Document:

EX-10.51

 Exhibit 10.51 
  

 
 August 27, 2012 

Mr. Sergio Rivera 
 381 Virginia Drive 

Winter Park, FL 32789 
 Dear Sergio, 

We are delighted to confirm to you our offer of promotion within Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. A challenging and
fulfilling experience is ahead of you as you become part of a diverse community of great talent that is transforming our organization into the premier leisure and hospitality company in the world. 

By signing and returning this letter to the Human Resources Service Center via mail, email or fax, you confirm that this letter accurately
sets forth the current understanding between you and the Company regarding the terms of your employment and that you accept and agree to the terms as stated above. 

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. 
 9002 San
Marco Court 
 Orlando, FL 32819 
 Attention: Human Resources
Service Center 
 Phone: 866-476-6293 
 Fax: 407-903-4026 

Email: HRServiceCenter@starwoodhotels.com 
 If you have any
questions concerning the terms of this offer, please contact Kelly Frank at 203-351-3639. 
 We look forward to your continued success in your new role.

 Sincerely, 
 /s/ Jeff Cava 

Jeff Cava 
 Executive Vice President, Chief Human Resources
Officer 
 Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. 

  
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 August 27, 2012 

Mr. Sergio Rivera 
 381 Virginia Drive 

Winter Park, FL 32789 
 Dear Sergio, 

We are pleased to offer you a promotion within Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc (the “Company”) under the terms and
conditions stated below: 
 Start Date: 

Subject to the terms of this letter, the effective date of your new assignment with the Company will be July 1, 2012. This offer letter
supersedes and replaces the Company’s initial offer letter dated August 27, 2012, in its entirety. 
 Responsibilities: 

Your position will be Co-President, Americas at the Corporate Office in Stamford, CT, and you shall perform such duties and services as are
assigned to you by the Company. You initially will report to Frits van Paasschen, President and Chief Executive Officer. The Company reserves the right to and may make changes in your reporting structure, title, position, work location, and job
responsibilities at any time and from time to time. 
 Your normal working hours will initially be between 8:00 a.m. or 9:00 a.m. to 5:00
p.m. or 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. You will need to discuss with your Manager the precise normal working hours for your specific role. As an exempt salaried employee, you will be expected to work additional hours as may be required by the
nature of your work assignments. 
 You shall devote your full time and attention to the affairs of the Company and to your job duties, and
use your best efforts and abilities to promote the Company’s interests. In performing your duties, you will be expected to comply at all times with all Company policies, procedures and directives as they currently exist or as they may be
adopted or changed from time to time. 
 Base Salary: 

Your initial base salary will be paid at the annualized rate of $722,000.00, paid in semi-monthly intervals of $30,083.33, less applicable
withholdings, taxes and deductions. Your pay schedule is the 15th and the last day of each month. The Company generally provides annual performance-based salary reviews for future salary
progression. However, a satisfactory performance review does not guarantee a salary increase. 
 Annual Incentive (Bonus): 

You will be eligible to participate in the Company’s Annual Incentive Plan (AIP) or, at the election of the board’s compensation
committee, the Annual Incentive Plan for Certain Executives (AIPCE). In either case, your target incentive is 100% of base salary. Your actual incentive award, if any, will be based upon a variety of factors, including Company and division
performance, and your achieving specified performance criteria to be established with and 

 
approved by your manager. In the event that changes are made to the incentive plan, the changes will apply to you as they do other similarly situated employees of the Company. 

An annual bonus shall not be deemed earned by you until the Company has determined your entitlement to such bonus and only if you are employed
by the Company at the time such bonus is payable in accordance with the AIP or AIPCE, as applicable, and Company practices. The Company does not pay pro-rata bonuses upon departure. 

Long Term Incentive (Equity Grants): 
 You
will be eligible to participate in the Long Term Incentive Plan (“LTIP”), subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, as it may be changed from time to time. As a Plan participant, you are eligible for awards of restricted shares of
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.’s stock , as determined by the Company in its sole discretion. The actual number of shares granted, if any, will be based upon factors including the Company’s assessment of your job
performance. 
 Off-cycle Equity Grant: 

Effective the first day of the month following the Effective Date, you will receive an equity grant under the LTIP having an aggregate value of
$300,000.00. The restricted shares will vest 100% on the third anniversary of the grant date and will otherwise be governed by the provisions of the LTIP and the award agreement governing the restricted shares. 

Further details will be provided in the award notification and agreement to be delivered to you following the date of the grant. 

Benefits: 
 As you know, the Company
offers “StarShare”, a comprehensive array of employee benefit programs. You and your eligible dependents will continue to be covered by these benefits according to your coverage elections currently in effect. in the event that changes are
made to any of the benefit plans, programs, or policies, the changes will apply to you as they do other similarly situated employees of the Company. 

Relocation: 
 The Company has selected
Graebel Relocation Services to administer our Relocation Program. The Company will pay the reasonable, out-of-pocket costs of relocating your family and household furnishings from Winter Park, FL to Stamford, CT in accordance with the provisions of
the Company’s Relocation Program — Plan I Renter. In addition, as part of your relocation package, the Company will provide temporary lodging accommodations for a period of up to six (6) months from arrival. Details of the
Company’s Relocation Program are enclosed. To be eligible for reimbursement of relocation benefits, you are required to utilize the services Graebel approved agents or Realtors on both departure and destination. 

You will be assigned to a Relocation Consultant at Graebel who will provide you with relocation assistance and referrals to the Graebel
approved agents or Realtors in your area. In an effort to fully utilize our relocation benefits and avoid additional tax liability, we ask that you do not begin your relocation process before being contacted by your assigned Graebel Relocation
Consultant. Please do not contact agents or Realtors at departure or destination until you have 

  
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spoken with your Consultant. For questions regarding policy benefits or to register a real estate agent with Graebel, please call 1-888-9484330. 

If relocation expenses are paid to you or on your behalf, you agree that if you voluntarily resign from the Company or are terminated for
cause (as determined by the Company in its discretion) within the one year period following July 1, 2012, you will repay all such relocation expenses, reduced by 1/12 for each full calendar month actually worked. In addition, eligibility for
reimbursement of any and all relocation expenses will cease on the last day of employment and any relocation expenses incurred after that date will not be reimbursed by the Company and will be your sole responsibility. 

Severance: 
 In the event that the Company
terminates your employment for any reason other than “cause,” the Company will pay to you 12 months of your then current base salary, in a lump sum less all applicable withholdings (the “Severance Payment”), plus an amount equal
to 12 times the COBRA charge on the payment date for the type of Company-provided group health plan coverage in effect for you (e.g., family coverage) on the date of your employment termination less the active employee charge for such coverage in
effect on the date of your employment termination, in a lump sum less all applicable withholdings (the “COBRA Payment”). The Severance Payment will be subject to and conditioned upon (a) your continuing compliance with the
Non-Compete, Non-Solicitation, Confidentiality and Intellectual Property Agreement referred to belowand (b) your payment in full of any outstanding balance, including any and all charges, interest and/or delinquency fees, on your corporate
American Express credit card, if one is issued to you, prior to the date upon which payment of the Severance Payment is otherwise due as specified below. In addition, the Company must deliver to you a customary release agreement (the
“Release”) on the date of your employment termination, and as a condition to receipt of the Severance Benefit you must (i) sign the Release and return the signed Release to the Company within the following number of days after
the date on which the Company delivers the Release to you: 21 days if your termination of employment is not part of a group termination program within the meaning Section 7(f)(1)(F)(ii) of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, as
amended, and 45 days if your termination is part of such a group termination program (the “Release Period”); and (ii) not revoke the Release within any seven-day revocation period that applies to you under the Age Discrimination in
Employment Act of 1967, as amended (the “Revocation Period”). The Company will then pay the Severance Benefit to you in a lump sum 53 days following the date of your termination of employment, except as provided in the section entitled
“Section 409A” below. In the event you decline or fail for any reason to timely execute and deliver the Release or you revoke the Release, then you will not be entitled to the Severance Benefit. The Company will pay the COBRA Payment
to you within 30 days following the date of your employment termination. You will not be eligible for the Severance Payment or COBRA Payment if you resign from your employment with the Company or if your employment ends due to your death or
disability. 
 For purposes of this paragraph, “cause” shall mean any of the following as determined by the Company in its
absolute and sole discretion and judgment: (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 the Company; (ii) your failure or refusal either to
perform, to the Company’s satisfaction, the duties, responsibilities or obligations of your employment, or to follow any 

  
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lawful order or direction by the Company; (iii) any acts or omissions by you that constitute fraud, dishonesty, breach of trust, gross negligence, civil or criminal illegality, or any other
conduct or behavior that could subject the Company or any of its affiliates to civil or criminal liability or otherwise adversely affect its and their business, interests or reputation. 

