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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. 333-65037) 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 19, 1999 with
respect to the consolidated financial statements and schedule of Sunstone Hotel
Investors, Inc. as of December 31 1998 and 1997 and for the years then ended and
the consolidated financial statements of Sunstone Hotel Properties, Inc as of
December 31, 1998 and 1997 and for the years then ended included in Sunstone
Hotel Investors, Inc.'s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December
31, 1998, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.


                                                            /s/Ernst & Young LLP
                                                            --------------------



Newport Beach, California
May 24, 1999





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