and claims that I may have, now or in the future, with or
against Starwood, any of Starwood's affiliated or subsidiary companies and/or
any of Starwood's partners or joint venturers, and/or any officer, employee,
director or agent of Starwood, any affiliated or subsidiary company, or partner
or joint venturer (collectively, "Claims"), shall be submitted to the American
Arbitration Association to be resolved and determined through final and binding
arbitration before a single arbitrator and to be conducted in accordance with
the National Rules for the Resolution of Employment Disputes of the American
Arbitration Association.

     Starwood and I hereby agree that the Claims subject to arbitration shall
include but not be limited to any and all Claims that arise out of or are
related to the offer of employment extended by Starwood to me, any withdrawal
or rescission of that offer, any aspect of my employment with Starwood or the
terms and conditions of that employment, any termination of that employment and
any Claim of discrimination or harassment based upon age, race, religion, sex,
ethnicity, marital status, veteran status, national origin, disability, medical
condition, sexual orientation or any other unlawful basis, or any other
unlawful conduct, under any applicable Federal, State, local or other statutes,
orders, laws, ordinances, regulations or the like, or case law, that relate to
employment or employment practices, including without limitation, Title VII of
the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, the Civil Rights Act of 1991, as
amended, the Civil Rights Acts of 1866 and 1871, as amended, the Age
Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, as amended, the Americans with
Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended, the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993,
as amended, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1990, as amended,
the Worker Adjustment Retraining and Notification Act, as amended, the Fair
Labor Standards Act, as amended, the Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment
Assistance Act, as amended, the Equal Pay Act, as amended, and the state and
local analogues to the foregoing.

     Starwood and I further agree that the Claims subject to arbitration shall
exclude any Claims required by any applicable Federal, State, local or other
statute to be submitted to another forum (for example, a workers' compensation
claim or a claim for unemployment insurance benefits).

     Starwood and I agree that any arbitration award rendered as the result of
any arbitration under this Agreement shall be final and binding and may be
entered and enforced as a court judgment in accordance with applicable law.
Starwood and I further agree that this Agreement, any arbitration under this
Agreement and any arbitration award rendered in such arbitration shall be
governed by the Federal Arbitration Act.
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                                                                    Attachment A


     I specifically acknowledge that I understand that the right to the
determination and/or trial of any Claims in court before a judge or a jury is a
valuable right, and that by signing this Agreement I hereby knowingly and
voluntarily waive my right to assert any Claims in any court of competent
jurisdiction and that I hereby knowingly and voluntarily further waive the
right to a determination and/or trial before a judge or a jury.

     I further understand and acknowledge that this Agreement is not intended to
be and shall not be deemed to constitute a contract of employment, and that if
hired by Starwood my employment shall be at will, which means that Starwood and
I shall be free to terminate that employment at any time for any reason with or
without notice and with or without cause.

     I UNDERSTAND THAT I HAVE THE RIGHT TO CONSULT AN ATTORNEY PRIOR TO SIGNING
THIS AGREEMENT. I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT MY SIGNATURE BELOW SIGNIFIES THAT I HAVE
FULLY REVIEWED AND UNDERSTAND ALL OF THE TERMS OF THIS AGREEMENT AND THAT I
HAVE AGREED TO THOSE TERMS.



Dated:  9/26/00     /s/Kenneth S. Siegel
       --------    -----------------------
                     Kenneth S. Siegel

Dated:   9/29/00    /s/David Norton
        --------   -----------------------
                    D. Norton
                    Executive Vice President, Human Resources
                    Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.
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                                                                    Attachment B

                   NON-SOLICITATION, CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT
                   -------------------------------------------

     This Non-solicitation, Confidentiality Agreement ("Agreement") is entered
into as of this    day of    2000, (the "Effective Date"), by and between
Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (the "Company") and Kenneth S.
Siegel (the "Employee").

     WHEREAS, the Company devotes significant time, resources and effort to the
training and advancement of its management, and its management team constitutes
a significant asset and important competitive advantage; and

     WHEREAS, the Employee has and will have access to important and sensitive
confidential information; and

     WHEREAS, the Company has determined that it is in the best interests of
the Company and its shareholders to enter into an agreement with Employee
whereby Employee will be prohibited from soliciting employees of the Company in
accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement; and

     WHEREAS, in consideration of the Company's offer of employment and its
offer of stock options to the Employee, Employee agrees to enter into this
Agreement.