Resolution of Disputes: 
 From time to
time, disagreements and misunderstandings may arise concerning your job responsibilities, performance, compensation, benefits or other matters affecting your employment with the Company, or one of its affiliated companies. We hope that we will be
able to resolve such matters through normal discussions with your immediate managers or Human Resources representatives. 
 In the
event those efforts fail, you and the Company agree, except as may be prohibited by law or as otherwise excluded by the terms of the attached Mutual Agreement to Arbitrate (Attachment A), to submit any and all disputes relating to or arising
out of this offer letter, your employment with the Company or the termination of that employment to final and binding arbitration pursuant to the employment rules then in effect of the American Arbitration Association, which shall be the sole and
exclusive remedy for such disputes. Accordingly, you acknowledge and agree that this offer of employment and the benefits provided herein are contingent upon your execution of the Mutual Agreement to Arbitrate provided to you herewith and
incorporated herein by reference. In the event that the Mutual Agreement to Arbitrate is determined by a court with appropriate jurisdiction to be unenforceable, you and the Company waive any right to a trial by jury on the claims that otherwise
would have been subject to the Mutual Agreement to Arbitrate. 
 Employment Term: 

While the Company looks forward to a long and mutually beneficial relationship with you, you should understand that there is no fixed duration
for your employment. In accepting this offer, you acknowledge and agree that your employment with the Company is at will, and may be terminated by you or the Company at any time, with or without notice and for any or no reason. By signing below, you
acknowledge that except for this letter and the enclosed attachments, there is nothing in writing between you and the Company concerning this offer of employment or your prospective employment. You further acknowledge and agree that nothing in this
letter guarantees employment for any definite or specific term or duration or any particular level or type of benefits or compensation. 
 Other
Conditions and Obligations: 
 You acknowledge 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. Restrictions include, without limitation, any agreements or other obligations or
documents relating to non-competition, confidentiality, trade secrets, proprietary information or works for hire. By signing this letter, you represent to the Company that there are no agreements or arrangements, whether written or oral, in effect
that would prevent or conflict with your full performance of your employments duties and responsibilities to us. 

  
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 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-compete, Non-solicitation, Confidentiality and Intellectual Property Agreement attached hereto (Attachment B) and incorporated herein by reference. 

No Other Assurances: 
 You acknowledge
that in deciding to sign this offer, you have not relied on any promises, commitments, statements or representations, whether spoken or in writing, made to you by any representative of the Company, except for what is expressly stated herein. This
offer replaces and cancels all previous agreements, commitments, and understandings whether spoken or written, if any, that the Company or any representative of the Company may have made in connection with your employment, with the exception of(i)
the amended and restated Severance Agreement entered into between you and the Company in December 2008 and again amended and restated as of the date of this offer letter, (ii) and any award agreements outstanding under the LTIP in effect on the
date of this letter. You also acknowledge that this offer is intended as written, and that no marginal notations or other revisions to either this offer letter, the Mutual Agreement to Arbitrate, or the Non-compete, Non-solicitation, Confidentiality
and Intellectual Property Agreement are binding on the Company unless expressly consented to in writing by the Executive Vice President, Human Resources or the General Counsel of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. This offer shall be
construed, governed by and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York without regard to its conflicts of laws principles. 

Section 409A: 
 This letter agreement
will be construed and administered to preserve the exemption from Section 409A of payments that qualify as short-term deferrals pursuant to Treas. Reg. §1.409A-1(b)(4) or that qualify for the two-times compensation exemption of Treas. Reg.
§1.409A-1(b)(9)(iii). With respect to any amounts that are subject to Section 409A, it is intended, and this Agreement will be so construed, that such amounts and the Company’s exercise of authority or discretion hereunder shall
comply with the provisions of Section 409A so as not to subject you to the payment of interest and additional tax that may be imposed under Section 409A. For purposes of any payment in this Agreement that is subject to Section 409A
and triggered by your “termination of employment”, (i) “termination of employment” shall have the same meaning as “separation from service” under Section 409A(a)(2)(A)(i) of the Code, and (ii) in the
event you are a “specified employee” on the date of your termination of employment (with such status determined by the Company in accordance with rules established by the Company in writing in advance of the “specified employee
identification date” that relates to the date of your termination of employment or, if later, by December 31, 2008, or in the absence of such rules established by the Company, under the default rules for identifying specified employees
under Section 409A), any payment that is subject to Section 409A, such payment shall not be paid earlier than six months after such termination of employment (if you die after the date of your termination of employment but before any
payment has been made, such remaining payments that were or could have been delayed will be paid to your estate without regard to such six-month delay). Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in this letter, to the extent that any expense
reimbursement provided for by this letter does not qualify for exclusion from Federal income taxation, the Company will make the reimbursement to you no later than December 31 of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the
expense was incurred; the amount of expenses eligible for such reimbursement during a calendar year will not affect the amount of 

  
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expenses eligible for such reimbursement in another calendar year; and your right to such reimbursement is not subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit from the Company. You
acknowledge and agree that the Company has made no representation to you as to the tax treatment of the compensation and benefits provided pursuant to this Agreement and that you are solely responsible for all taxes due with respect to such
compensation and benefits. 
 By signing and returning this letter, you confirm that this letter accurately sets forth the current
understanding between you and the Company regarding the terms of your employment and that you accept and agree to the terms as stated above. 
 Very truly
yours, 
 /s/ Jeff Cava 
 Jeff Cava 

Executive Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer 
 Starwood
Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. 
 Divisional Head of HR : /s/ Kelly Frank 

 

			
	 Enclosures:        
	  	 Mutual Agreement to Arbitrate (Attachment A)

Non-Compete, Non-solicitation, Confidentiality and Intellectual Property Agreement attached hereto

    (Attachment B)

List of Competing Businesses (Attachment 1)

Relocation Plan

 cc: Personnel File 

ACCEPTED AND AGREED TO: 
  

			
	 Dated:11/27/2012
	  	 /s/ Sergio Rivera

		  	 Sergio Rivera

 Created by: HR Service Center 

  
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 Attachment A 

MUTUAL AGREEMENT TO ARBITRATE 

In order to gain the benefits of a speedy, impartial, and cost-effective dispute resolution procedure, and for good and valid
consideration as covenanted below and in addition to any other consideration, and intending to be legally bound, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc (“Company”) and I hereby agree that, except as otherwise provided herein,
all disputes and claims for which a court otherwise would be authorized by law to grant relief, in any manner, that I may have, now or in the future, during or after my employment with the Company, of any and every kind or nature whatsoever with or
against the Company, any of the Company’s affiliated, subsidiary or parent companies, partners, joint venturers, owners of properties the Company manages, and/or any of its or their directors, officers, employees or agents , or any disputes and
claims that the Company or any of the Company’s affiliated, subsidiary or parent companies, may have against me (collectively, “Claims”), shall be submitted to the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”) 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 AAA. The Company and I agree that the arbitrator will have the
authority to grant motions dispositive of all or part of any Claim. The Company shall be responsible for payment of all arbitrator compensation, AAA filing fees and AAA administrative fees, other than the initial AAA filing fee for which I will be
responsible to pay up to a maximum of $125, or as otherwise required by law. 
 Any reference in this Agreement to the
Company also refers to all of the Company’s affiliated entities, benefit plans, the benefit plans’ sponsors, fiduciaries and administrators, and all successors and assigns of any of them. 

