Four prominent hotel companies have joined forces to form a worldwide
alliance based on the shared philosophy of providing guests with unique,
personalised guest services. The new Global Hotel Alliance (GHA),
consisting of the hotel groups Kempinski Hotels & Resorts, Pan Pacific
Hotels and Resorts, Rydges Hotels & Resorts and Wyndham Hotels & Resorts,
has united 235 upscale and luxury hotels and resorts, and over 63,700
guest rooms on five continents in a shared marketing partnership to offer
customers a wider range of worldwide accommodations.

Another common trait across the Alliance is that each brand is a dominant
player in their main regions of operation. Wyndham Hotels & Resorts: North
America; Kempinski Hotels & Resorts: Europe; Pan Pacific Hotels and
Resorts: Pacific Rim; and Rydges Hotels & Resorts: Australia.

“Forming the Global Hotel Alliance really enforces the simple principles
of genuine value and personalised service,” said Reto Wittwer, president
and chief executive officer of Kempinski Hotels & Resorts. “When our
companies began initial partnership discussions, it was obvious that we
had the common ground of delivering hotel experiences with the guest as
the priority, and we thought that we should be able to share this approach
with our guests worldwide.”

Commencing April 5, 2004, each GHA hotel partner will market the Alliance
to their own loyal customers and offer them the convenience of a one-stop
shop Internet site, www.globalhotelalliance.com, to access each partner’s
Internet site as well as offering additional hotel amenities exclusive to
members of partner’s guest recognition program, including:

- Best rate of the day

- Late check out

- Complimentary room upgrade

- GHA welcome amenity pack

- One complimentary room night voucher for the next visit at any property
in the hosting partner’s network of hotels or resorts for all members of
any of the partners’ guest programs upon presentation of a valid card at
check-in.

Complimentary room night vouchers will be distributed to those preferred
guests who stay in a Global Hotel Alliance hotel by December 31, 2004. All
vouchers must be redeemed by June 30, 2005.

Fred J. Kleisner, chairman and chief executive officer of Wyndham
International, Inc., commented, “The value of mega points and
reward-driven schemes really doesn’t deliver any sort of tangible service
or recognition to consumers. Staying in a hotel is all about the
experience, so it is great that we can now recommend our partners across
the world with the confidence to know that each will deliver a guest
experience that has a true hospitality meaning.”

A dedicated Global Hotel Alliance logo has been created in order for
guests to easily identify partner properties all over the world. The new
GHA logo will be placed on hotel directories, guest program collateral,
Internet sites and promotional items. Ichigo Umehara, president of Pan
Pacific Hotels and Resorts stated, “Our approach is not to confuse our
guests, but rather complement our existing campaigns and communications by
introducing the Alliance as a great added value for customers who may
require a global hotel partner when traveling for business or leisure.”

The Alliance believes there are limitless evolution possibilities for the
partnership, including the extension of membership to other,
similar-minded hotel brands operating in the same market categories, as
well as the creation of cost efficiencies, sales synergies and
joint-booking capabilities.

“As smaller and mid-size hotel brands continue to compete in a crowded
hotel market against the mega brands, it makes good business sense to
align with like-minded hotel brands, and realize sales and distribution
synergies while retaining each company’s brand identity.” stated Paul
Lonergan, managing director of Rydges Hotels & Resorts.
——-