Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates as a hotel and leisure company worldwide. The company owns, operates, and franchises luxury and upscale full-service hotels, resorts, residences, retreats, select-service hotels, and extended stay hotels under the St. Regis, The Luxury Collection, W, Westin, Le Méridien, Sheraton, Four Points, Aloft, Tribute Portfolio, and Element brand names. It also provides financing to customers who purchase such interests. In addition, the company develops, markets, and sells residential units at mixed use hotel projects. As of December 31, 2015, the company had 1,282 owned, managed, or franchised hotels with approximately 362,300 rooms; and approximately 15 stand-alone vacation ownership resorts and residential properties. The company was founded in 1969 and is headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut. As of September 23, 2016, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. operates as a subsidiary of Marriott International, Inc.