The Company and I each have the right to representation by counsel with respect to arbitration of any dispute pursuant to this
Agreement. Except as prohibited by law, at the request of either the Company or me, the arbitration proceedings shall be conducted in confidence, and, in such a case, all documents, testimony, and records shall be received, heard, and maintained by
the arbitrator in confidence, available for inspection only by me and the Company, our respective attorneys, and experts, who shall agree, in advance and in writing, to receive all such information confidentially and to maintain the secrecy of such
information until it shall become generally known. Both parties shall be allowed adequate discovery as part of the arbitration process, including reasonable access to essential documents and witnesses as determined by agreement or the arbitrator.

 The arbitrator shall conduct a full hearing as to all issues and disputes not resolved by dispositive motion. At such
hearing, the parties shall be entitled to present evidence and examine and cross-examine witnesses. The arbitrator shall issue a written decision revealing the essential findings and conclusions upon which any award is based. In addition, the
arbitrator shall have authority to award equitable relief, damages, costs, and fees to the extent permitted by law, including, but not limited to, any remedy or relief that a governing court might order. 

  
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 The Company 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, transfer or promotion extended by the Company to me, any withdrawal or rescission of that offer, any aspect of my employment with the
Company or the terms and conditions of that employment, any claim for bonus, vacation pay or other compensation, any termination of that employment and any claim of discrimination, retaliation, or harassment based upon age, race, religion, sex,
creed, ethnicity, pregnancy, veteran status, citizenship status, national origin, disability, handicap, medical condition, sexual orientation or any other protected basis, or any claim of 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 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, the Rehabilitation Act, as amended, the Immigration Reform and Control Act, and the state and local analogues to the foregoing. 

The Company and I further agree that the Claims subject to arbitration shall exclude any Claims required by any applicable
federal, state, local or other statute or benefit or pension plan to be submitted to an administrative forum (for example, a workers’ compensation claim, a claim for unemployment insurance benefits, or an administrative charge of discrimination
or retaliation filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or the state or local analogue to that agency but not litigation arising from such charges) and any Claims involving solely a monetary dispute within the jurisdiction of a small
claims court. The Company and I further agree that the Claims subject to arbitration also shall exclude any Claims to the extent they involve the alleged taking, use or disclosure of trade secrets and similar confidential or proprietary information,
Claims involving a failure to pay a retention bonus or relocation expense, Claims involving a failure to repay any unearned portion of a retention bonus or relocation expense, Claims based upon any employee pension or benefit plan the terms of which
contain an enforceable arbitration procedure, in which case the procedure of such plan shall apply, and Claims that cannot be compelled to mandatory arbitration under applicable federal law. 

The Company 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. The Company 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. 
 By entering into this Agreement, the Company and I each specifically
acknowledge and 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 the Company and I hereby knowingly and voluntarily waive any and all
rights we may have to assert any Claims in any court of competent jurisdiction and 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 for any specific duration, and that my employment shall be and remain at will, which means that the Company and I shall be free to 

  
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terminate that employment at any time for any or no reason with or without notice and with or without cause. 

Each party’s promise to resolve Claims by arbitration in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement is
consideration for the other party’s like promise. Additionally, I enter into this Agreement in consideration of the Company’s employment, continued employment, transfer or promotion of me. 

This Agreement shall survive my employer-employee relationship with the Company and shall apply to any covered Claim whether
arising or asserted during my employment or after the termination of my employment with the Company. This Agreement can be modified or revoked only by a writing signed by both the Company’s Executive Vice President, Human Resources and me and
that expressly refers to this Agreement and specifically states an intent to modify or revoke it. This is the complete agreement of the parties on the subject of arbitration of disputes, except for any arbitration provision contained in a pension or
benefit plan or an agreement covering change in control benefits and protections. 
 EACH PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT ACKNOWLEDGES CAREFULLY
READING THIS AGREEMENT, UNDERSTANDING ITS TERMS, AND ENTERING INTO THIS AGREEMENT KNOWINGLY AND VOLUNTARILY AND NOT IN RELIANCE ON ANY PROMISES OR REPRESENTATIONS OTHER THAN THOSE CONTAINED IN THIS AGREEMENT ITSELF. 

EACH PARTY FURTHER ACKNOWLEDGES HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS THE AGREEMENT WITH PERSONAL LEGAL COUNSEL AND HAS USED THAT OPPORTUNITY TO
THE EXTENT DESIRED. 
  

							
	 Dated: 9/30/12
	 		 		 	 /s/ Sergio Rivera

		 		 		 	 Sergio Rivera

				
	 Dated: 10/04/12
	 		 		 	 /s/ Jeff Cava

		 		 		 	 Jeff Cava

		 		 		 	 Executive Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer

		 		 		 	 Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.

				
		 		 		 	Divisional Head of HR : /s/ Kelly Frank                        

  

  
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 Attachment B 

NON-COMPETE, NON-SOLICITATION, CONFIDENTIALITY AND INTELLECTUAL 

PROPERTY AGREEMENT 

This Non-compete, Non-solicitation, Confidentiality and Intellectual Property Agreement (“Agreement”) is entered into by and between
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc (the “Company”) and Sergio Rivera (the “Employee”). For purposes of this Agreement, the “Company” shall refer to the Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc
and any and all of the Company’s affiliated subsidiary or parent companies. 
 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, Employee may create inventions, trade secrets, know-how and documents or other works of authorship and may
appear or perform in various promotional materials within the scope of Employee’s employment. 
 WHEREAS, in
consideration of the Company’s offer of employment and/or continued employment, Employee agrees to enter into this Agreement. 

THEREFORE, the Company and Employee agree as follows: 

1. Non-compete. Employee agrees that during the period of Employee’s employment with the Company and for a period
of 12 months following the date of any termination of employment from the Company (the ‘Non-Compete Period’), Employee shall not, without the express written consent of the Board of Directors of the Company, directly or indirectly,
whether for his own account or for the account of any other person or entity, engage, participate or make any financial investment in, become employed by or render advisory services to or otherwise assist or be interested in any Competitive Business
(as defined below) in any geographic area in which, as of the date of termination of Employee’s employment, the Company or any of its subsidiaries is engaged or planning to be engaged. As used herein, “Competitive Business” shall mean
any of the firms, businesses, corporations or enterprises listed on Attachment 1. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Employee may invest in a Competitive Business if its stock is listed for trading on a national stock exchange or traded in the
over-the-counter market and Executive’s holdings have an original cost less than $5,000,000 and represent less than five percent of its outstanding stock. 

2. Non-solicitation. During the period in which Employee is employed by the Company, and for a period of one (1) year 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, directly or indirectly solicit or attempt to
solicit for employment with or on behalf of any corporation, partnership, joint venture or other business entity, any person who is, or at any time during the six-month period 

  
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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). 
 3. Confidentiality. Employee
acknowledges that during the course of his/her 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 interests. 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 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 promptly 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, design plans and strategies, 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). Employee will, prior to making any such disclosure pursuant to subsection (ii), promptly notify the Company of his/her receipt of such process or requirement, consult with the
Company on the advisability of taking steps to resist or narrow such request, cooperate with the Company in any attempt that the Company may make to obtain a court order or other reliable assurance that confidential treatment will be accorded to all
or designated portions of such information, and not disclose such Confidential Information unless the Company shall have had reasonable opportunity to obtain a court order prohibiting or limiting such disclosure. 

