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                                                                EXHIBIT 23.1



                      CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS


We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement of
Sunstone Hotel Investors, Inc. on Form S-3 being filed under the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended, of our report dated February 28, 1997 on our audits of the
consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedule of Sunstone
Hotel Investors, Inc. and Sunstone Initial Hotels (the Predecessor), and of our
report dated February 28, 1997 on our audits of the financial statements of
Sunstone Hotel Properties, Inc. (the Lessee) appearing in the Annual Report on
Form 10-K, as amended, of Sunstone Hotel Investors, Inc. (the "Company") for
the year ended December 31, 1996, of our report dated November 22, 1996 on our
audits of the financial statements of Ventura Hospitality Partners, Inc.
appearing in the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed January 7, 1997,
of our report dated July 17, 1997 on our audit of the financial statements of
Markland Hotel, Inc., of our report dated July 18, 1997 on our audit of the
financial statements of Gateway Center Group, of our report dated August 7,
1997 on our audit of the financial statements of TSB Crystal Partnership, and
of our report dated August 7, 1997 on our audit of the financial statements of
Holiday Inn Mission Valley Stadium Hotel, which reports appear in the Company's
Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed August 22, 1997. We also consent to the
reference to our firm under the caption "Experts."


/s/ COOPERS & LYBRAND L.L.P.
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Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P.

San Francisco, California
December 4, 1997