Starwood pitch will not change A-P set-up

<p>SINGAPORE: Starwood Hotels & Resorts' 81 hotels in Asia-Pacific </p><p>expect to retain the multiple agency arrangements in place in the region </p><p>although the company is pitching for a new agency to develop worldwide </p><p>creative and handle media for its Westin and Sheraton brands. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>DDB, which worked on the business for the past two years, declined to </p><p>pitch for the US$20 to $30 million account. A decision is </p><p>expected in the first quarter of 2002. Regional brand marketing manager, </p><p>Lisa Halim, said: "Our direction here will be to still work with local </p><p>agencies. In some remote areas it is difficult to keep to the </p><p>internationally-appointed agency." The regional corporate work is </p><p>handled by Lacek, with Bates, DDB and Ogilvy & Mather working on </p><p>individual hotel accounts. </p><p><BR><BR> </p>