3.1 Employee agrees that, both during and after Employee’s employment with the Company, if Employee is uncertain of
whether or not information is confidential, Employee will treat that information as Confidential Information until Employee has received written verification from an authorized officer of the Company that the information is not Confidential
Information. 
 4. Intellectual Property and Publicity Rights. Employee acknowledges and agrees that all right, title
and interest in and to patents, patent applications, inventions, improvements, discoveries, developments, processes, business methods, technical information, 

  
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know-how, trade secrets, computer programs, writings, designs, copyrights, maskworks, trademarks, service marks, trade names, trade dress and the like (collectively, “Intellectual
Property”), including the right to invoke the benefit of the right of priority provided by any treaty to which the United States is a party, which Employee creates, conceives, develops or obtains, either solely or jointly with others, during
Employee’s employment with the Company (a) with the use of the Company’s time, materials, facilities or other resources; or (b) resulting from or suggested by Employee’s work for the Company; or (c) in any way relating
to any subject matter relating to the existing or contemplated business, products and services of the Company or the Company’s affiliates, subsidiaries and licensees shall be owned by the Company. Upon request, Employee shall execute all such
assignments and other documents and take all such other action as the Company may reasonably request in order to vest in the Company, or its nominee, all of Employee’s right, title, and interest in and to such Intellectual Property. Employee
further acknowledges and agrees that the Company shall have the perpetual, worldwide right to use Employee’s name, performance, biography, voice, image, signature and likeness in promotional or any other materials developed by or for the
Company during Employee’s employment with the Company. Employee hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives any and all rights that he/she has or may have in and to the Intellectual Property, including, without limitation, any “moral
rights” that he/she has or may have as “author” of the Intellectual Property, and hereby expressly agrees not to make any claim or demand against the Company or any party authorized by the Company to exploit the Intellectual Property.

 5. Equitable Relief. 

5.1 Employee acknowledges that the restrictions and obligations 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. 

5.2 Any proceeding or action seeking equitable relief for violation of Sections 1, 2 and 3 hereof may 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 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. 
 6. Severability. In the event that any provision of this Agreement conflicts with the law under which
this Agreement is to be construed, and/or if any such provision is held 

  
 Page 6 of 8 

 
invalid by a court with jurisdiction over the parties to this Agreement and the subject matter of this agreement, (a) such provision will be deemed to be restated to reflect as nearly as
possible the original intentions of the parties to the fullest extent permitted under applicable law, and (b) the remaining terms and provisions of this Agreement will remain in full force and effect. 

7. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be construed, governed and enforced according to the laws of the State of New
York without regard to its conflicts of laws principles. 
 8. Amendments and Waivers. No failure to act by the
Company will waive any right contained in this Agreement. No provision of this Agreement may be amended or waived, except by a written agreement signed by both Employee and an authorized executive officer of the Company. Any waiver by the Company of
strict performance of any provision of this Agreement shall not be a waiver of or prejudice the Company’s right to require strict performance of that same provision or any other provision of the Agreement in the future. 

Employee acknowledges that he/she has had a reasonable opportunity to review and consider the terms described above and to
consult with an attorney if he/she 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: 9/30/12
	 		 		 	 /s/ Sergio Rivera

		 		 		 	 Sergio Rivera

				
	 Dated: 10/04/12
	 		 		 	 /s/ Jeff Cava

		 		 		 	 Jeff Cava

		 		 		 	 Executive Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer

		 		 		 	 Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.

				
		 		 		 	Divisional Head of HR : /s/ Kelly Frank                        

  
 Page 7 of 8 

 Attachment 1 

List of Competing Businesses 
 Accor 

Blackstone Group (Branded Hotel Operations only) 
 Fairmont
Hotels & Resorts Inc. 
 Four Seasons Hotels Inc. 

Hyatt Corporation 
 Ian Schrager Hotels and/or Morgans Hotel Group

 Intercontinental Hotel Group 
 Kimpton Hotels &
Restaurant 
 Mandarin Oriental 
 Marriott International, Inc.

 Starwood Capital Group 
 TRT Holdings (owns Omni) 

Wyndham Worldwide Corporation 
 And any affiliate of any of the
foregoing. 

  
 Page 8 of 8EX-10.52

 Exhibit 10.52 

SEVERANCE AGREEMENT 

THIS AGREEMENT, dated August 27, 2012 (the “Effective Date”), is made by and between Starwood Hotels and
Resorts Worldwide, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), and Sergio D. Rivera (the “Executive”). 

WHEREAS, the Executive is employed by the Company as Co-President, Americas; and 

WHEREAS, the Company considers it essential to the best interests of its stockholders to foster the continued employment of
key management personnel; and 
 WHEREAS, the Board recognizes that, as is the case with many publicly held corporations,
the possibility of a Change in Control exists and that such possibility, and the uncertainty and questions which it may raise among management, may result in the departure or distraction of senior management personnel to the detriment of the Company
and its stockholders; and 
 WHEREAS, the Board has determined that appropriate steps should be taken to reinforce and
encourage the continued attention and dedication of members of the Company’s senior management, including the Executive, to their assigned duties without distraction in the face of potentially disturbing circumstances arising from the
possibility of a Change in Control; and 
 WHEREAS, the Company and the Executive entered into an employment agreement (the
“Original Agreement”) dated August 22, 2008; and 
 WHEREAS, the Company and the Executive amended and
restated the Original Agreement in its entirety on December 30, 2008 (the “December 2008 Agreement”) in order to evidence documentary compliance with section 409A of Code and the guidance thereunder (collectively
“Section 409A”); and 
 WHEREAS, the Company and the Executive hereby amend and restate the December 2008
Agreement in its entirety (the “Agreement”) to reflect the change in the Executive’s position with the Company; 

NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company
and the Executive hereby agree as follows: 
 1. Defined Terms. The definitions of capitalized terms used in this
Agreement are provided in Section 16 hereof. 
 2. Term of Agreement. The Term of this Agreement shall commence
on the Effective Date and shall continue in effect through the third anniversary of the Effective Date; provided, however, that on each anniversary of the Effective Date during the Term of this Agreement, the Term shall automatically
be extended for one additional year unless, not later than 90 days prior to any such anniversary, the Company or the 

  
 1 

 
Executive shall have given notice not to extend the Term; and further provided, however, that if a Change in Control or a Potential Change in Control shall have occurred during the
Term, the Term shall expire no earlier than twenty-four (24) months beyond the month in which such Change in Control or a Potential Change in Control occurred. 

3. Company’s Covenants Summarized. In order to induce the Executive to remain in the employ of the Company and in
consideration of the Executive’s covenants set forth in Section 4 hereof, the Company agrees, under the conditions described herein, to pay the Executive the Severance Payments and the other payments and benefits described herein. Except
as provided in Section 10 hereof, no Severance Payments shall be payable under this Agreement unless during the Term there shall have been (or, under the terms of the second sentence of Section 6 hereof, there shall be deemed to have been)
a termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company following a Change in Control. This Agreement shall not be construed as creating an express or implied contract of employment and, except as otherwise agreed in writing between the
Executive and the Company, the Executive shall not have any right to be retained in the employ of the Company. 
 4. The
Executive’s Covenants. The Executive agrees that, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, in the event a Potential Change in Control occurs during the Term, the Executive will remain in the employ of the Company until the
earliest of (i) a date which is six (6) months from the date of such Potential Change of Control, (ii) the date of a Change in Control, (iii) the date of termination by the Executive of the Executive’s employment for Good
Reason or by reason of death, Disability or Retirement, or (iv) the termination by the Company of the Executive’s employment for any reason. 

5. Compensation Other Than Severance Payments. 

a. Payment of Salary During Disability. Following a Change in Control and during the Term, during any period that the
Executive is unable to perform the Executive’s full-time duties with the Company as a result of: 
 (1)
a period of 409A Disability, the Executive shall continue to receive his base salary in accordance with the Company’s standard payroll practices at the rate in effect at the commencement of any such period, together with any compensation
payable to the Executive under the Company’s short-term and long-term disability plans for salaried employees during such period and any benefit coverages customarily provided to disabled salaried employees, until the Executive’s
employment is terminated on account of the Executive’s General Disability; or 
 (2) a period of General
Disability, the Executive shall receive any compensation payable to the Executive under the Company’s short-term and long-term disability plans for salaried employees during such period, as well as any benefit coverages customarily provided to
disabled salaried employees, until 

  
 2 

 
the Executive’s employment is terminated on account of the Executive’s General Disability. 