     THEREFORE, the Company and Employee agree as follows:

     1.   Non-solicitation.   During the period in which Employee is employed
by the Company, and for a period of two (2) years following the date of any
termination of employment from the Company, Employee shall not, without the
prior written consent of the Company, except in the course of carrying out
Employee's duties hereunder, solicit or attempt to solicit for employment with
or on behalf of any corporation, partnership, joint venture of other business
entity, any person who is, or at any time during the six-month period preceding
the solicitation of such person was, a management-level employee of the Company
(including, without limitation, for this purpose any director level employee of
the Company and any General Manager of any hotel owned (in whole or in part) or
managed by the Company).

     2.   Confidentiality.   Employee acknowledges that during the course of
his employment with the Company, Employee will receive, and will have access
to, "Confidential Information," as such term is defined below, of the Company
and that such information is a special, valuable and unique asset belonging to
the Company. Accordingly, Employee is willing to enter into the covenants
contained in this Agreement in order to provide the Company with what Employee
considers to be reasonable protection for the Company's interest. All notes,
memoranda, papers, documents, correspondence or writings (which shall include
information recorded or stored in writing, on magnetic tape or disc, or
otherwise recorded or stored for reproduction, whether by mechanical or
electronic means and whether or not such reproduction will

<PAGE>   8
                                                                    Attachment B

result in a permanent record being made) ("Documents") which from time to time
may be in Employee's possession (whether prepared by Employee or not) relating,
directly or indirectly, to the business of the Company shall be and remain the
property of the Company and shall be delivered by Employee to the Company
immediately upon request, and in any event upon termination of Employee's
employment, and Employee shall not make or keep any copies or extracts of the
Documents. At any time during or after Employee's employment with the Company
ends, without the prior written consent of the Company, except (i) in the course
of carrying out Employee's duties hereunder or (ii) to the extent required by a
court or governmental agency, or by applicable law or under compulsion of legal
process, Employee shall not disclose to any third person any information
concerning the business of the Company, including, without limitation, any trade
secrets, customer lists and details of contracts with or requirements of
customers, the identity of any owner of a managed hotel, information relating to
any current, past or prospective management agreement or joint venture,
information pertaining to business methods, sales plans, management
organization, computer systems and software, operating policies or manuals,
personnel records or information, information relating to current, past or
contemplated employee benefits or compensation data or strategies, business,
financial, development or marketing plans, or manpower strategies or plans,
financial records or other financial, commercial, business or technical
information relating to the Company (collectively, "Confidential Information"),
unless such Confidential Information has been previously disclosed to the public
by the Company or is in the public domain (other than by reason of Employee's
breach of this Section 2).

     3.   Equitable Relief.

          3.1  Employee acknowledges that the restrictions specified in Sections
1, 2 and 3 hereof are reasonable in view of the nature of the business in
which the Company is engaged and Employee's knowledge of, and responsibilities
with respect to, the Company's business, and that any breach of Sections 1, 2
or 3 hereof may cause the Company irreparable harm for which there is no
adequate remedy at law, and as a result of this, the Company will be entitled
to the issuance by a court of competent jurisdiction of an injunction,
restraining order or other equitable relief in favor of the Company, without
the necessity of posting a bond, restraining Employee from committing or
continuing to commit any such violation. Any right to obtain an injunction,
restraining order or other equitable relief hereunder will not be deemed to be
a waiver of any right to assert any other remedy the Company may have at law or
in equity, including, without limitation, the right to cancel payments to which
Employee is otherwise entitled under Employee's employment agreement.

          3.2  Any proceeding or action seeking equitable relief for violation
of Sections 1, 2 and 3 hereof must be commenced in the federal courts in the
Southern District of the State of New York, or in the absence of federal
jurisdiction in state court in the State of New York. Employee hereby
irrevocably and unconditionally submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of such
courts and agrees to take any and all future action necessary to submit to the
jurisdiction of such courts. Employee irrevocably waives any objection that
Employee now has or hereafter may have to the laying of
<PAGE>   9
                                                                    Attachment B

venue of any suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court and further
irrevocably waives any claim that any such suit, action or proceeding brought
in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum. Final judgment
against Employee in any such suit will be conclusive and may be enforced in
other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment, a certified or true copy of which
will be conclusive evidence of the fact and the amount of any liability therein
described, or by appropriate proceedings under an applicable treaty or
otherwise.

     4.   Governing Law.  This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the
State of New York, without regard to the principles of conflicts of laws.

     Employee acknowledges that he has had a reasonable opportunity to review
and consider the terms described above and to consult with an attorney if he so
chooses prior to signing this Agreement. Fully understanding the above terms,
Employee is entering into this letter agreement knowingly and voluntarily

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Agreement on the day
and year first above written.

Dated: 9/26/00           /s/Kenneth S. Siegel
       --------        -------------------------
                         Kenneth S. Siegel

Dated:  9/29/00        /s/David Norton
        -------       --------------------------
                        D. Norton
                        Executive Vice President, Human Resources
                        Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.