PREFERRED HOTEL GROUP'S ASIA PACIFIC REGION PROJECTS RECORD GROWTH IN 2006
From 13 to 30 Members, Area Managing Director Forecasts Increase to 50 by Year End
HONG KONG - June 19, 2006 - Preferred Hotel Group's Asia Pacific (ASPAC) region is in a period of rapid growth that has seen membership across its four distinct brands increase from 13 to 30 members in just over a year. Area Managing Director Ananya Narayan projects membership to reach 50 hotels and resorts by the end of 2006.
"We feel confident about this region's growth," Narayan says. "In addition to signing new members this year, we have increased our staffing, have added an office in Singapore, and will continue to strengthen our infrastructure through various initiatives such as opening an office in China later this year."
"Expansion throughout the Asia Pacific Region is key to supporting our existing hotels and new hotels further," said Chairman and CEO John Ueberroth. "By increasing Preferred Hotel Group's presence through new members, we strengthen brand presence for existing members. More business is driven to all our hotels and resorts and, most importantly, guests benefit by having more locations to choose from."
The current surge in growth has been aided by the restructuring of the company into distinct geographical regions following its 2004 acquisition by Ueberroth. Since then, the "Preferred" name has been extended to encompass a family of four hotel and resort brands, perfectly aligned with the needs of today's hotelier and guest. Preferred Hotel Group now includes: Preferred Hotels & Resorts; Preferred Boutique; Summit Hotels & Resorts; and Sterling Hotels.
Preferred Hotel Group's Asia Pacific Region has most recently welcomed Samode Palace and Devi Garh as Preferred Hotels & Resort's second and third members in India; Dream Bangkok as Asia's first Preferred Boutique; Keio Plaza Sapporo as Sterling Hotels' first member in Japan; and Panglin Hotel Shenzhen, the company's fourth hotel in the People's Republic of China.
The complete roster of Preferred Hotel Group ASPAC members is as follows:
Preferred Hotels & Resorts
India: The Imperial, New Delhi; Devi Garh, Udaipur; Samode Palace, Jaipur
Japan: Palace Hotel, Tokyo
Korea: The Shilla Seoul, Seoul
Singapore: The Fullerton, Goodwood Park Hotel
Preferred Boutique
Australia: Double Island, Queensland
Thailand: Dream Bangkok, Bangkok
New Zealand: Azur, Queenstown
Summit Hotels & Resorts
Hong Kong: Harbour Plaza Hong Kong; The Park Lane; Regal Airport Hotel; Regal Hong Kong Hotel
Japan: Keio Plaza Hotel, Tokyo; Yokohama Royal Park Hotel, Yokohama; The Royal Park Hotel, Tokyo
Korea: Imperial Palace, Seoul
People's Republic of China: Hua Ting Hotel & Towers, Shanghai; Regal International East Asia, Shanghai; Panglin Hotel Shenzen, Shenzen
Philippines: Manila Hotel, Manila
Singapore: Royal Plaza on Scotts
Thailand: The Landmark Bangkok, Bangkok; The Tongsai Bay, Koh Samui
Sterling Hotels
Hong Kong: Regal Kowloon Hotel, Regal Oriental Hotel, Regal Riverside Hotel
Japan: Keio Plaza Sapporo, Sapporo
People's Republic of China: Regal Shanghai East Asia, Shanghai
Each ASPAC member is part of a unique collection that offers the "best in class" at more than 325 independent member hotels around the world.
Preferred Hotel Group's new guest initiatives, combined with its renowned services for member hotels and resorts themselves, provide a platform for continued growth. A new guest loyalty program, for example, the I PreferTM Global Guest Benefit Program, is now available to guests of any Preferred Hotel Group brand at any location around the world. Guests are eligible to enjoy benefits including early check-in/late check-out, space-available upgrades, and local hotel benefits from complimentary airport transportation to "two for one" spa treatments.
Despite the pace of change, Preferred Hotel Group ensures its success by taking the time to ask its guests, "What do you prefer?"
Preferred Hotel Group is a global leader in the hospitality industry. This creative, cutting-edge company is designed for a new era in travel - an era in which travelers embrace the individuality of distinctive hotels and resorts - yet desire a consistent commitment to excellence. The four brands of Preferred Hotel Group represent a collection of the finest hotels in the world and include: Preferred HotelsŪ & Resorts, (www.preferredhotels.com); Preferred Boutique (www.preferred-boutique.com); Summit Hotels & Resorts (www.summithotels.com); and Sterling Hotels (www.sterlinghotels.com). Learn more at www.preferredhotelgroup.com.
PRESS CONTACT:
| Dianna Tingg/Gina Galatro |
| Middleton & Gendron, Inc. |
| +1 (212) 980-9232/+1 (212) 284-9934 |
| Email: dtingg@mg-pr.com / ggalatro@mg-pr.com |
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