Thereafter the Executive’s benefits shall be determined under the Company’s retirement, insurance and other compensation programs
then in effect in accordance with the terms of such programs. 
 b. Accrued Salary. If the Executive’s employment
shall be terminated for any reason following a Change in Control and during the Term, the Company shall pay to the Executive such Executive’s full salary through the Date of Termination at the rate in effect immediately prior to the Date of
Termination or, if higher, the rate in effect immediately prior to the first occurrence of an event or circumstance constituting Good Reason, together with all compensation and benefits payable to the Executive through the Date of Termination under
the terms of the Company’s compensation and benefit plans, programs or arrangements as in effect immediately prior to the Date of Termination or, if more favorable to the Executive, as in effect immediately prior to the first occurrence of an
event or circumstance constituting Good Reason. 
 c. Post-Termination Benefits. If the Executive’s employment
shall be terminated for any reason following a Change in Control and during the Term, the Company shall pay to the Executive the Executive’s normal post-termination compensation and benefits as such payments become due. Such post-termination
compensation and benefits shall be determined under, and paid in accordance with, the Company’s retirement, insurance and other compensation or benefit plans, programs and arrangements as in effect immediately prior to the Date of Termination
or, if more favorable to the Executive, as in effect immediately prior to the occurrence of the first event or circumstance constituting Good Reason. 

d. Time of Payment. Upon termination of the Executive’s employment following a Change in Control and during the
Term, the Executive shall receive the payments or benefits to which he may be entitled under Section 5(b) and 5(c) and which constitute deferred compensation subject to Section 409A either (A) at the time when due hereunder, or
(B) if a payment date sufficient to satisfy Section 409A is not otherwise stated for such payment or benefit, on the date of Executive’s termination of employment, except as provided in Section 14 below. 

6. Severance Payments. 

a. If the Executive’s employment is terminated following a Change in Control and during the Term, other than (A) by
the Company for Cause, (B) by reason of death or Disability, or (C) by the Executive without Good Reason, then, the Company shall pay the Executive the amounts, and provide the Executive the benefits, described in this Section 6
(“Severance Payments”) and Section 7, in addition to any payments and benefits to which the Executive is entitled under Section 5 hereof. For purposes of this Agreement, the Executive’s employment shall be deemed to have
been terminated following a Change in Control by the Company without Cause or by the Executive with 

  
 3 

 
Good Reason, if (i) the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company without Cause prior to a Change in Control (whether or not a Change in Control ever occurs) and such
termination was at the request or direction of a Person who has entered into an agreement with the Company the consummation of which would constitute a Change in Control (an “Acquiring Person”), (ii) the Executive terminates his
employment for Good Reason prior to a Change in Control (whether or not a Change in Control ever occurs) and the circumstance or event which constitutes Good Reason occurs at the request or direction of an Acquiring Person, or (iii) the
Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company without Cause or by the Executive for Good Reason and such termination or the circumstance or event which constitutes Good Reason is otherwise in connection with or in anticipation of a Change
in Control (whether or not a Change in Control ever occurs). For purposes of any determination regarding the applicability of the immediately preceding sentence, any position taken by the Executive shall be presumed to be correct unless the Company
establishes to the Board by clear and convincing evidence that such position is not correct. 
 (1) Lump
Sum Payment. In lieu of any further salary payments to the Executive for periods subsequent to the Date of Termination and in lieu of any severance benefit otherwise payable to the Executive under the terms of his offer letter from the Company,
the Company shall pay to the Executive a lump sum severance payment, in cash, equal to two times the sum of (i) the Executive’s base salary as in effect immediately prior to the Date of Termination or, if higher, in effect immediately
prior to the first occurrence of an event or circumstance constituting Good Reason, and (ii) the average of the annual bonuses earned by the Executive in the three fiscal years ending immediately prior to the fiscal year in which occurs the
Date of Termination or, if higher, immediately prior to the fiscal year in which occurs the first event or circumstance constituting Good Reason. For purposes of the preceding sentence, in determining any bonus amount for any fiscal year, bonuses
paid with respect to any year in which employment of the Executive commenced shall be annualized based on the number of days employed by the Company during such year. In the event the date of the Executive’s termination of employment occurs on
or within two years following an event that constitutes a change in the ownership or effective control of the Company or in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of the Company within the meaning of section 409A(a)(2)(a)(vi) of the
Code, such amount will be paid in a lump sum within 30 days following the date of the Executive’s termination of employment, except as set forth in Section 14 below; otherwise, such amount will be paid 53 days following the date of the
Executive’s termination of employment, except as provided by Section 14 below. 
 (2)
Continuation of Welfare Benefits. Subject to Paragraph 15 in the case of any benefits that are not exempt from Section 409A, for the twenty-four (24) month period immediately following the Date of Termination, the Company shall
arrange to provide the Executive and his dependents life, disability, and accident insurance benefits and other benefits and perquisites (including employee stay rates) substantially similar to those provided to the

  
 4 

 
Executive and his dependents immediately prior to the Date of Termination or, if more favorable to the Executive, those provided to the Executive and his dependents immediately prior to the first
occurrence of an event or circumstance constituting Good Reason, at no greater cost to the Executive than the cost to the Executive immediately prior to such date or occurrence. Benefits otherwise receivable by the Executive pursuant to this
Section 6(a)(2) shall be reduced to the extent benefits of the same type are received by the Executive from another employer during the twenty-four (24) month period following the Executive’s termination of employment;
provided, however, that the Company shall reimburse the Executive for the excess, if any, of the cost of such benefits to the Executive over such cost immediately prior to the Date of Termination or, if more favorable to the Executive,
the first occurrence of an event or circumstance constituting Good Reason. 
 (3) Health Benefits. For
the twenty-four (24) month period immediately following the Date of Termination, the Company shall arrange to provide the Executive with group health coverage substantially similar to that which the Executive was receiving immediately prior to
the Notice of Termination. The premium charge to the Executive for each month of such coverage will equal the Company’s monthly COBRA charge for such coverage in which the Executive, his spouse and covered dependents (as applicable) is enrolled
from time to time (less the amount of any administrative charge typically assessed by the Company as part of its COBRA charge) and the Executive will be required to pay such monthly premium charge in accordance with the Company’s standard COBRA
premium payment requirements. The Company will pay Executive a lump sum in cash equal to an initial multiple that is increased by a percentage. For this purpose, the initial multiple is 24 times the difference that results from calculating
(i) the Company’s monthly COBRA charge on the Date of Termination for family coverage with respect to the highest value health coverage provided to salaried employees, minus (ii) the amount the Company charges active salaried
employees for such coverage on Executive’s Date of Termination. In addition, for this purpose, the percentage is the sum of (I) 1% for each month in the 24-month period that will fall in the calendar year following Executive’s Date of
Termination, plus (II) 2% for each month in the 24-month period that will fall in the second calendar year following Executive’s Date of Termination. The Company will make such payment within 30 days following the date of the Executive’s
termination of employment, except as provided by Section 14 below. 
 (4) Incentive Compensation.
Notwithstanding any provision of any annual or long-term incentive plan to the contrary, the Company shall pay to the Executive in cash the following amounts: 

(A) A lump sum equal to any unpaid incentive compensation which has been allocated or awarded to the Executive
for a completed fiscal year or other measuring period preceding the Date of Termination under any such plan and which, as of the Date of 

  
 5 

 
Termination, is contingent only upon the continued employment of the Executive to a subsequent date, paid during the fiscal year of termination when bonuses for such completed fiscal year are
paid to senior executives (but not later than 
2-1/2 months after such completed fiscal year, except as provided by Section 14 below; and 

(B) the value of each contingent incentive compensation award allocated or awarded to the Executive for a then
uncompleted period under any such plan that the Executive would have earned on the last day of the performance award period, assuming the achievement, at the target level, of the individual and corporate performance goals established with respect to
such award, paid in the year following the end of such performance period when awards for such performance period are paid to senior executives (but not later than 2-1/2 months after the end of such performance period, except as provided by
Section 14 below. Awards for uncompleted periods shall be prorated based upon the number of days the Executive is employed by the Company during such year. 

