Phoenix, AZ - (July 2002) - Royal Palms Hotel and Casitas has been singled out once again as one of the best hotels in the world by travel aficionados. Readers of Travel + Leisure magazine ranked Royal Palms in the “2002 Readers’ Poll: The World’s Best Awards” in the following categories:

* #32 of the “Top 100 Hotels” in the world (the only Arizona property to make the list)

* #5 of the “Top Hotels: U.S. and Canada”

* #3 Hotel in the U.S.
Revered as one of the country’s premier travel and lifestyle magazines, Travel + Leisure surveyed their subscribers during the first quarter of 2002, asking their opinions of hotels, islands, airlines, spas and spa hotels, cities, cruise lines, and tour operators. In the hotel category, each was rated on five characteristics: rooms/facilities, location, service, restaurants/food, and value. Great care was taken to exclude any travel-industry professionals in the balloting and to ensure that the rankings were truly the selections of the traveling public. The awards are currently posted on the magazine’s Web site and featured in the August 2002 issue of the magazine.

“To be included on this list is a wonderful honor, and especially impressive for a young, independent hotel such as Royal Palms. The singular focus of our staff, day in and day out, is providing our guests with a genuine, highly personalized experience amidst our residential estate-like property. The Travel + Leisure ranking confirms that we are hitting the mark, and motivates us to raise the bar. For example, we are opening the new, 10,000 square-foot Alvadora spa at the end of this year which will offer our guests a variety of new experiences,” said Greg Miller, general manager.
A member of Historic Hotels of America, Royal Palms Hotel and Casitas is a Mobil Four-Star/AAA Four-Diamond hotel located at the foot of majestic Camelback Mountain. Combining the graciousness and sophistication of a Mediterranean villa with the intimacy and privacy of a secluded retreat, Royal Palms offers: 116 custom-appointed guest rooms and intimate clusters of casitas; regal Spanish Colonial architecture; over 20,000 square feet of estate-like meeting space; Tuscan-style gardens; exquisite tapestries, antiques and stone fireplaces throughout. Designed around the original historic private mansion, Royal Palms is home to the award-winning T. Cook’s restaurant, a swimming pool with private cabanas, tennis court, croquet lawn and complete fitness center.

Opening in December 2002 is the Alvadora Spa featuring a selection of exotic, globally inspired signature treatments and products unique to the Mediterranean. Just minutes from Scottsdale’s shopping, galleries, golf, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport and the Camelback financial corridor, Royal Palms is an ideal retreat for business, pleasure and special occasions, offering luxury, privacy and convenience.

Royal Palms Hotel and Casitas is one of 30 independent, upscale and luxury hotels, resorts and golf clubs in the United States and United Kingdom managed by Destination Hotels & Resorts, a privately held company located in Englewood, Colorado. Each distinctive, well-situated Destination Hotels & Resorts managed property offers exceptional recreational, business travel and conference facilities. Destination Hotels & Resorts’ managed properties include the Hotel del Coronado near San Diego; Algonquin Hotel in New York City; Sunriver Resort in Sunriver, Oregon; and The Argent Hotel in San Francisco. You can visit Destination Hotels & Resorts online at www.destinationhotels.com. Travel professionals can access Destination Hotels & Resorts’ portfolio, including Royal Palms Hotel and Casitas, on the global distribution system via the company’s chain code, DN.

——-