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                                                                    Exhibit 23.1


                         Consent of Independent Auditors


        We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption "Experts" in
the Registration Statement (Form S-3 No. 333-______) and related Prospectus of
Sunstone Hotel Investors, Inc. for the registration of 447,000 warrants to
purchase its common stock and 447,000 shares of its common stock and to the
incorporation by reference therein of our reports dated February 27, 1998, with
respect to the consolidated financial statements and schedule of Sunstone Hotel
Investors, Inc. as of December 31, 1997 and for the year then ended and the
consolidated financial statements of Sunstone Hotel Properties, Inc. as of
December 31, 1997 and for the year then ended included in Sunstone Hotel
Investors, Inc.'s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
1997, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.


                                                        /s/Ernst & Young LLP

Newport Beach, California
September 29, 1998



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