(5) Accelerated Vesting of Stock Options. All stock options and restricted stock held by the Executive
under any stock option or incentive plan maintained by the Company (including the Company’s 2004 Long-Term Incentive Plans) shall immediately vest and become exercisable as of the Date of Termination, to be exercised in accordance with the
terms of the applicable plan 
 (6) Outplacement Services. The Company shall provide the Executive
with outplacement services suitable to the Executive’s position for a period of two (2) years following the date of the Executive’s termination of employment or, if earlier, until the first acceptance by the Executive of an offer of
employment. The cost of such outplacement services shall not exceed twenty percent (20%) of the Executive’s base salary in effect on the Date of Termination. 

(7) 401(k) Contributions. The Company shall pay the Executive an amount equal to the unvested portion (if any)
of the Executive’s account balance under the Company’s 401(k) Plan that is forfeited by reason of the Executive’s termination of employment. Such payment shall be made within 30 days following the date of the Executive’s
termination of employment, except as provided by Section 14 below. 
 7. 280G Cap. 

a. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement, in the event that any payment or benefit received or to be received
by the Executive in connection with a Change in Control or the termination of the Executive’s employment (whether pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or any other plan, arrangement or agreement with the Company, any Person whose actions
result in a Change in Control 

  
 6 

 
or any Person affiliated with the Company or such Person) (all such payments and benefits, including the Severance Payments, being hereinafter called “Total Payments”) would not be
deductible (in whole or part), by the Company, an affiliate or Person making such payment or providing such benefit as a result of section 280G of the Code, then, the Total Payments shall be reduced (with the cash Severance Payments being reduced
first (if necessary, to zero) in the order in which they appear in Section 6 above, and all other Severance Payments shall thereafter be reduced (if necessary, to zero) in the order in which they appear in Section 6 above provided that
extended health benefits will be reduced last to the minimum extent necessary such that, after deducting the amount of any Excise Tax imposed on such Total Payments (as so reduced) from such Total Payments (as so reduced), the amount of the Total
Payments (after such reduction) will be greater if such reduction is made than it would be without such reduction. All determinations, including the order and timing of any such reduction shall be determined by the accounting firm which was,
immediately prior to the Change in Control, the Company’s independent auditor (the “Auditor”). 
 b. For
purposes of this limitation, (i) no portion of the Total Payments the receipt or enjoyment of which the Executive shall have waived at such time and in such manner as not to constitute a “payment” within the meaning of section 280G(b)
of the Code shall be taken into account, (ii) no portion of the Total Payments shall be taken into account which, in the opinion of tax counsel (“Tax Counsel”) reasonably acceptable to the Executive and selected by the Auditor, does
not constitute a “parachute payment” within the meaning of section 280G(b)(2) of the Code, including by reason of section 280G(b)(4)(A) of the Code and (iii) the value of any noncash benefit or any deferred payment or benefit included
in the Total Payments shall be determined by the Auditor in accordance with the principles of sections 280G(d)(3) and (4) of the Code. 

8. Termination Procedures and Compensation During Dispute. 

a. Notice of Termination. After a Change in Control and during the Term, any purported termination of the
Executive’s employment (other than by reason of death) shall be communicated by written Notice of Termination from one party hereto to the other party hereto in accordance with Section 12 hereof. For purposes of this Agreement, a
“Notice of Termination” shall mean a notice which shall indicate the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon and shall set forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for
termination of the Executive’s employment under the provisions indicated. Further, a Notice of Termination for Cause is required to include a copy of a resolution duly adopted by the affirmative vote of not less than three-quarters
(3/4) of the entire membership of the Board at a meeting of the Board which was called and held for the purpose of considering such termination (after reasonable notice to the Executive and an opportunity for the Executive, together with the
Executive’s counsel, to be heard before the Board) finding that, in the good faith opinion of the Board, the Executive was guilty of conduct set forth in clause (i) or (ii) of the definition of Cause herein, and specifying the
particulars thereof in detail. 

  
 7 

 b. Date of Termination. “Date of Termination,” with respect to
any purported termination of the Executive’s employment after a Change in Control and during the Term, shall mean (1) if the Executive’s employment is terminated for Disability, thirty (30) days after Notice of Termination is
given (provided that the Executive shall not have returned to the full-time performance of the Executive’s duties during such thirty (30) day period), and (ii) if the Executive’s employment is terminated for any other reason, the
date specified in the Notice of Termination (which, in the case of a termination by the Company, shall not be less than thirty (30) days (except in the case of a termination for Cause) and, in the case of a termination by the Executive, shall
not be less than fifteen (15) days nor more than sixty (60) days, respectively, from the date such Notice of Termination is given). 

c. Dispute Concerning Termination. If the Executive reasonably believe in good faith the Company is not providing the
Executive with a benefit or payment to which the Executive is entitled under the terms of this Agreement, the Executive may notify the Company, within forty-five (45) days after the Date of Termination or, if any such payment or benefit is due
after such 45-day period, within 45 days following such payment date, that a dispute exists concerning the termination and/or the amount of such payment or benefit. In this event, the Company shall act within fifteen (15) days to restore fully
the disputed benefits and payments (so that all benefits and payments are provided as of such date as would have been provided had there been no delay in providing such benefits and payments) and to continue to provide such benefits and payments as
contemplated by this Agreement thereafter (provided, however, that in all events any payment or benefit shall not be paid or provided to the Executive before the payment date set forth in this Agreement or any applicable document), but subject to
termination and recapture from the Executive of these disputed benefits and payments in accordance with the terms of a mutual written agreement of the parties or by a final judgment, order or decree of an arbitrator or a court of competent
jurisdiction (which is not appealable or with respect to which the time for appeal therefrom has expired and no appeal has been perfected). 

9. No Mitigation. The Company agrees that, if the Executive’s employment with the Company terminated during the
Term, the Executive is not required to seek other employment or to attempt in any way to reduce any amounts payable to the Executive by the Company pursuant to Section 6 hereof or Section 8(d) hereof. Further, the amount of any payment or
benefit provided for in this Agreement (other than Section 6(a)(2) hereof) shall not be reduced by any compensation earned by the Executive as the result of employment by another employer, by retirement benefits, by offset against any amount
claimed to be owed by the Executive to the Company, or otherwise. 
 10. Successors; Binding Agreement. 

a. In addition to any obligations imposed by law upon any successor to the Company, the Company will require any successor
(whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company to expressly assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent
that the Company would be required to 

  
 8 

 
perform it if no such succession had taken place. Failure of the Company to obtain such assumption and agreement prior to the effectiveness of any such succession shall be a breach of this
Agreement and shall entitle the Executive to terminate his employment with the Company and receive compensation from the Company in the same amount and on the same terms as the Executive would be entitled to hereunder if the Executive were to
terminate the Executive’s employment for Good Reason after a Change in Control, except that, for purposes of implementing the foregoing, the date on which any such succession becomes effective shall be deemed the Date of Termination. 

b. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Executive’s personal or legal representatives,
executors, administrators, successors, heirs, distributees, devisees and legatees. If the Executive shall die while any amount would still be payable to the Executive hereunder (other than amounts which, by their terms, terminate upon the death of
the Executive) if the Executive had continued to live, all such amounts, unless otherwise provided herein, shall be paid in accordance with the terms of this Agreement to the executors, personal representatives or administrators of the
Executive’s estate. 
 11. Indemnification. The Company shall indemnify and hold Executive harmless for acts and
omissions in his capacity as an officer, director or employee of the Company to the maximum extent permitted under applicable law. The Company shall maintain a Director’s and Officer’s Liability Insurance Policy, which shall provide
liability coverage for Executive’s benefit, and the Executive shall remain covered under such policy for a period of at least six (6) years following the earlier of termination of employment or the occurrence of a Change in Control. 

