1.   Analysts said the company could make as many as a dozen big hotel acquisitions this year.

2.   Hilton faces an uphill battle without ITT because there are few large takeover candidates remaining following the biggest year ever for hotel acquisitions.

3.   Phoenix-based Starwood Lodging has been one of the most aggressive buyers in a record year for hotel acquisitions.

4.   Starwood Lodging Trust said third-quarter earnings almost doubled on hotel acquisitions and higher room rates.

5.   The past year has been the busiest ever for hotel acquisitions because of strong earnings and cash flow growth.

6.   The purchase is the latest hotel acquisition by Starwood as it seeks to cash in on the profitable upscale and luxury hotel markets.

7.   Two of those REITs -- Starwood Lodging Trust and Patriot American Hospitality Inc. -- are the forces behind the biggest year ever in hotel acquisitions.