DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, March 27, 2008.: Barasti the beach restaurant and bar at Le Meridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort and Marina has been named winner of Best Bar Food at the Time Out Dubai Restaurant Awards 2008.

'The food at Barasti is a cut above the rest, and you're also paying for amazing views over the Gulf and a back-drop of live music. The simple starters were a big hit with the Time Out critics - perfect grazing food in a sultry seafront location,' said the judges of the winning bar.

Winning a Time Out Dubai award is no easy feat. The magazine's team of food critics visit each restaurant in Dubai, dining anonymously and paying for every meal, in order to arrive at their conclusions. The judging process takes into account not just the quality of food, but presentation, service, ambience and value for money. The Time Out Dubai awards are 100% independent - the only awards in the city that can make this claim. To obtain recognition at the awards ceremony is to achieve something outstanding.

The Time Out Dubai Restaurant Awards 2008 were presented at a glittering ceremony at the newly opened Monarch Hotel on Tuesday March 25, 2008.  Leading General Managers, Directors, Head Chefs, F &B directors, marketing directors and managers from many of the city's top restaurants gathered in anticipation as Time Out Dubai delivered its verdict on the best venues to eat in the city.

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About Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with approximately 900 properties in more than 100 countries and 155,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. Starwood Hotels is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels and resorts with the following internationally renowned brands: St. Regis®, The Luxury Collection®, Sheraton®, Westin®, Four Points® by Sheraton, W®, Le Méridien® and the recently announced AloftSM and ElementSM Hotels. Starwood Hotels also owns Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., one of the premier developers and operators of high quality vacation interval ownership resorts. For more information, please visit www.starwoodhotels.com/pressclub 

About ITP
ITP publishes more magazines serving the Middle East's business and consumer markets than any other company. The group's activities include magazine publishing, Internet ventures and online publishing, contract and corporate publishing, event management and digital printing services.

For more information regarding ITP Consumer Publishing Ltd please contact Sue Holt, Marketing Director, ITP Consumer Publishing, Tel: + 0971 4 210 8256 or email: sue.holt@itp.com

Time Out Dubai
Time Out Dubai is the city's only intelligent guide to what is happening each week.  Launched in 2001, it was the first listings magazine in the region to cover all aspects of cultural and consumer life in Dubai.  Now the city's most recognized and respected magazine, Time Out Dubai is the only weekly entertainment guide that matters. Time Out Dubai is the city's benchmark for credible, objective editorial.  Each week, Time Out Dubai reviews the city's best shops, restaurants and bars, gives the most useful travel tips and destination ideas, highlights the best in local TV & film, and previews the greatest gigs in town.

For more information regarding Time Out Dubai please contact
Kate Chapman,
Brand Manager,
ITP Consumer Publishing,
tel: + 0971 4 210 8351
email kate.chapman@itp.com

For further information, please contact:
Vivid Riley
Account Manager
Fusion Marketing Management LLC
Tel: +971.4.3912149
Fax: +971.4.3918402
Email: ce@fusion-mgt.com

Derryn French
Public Relations Manager
The Mina Seyahi Complex
Tel: +971.4. 3993333
Derryn.french@starwoordhotels.com

© Press Release 2008