12. Notices. For the purpose of this Agreement, notices and all other communications provided for in the Agreement
shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered or mailed by United States registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed, if to the Executive, to the address inserted below the Executive’s
signature on the final page hereof and, if to the Company, to the address set forth below, or to such other address as either party may have furnished to the other in writing in accordance herewith, except that notice of change of address shall be
effective only upon actual receipt: 
 To the Company: 

Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, Inc. 

One StarPoint 

Stamford, CT 06902 

Attention: Chief Administrative Officer and General Counsel 

13. Miscellaneous. No provision of this Agreement may be modified, waived or discharged unless such waiver,
modification or discharge is agreed to in writing and signed by the Executive and such officer as may be specifically designated by the Board. No waiver by either party hereto at any time of any breach by the other party hereto of, or of any lack of
compliance with, any condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed by such other party shall be deemed a waiver of similar or 

  
 9 

 
dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same or at any prior or subsequent time. This Agreement supersedes any other agreements or representations, oral or otherwise, express or implied, with
respect to the subject matter hereof which have been made by either party; provided, however, that this Agreement shall supersede any agreement setting forth the terms and conditions of the Executive’s employment with the Company only in the
event that the Executive’s employment with the Company is terminated on or following a Change in Control, by the Company other than for Cause or by the Executive for Good Reason. The validity, interpretation, construction and performance of
this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of New York. All references to sections of the Exchange Act or the Code shall be deemed also to refer to any successor provisions to such sections. Any payments provided for hereunder shall
be paid net of any applicable withholding required under federal, state or local law and any additional withholding to which the Executive has agreed. The obligations of the Company and the Executive under this Agreement which by their nature may
require either partial or total performance after the expiration of the Term (including, without limitation, those under Sections 6, 7, 8, and 9 hereof) shall survive such expiration. 

14. Code Section 409A. This Agreement will be construed and administered to preserve the exemption from
Section 409A of payments that qualify as short-term deferrals pursuant to Treas. Reg. §1.409A-1(b)(4) or that qualify for the two-times compensation exemption of Treas. Reg. §1.409A-1(b)(9)(iii). With respect to any amounts that are
subject to Section 409A, it is intended, and this Agreement will be so construed, that such amounts and the Company’s and the Executive’s exercise of authority or discretion hereunder shall comply with the provisions of
Section 409A so as not to subject the Executive to the payment of interest and additional tax that may be imposed under Section 409A. For purposes of any payment in this Agreement that is subject to Section 409A and triggered by the
Executive’s “termination of employment”, (i) “termination of employment” shall have the same meaning as “separation from service” under Section 409A(a)(2)(A)(i) of the Code, and (ii) in the event the
Executive is a “specified employee” on the date of the Executive’s termination of employment (with such status determined by the Company in accordance with rules established by the Company in writing in advance of the “specified
employee identification date” that relates to the date of the Executive’s termination of employment or, if later, by December 31, 2008, or in the absence of such rules established by the Company, under the default rules for
identifying specified employees under Section 409A), any payment that is subject to Section 409A, such payment shall not be paid earlier than six months after such termination of employment (if the Executive dies after the date of the
Executive’s termination of employment but before any payment has been made, such remaining payments that were or could have been delayed will be paid to the Executive’s estate without regard to such six-month delay). The Executive
acknowledges and agrees that the Company has made no representation to the Executive as to the tax treatment of the compensation and benefits provided pursuant to this Agreement and that the Executive is solely responsible for all taxes due with
respect to such compensation and benefits. 
 15. Expense Reimbursements. To the extent that any expense
reimbursement provided for by this Agreement does not qualify for exclusion from Federal income 

  
 10 

 
taxation, except as specified otherwise in this Agreement, the Company will make the reimbursement only if the Executive incurs the corresponding expense during the term of this Agreement and
submits the request for reimbursement no later than two months prior to the last day of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the expense was incurred so that the Company can (and it thereby will) make the reimbursement on or before
the last day of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the expense was incurred. In the case of any such expense reimbursement and any in-kind benefit provided for by this Agreement that does not qualify for exclusion from Federal
income taxation, the amount of expenses eligible for such reimbursement (and the amount of in-kind benefits provided) during a calendar year will not affect the amount of expenses eligible for such reimbursement (or benefits provided) in another
calendar year; and the right to such reimbursement or in-kind benefit is not subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit from the Company. 

16. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an
original but all of which together will constitute one and the same instrument. 
 17. Settlement of Disputes:
Arbitration. 
 a. All claims by the Executive for benefits under this Agreement shall be directed to and determined by
the Board and shall be in writing. Any denial by the Board of a claim for benefits under this Agreement shall be delivered to the Executive in writing and shall set forth the specific reasons for the denial and the specific provisions of this
Agreement relied upon. The Board shall afford a reasonable opportunity to the Executive for a review of the decision denying a claim and shall further allow the Executive to appeal to the Board a decision of the Board within sixty (60) days
after notification by the Board that the Executive’s claim has been denied. 
 b. Any further dispute or controversy
arising under or in connection with this Agreement shall be settled exclusively by arbitration in New York, in accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration Association then in effect; provided, however, that the evidentiary
standards set forth in this Agreement shall apply. Judgment may be entered on the arbitrator’s award in any court having jurisdiction. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the Executive shall be entitled to seek
specific performance of the Executive’s right to be paid until the Date of Termination during the pendency of any dispute or controversy arising under or in connection with this Agreement. 

18. Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated below: 

a. “Affiliate” shall have the meaning set forth in Rule 12b-2 promulgated under Section 12 of the Exchange Act.

 b. “Auditor” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7 hereof. 

  
 11 

 c. “Base Amount” shall have the meaning set forth in section 280G(b)(3)
of the Code. 
 d. “Beneficial Owner” shall have the meaning set forth in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act. 

e. “Board” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company. 

f. “Cause” for termination by the Company of the Executive’s employment shall mean (i) the willful and
continued failure by the Executive to substantially perform the Executive’s duties with the Company after a written demand for substantial performance is delivered to the Executive by the Board, which demand specifically identifies the manner
in which the Board believes that the Executive has not substantially performed the Executive’s duties, and Executive has not cured any such failure that is capable of being cured in all material respects within ten (10) days of receiving
such written demand, or (ii) the willful engaging by the Executive in conduct which is demonstrably and materially injurious to the Company or its subsidiaries, monetarily or otherwise. For purposes of clauses (i) and (ii) of this
definition, (x) no act, or failure to act, on the Executive’s part shall be deemed “willful” unless done, or omitted to be done, by the Executive not in good faith and without reasonable belief that the Executive’s act, or
failure to act, was in the best interest of the Company and (y) in the event of a dispute concerning the application of this provision, no claim by the Company that Cause exists shall be given effect unless the Company establishes to the Board
by clear and convincing evidence that Cause exists. 
 g. A “Change in Control” shall be deemed to have occurred if
the event set forth in any one of the following paragraphs shall have occurred: 
 (1) any Person is or
becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company (not including in the securities beneficially owned by such Person any securities acquired directly from the Company or its affiliates) representing 25% or more of
the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities, excluding any Person who becomes such a Beneficial Owner in connection with a transaction described in clause (i) of paragraph (3) below; or 

(2) the following individuals cease for any reason to constitute a majority of the number of directors then
serving: individuals who, on the date hereof, constitute the Board and any new director (other than a director whose initial assumption of office is in connection with an actual or threatened election contest, including but not limited to a consent
solicitation, relating to the election of directors of the Company) whose appointment or election by the Board or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders was approved or recommended by a vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of
the directors then still in office who either were directors on the date hereof or whose appointment, election or nomination for election was previously so approved or recommended; or 

