ATLANTA (May 23, 2002) - Six Continents Hotels today announced plans to manage its first Inter-Continental® hotel in Seattle. Groundbreaking on the full-service, upscale hotel, located downtown at the corner of 1st and Madison, is expected to take place in the first quarter of 2003, and the finished property will open in the first quarter of 2005.

Aspen Murray, LLC is developing the 24-story, mixed-use building, which will feature 113 guestrooms, 3 suites and 38 luxury condominiums. This is the first North American Inter-Continental hotel to be part of a mixed-use development incorporating condominiums.

“Developing this new Inter-Continental hotel supports Six Continents’ strategy of developing and acquiring properties in key markets and locations,” says Jon Kurnit, Six Continents’ senior vice president of franchise and real estate development for the Americas. “Expanding the number of U.S.-based properties, especially in the West, is key for us, as is providing a gateway to the Asia-Pacific region that will help us meet our customers’ needs.”

The hotel, which will be designed with an urban-lodge atmosphere to evoke the surroundings of the great Northwest, will offer 1,450 square feet of meeting space, including an executive boardroom equipped with state-of-the-art technology. In addition, there will be a 4,000 square-foot restaurant and an exercise facility.

Guestrooms will be spacious, and amenities will include: voice mail, desk with ergonomic chair, alarm clock, coffee maker, video on demand and iron and ironing board. The Inter-Continental Seattle also will offer a 24-hour reception desk and business center, translation services, currency exchange, express checkout, concierge, valet parking, complimentary newspaper, in-room video check-out, same-day laundry and valet and room service.

Inter-Continental Hotels and Resorts has been the preferred choice of the world`s business and leisure traveller since 1946. From the many historic landmark hotels that are as much a part of a city`s present as its glorious past - to the striking contemporary hotels, that reflect the vibrant cultures they represent - to superb resorts that are both a tribute and an attribute to the natural beauty surrounding them - Inter-Continental offers exceptional comfort, convenience and service throughout the world.

Six Continents? Hotels, the hotel business of Six Continents PLC of the United Kingdom [LON:SXC, NYSE:SXC (ADRs)], owns, manages, leases or franchises more than 3,270 hotels and 512,000 guest rooms in nearly 100 countries and territories.

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