Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide knows how to shine a light on hospitality. One of the world's largest hotel companies, it has nearly 1,300 properties in about 100 countries. Starwood's hotel empire consists of upscale brands such as Sheraton and Westin. It operates about 100 luxury resorts and hotels through its St. Regis and Luxury Collection units, while its 40 W Hotels offer ultra-modern style. Other brands include Four Points (value-oriented), Le Méridien (European-inspired), Aloft (select-service), and Element (extended stay). Starwood Vacation Ownership operates about 15 time-share resorts. In 2016 Marriott acquired Starwood for about $13.3 billion.