  
 12 

 (3) there is consummated a merger or consolidation of the Company
or any direct or indirect subsidiary of the Company with any other corporation, other than (i) a merger or consolidation which would result in the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior to such merger or consolidation
continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity or any parent thereof), in combination with the ownership of any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an
employee benefit plan of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company, at least 70% of the combined voting power of the securities of the Company or such surviving entity or any parent thereof outstanding immediately after such merger or
consolidation and in proportion to their relative voting power immediately prior to such merger or consolidation, or (ii) a merger or consolidation effected to implement a recapitalization of the Company (or similar transaction) in which no
Person is or becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 25% or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities; or 

(4) the stockholders of the Company approve a plan of complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company or
there is consummated an agreement for the sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets, other than a sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets to an
entity, at least 70% of the combined voting power of the voting securities of which are owned by stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of the Company immediately prior to such sale. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, a “Change in Control” shall not be deemed to have occurred by virtue of the consummation of any transaction or series of integrated transactions immediately following which the record holders of the common stock of the Company
immediately prior to such transaction or series of transactions continue to have substantially the same proportionate ownership in an entity which owns all or substantially all of the assets of the Company immediately following such transaction or
series of transactions. 
 h. “Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.

 i. “Company” shall mean Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, Inc., and, except in determining under
Section 17(g) hereof whether or not any Change in Control of the Company has occurred, shall include any successor to its business and/or assets which assumes and agrees to perform this Agreement by operation of law, or otherwise. 

j. “Date of Termination” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8 hereof. 

  
 13 

 k. “Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended from time to time. 
 l. “Excise Tax” shall mean any excise tax imposed under section 4999 of the Code.

 m. “Executive” shall mean the individual named in the first paragraph of this Agreement. 

n. The Executive will be deemed to have a “409A Disability” if (A) the Executive is unable to engage in any
substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months, (B) the Executive is, by
reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months, receiving income replacement benefits for a period of not less
than three (3) months under an accident and health plan covering Company employees; or (C) the Executive is determined to be totally disabled by the Social Security Administration. 

o. “General Disability” shall be deemed the reason for the termination by the Company of the Executive’s
employment, if, as a result of the Executive’s incapacity due to physical or mental illness, the Executive shall have been absent from the full-time performance of the Executive’s duties with the Company for a period of six
(6) consecutive months, the Company shall have given the Executive a Notice of Termination for Disability, and, within thirty (30) days after such Notice of Termination is given, the Executive shall not have returned to the full-time
performance of the Executive’s duties. 
 p. “Good Reason” for termination by the Executive of the
Executive’s employment shall mean the occurrence (without the Executive’s express written consent) after any Change in Control, or prior to a Change in Control under the circumstances described in clauses (ii) and (iii) of the
second sentence of Section 6(a) hereof (treating all references in paragraphs (1) through (7) below to a “Change in Control” as references to a “Potential Change in Control”), of any one of the following acts by
the Company, or failures by the Company to act, unless, in the case of any act or failure to act described in paragraph (1), (5), (6) or (7) below, such act or failure to act is corrected prior to the Date of Termination specified in the
Notice of Termination given in respect thereof: 
 (1) the assignment to the Executive of any duties
inconsistent with the Executive’s status as a senior executive officer of the Company or a substantial adverse alteration in the nature or status of the Executive’s responsibilities from those in effect immediately prior to the Change in
Control; 

  
 14 

 (2) a reduction by the Company in the Executive’s annual
base salary as in effect on the date hereof or as the same may be increased from time to time; 
 (3) the
relocation of the Executive’s principal place of employment to a location more than 35 miles from the Executive’s principal place of employment immediately prior to the Change in Control or the Company’s requiring the Executive to be
based anywhere other than such principal place of employment (or permitted relocation thereof) except for required travel on the Company’s business to an extent substantially consistent with the Executive’s present business travel
obligations; 
 (4) the failure by the Company to pay to the Executive any portion of the Executive’s
current compensation, or to pay to the Executive any portion of an installment of deferred compensation under any deferred compensation program of the Company, within seven (7) days of the date such compensation is due; 

(5) the failure by the Company to continue in effect any compensation plan in which the Executive participates
immediately prior to the Change in Control which is material to the Executive’s total compensation, including but not limited to the Company’s stock option, bonus and other plans or any substitute plans adopted prior to the Change in
Control, unless an equitable arrangement (embodied in an ongoing substitute or alternative plan) has been made with respect to such plan, or the failure by the Company to continue the Executive’s participation therein (or in such substitute or
alternative plan) on a basis not materially less favorable, both in terms of the amount or timing of payment of benefits provided and the level of the Executive’s participation relative to other participants, as existed immediately prior to the
Change in Control; 
 (6) the failure by the Company to continue to provide the Executive with benefits
substantially similar to those enjoyed by the Executive under any of the Company’s pension, savings, life insurance, medical, health and accident, or disability plans in which the Executive was participating immediately prior to the Change in
Control, the taking of any other action by the Company which would directly or indirectly materially reduce any of such benefits or deprive the Executive of any material fringe benefit enjoyed by the Executive at the time of the Change in Control,
or the failure by the Company to provide the Executive with the number of paid vacation days to which the Executive is entitled on the basis of years of service with the Company in accordance with the Company’s normal vacation policy or any
employment agreement in effect at the time of the Change in Control; or 
 (7) any purported termination of
the Executive’s employment which is not effected pursuant to a Notice of Termination satisfying the 

  
 15 

 
requirements of Section 8(a) hereof; for purposes of this Agreement, no such purported termination shall be effective. 

The Executive’s right to terminate the Executive’s employment for Good Reason shall not be affected by the
Executive’s incapacity due to physical or mental illness. The Executive’s continued employment shall not constitute consent to, or a waiver of rights with respect to, any act or failure to act constituting Good Reason hereunder. 

For purposes of any determination regarding the existence of Good Reason, any claim by the Executive that Good Reason exists
shall be presumed to be correct unless the Company establishes to the Board by clear and convincing evidence that Good Reason does not exist. 

q. “Notice of Termination” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8 hereof. 

r. “Person” shall have the meaning given in Section 3(a)(9) of the Exchange Act, as modified and used in
Sections 13(d) and 14(d) thereof, except that such term shall not include (i) the Company or any of its subsidiaries, (ii) a trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company or any of its
Affiliates, (iii) an underwriter temporarily holding securities pursuant to an offering of such securities, or (iv) a corporation owned, directly or indirectly, by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as
their ownership of stock of the Company. 
 s. “Potential Change in Control” shall be deemed to have occurred if
the event set forth in any one of the following paragraphs shall have occurred: 
 (1) the Company enters
into an agreement, the consummation of which would result in the occurrence of a Change in Control; 
 (2)
the Company or any Person publicly announces an intention to take or to consider taking actions which, if consummated, would constitute a Change in Control; 

(3) any Person becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing
15% 14 or more of either the then outstanding shares of common stock of the Company or the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities (not including in the securities beneficially owned by such Person any securities
acquired directly from the Company or its affiliates); or 
 (4) the Board adopts a resolution to the effect
that, for purposes of this Agreement, a Potential Change in Control has occurred. 
 t. “Retirement” shall be
deemed the reason for the termination by the Executive of the Executive’s employment if such employment is terminated in 

  
 16 

 
accordance with the Company’s retirement policy, including early retirement, generally applicable to its salaried employees. 

u. “Severance Payments” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6 hereof. 

v. “Tax Counsel” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7 hereof. 

w. “Term” shall mean the period of time described in Section 2 hereof (including any extension, continuation or
termination described therein). 
 x. “Total Payments” shall mean those payments so described in Section 7
hereof. 
 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Supplement to be duly executed as of the date first written
above. 
  

			
	 STARWOOD HOTELS AND RESORTS WORLDWIDE, INC. 

		
	By	 	   /s/ Jeffrey Cava 

	 NAME:
	 	 Jeffrey Cava

	 TITLE:
	 	 EVP – Human Resources

	 Dated:
	 	 11/21/2012

	
	 EXECUTIVE 

	
	 /s/ Sergio D. Rivera

	 Sergio D. Rivera 

	 Dated:
	 	 11/27/2012

  
 17

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