Summit Hotels & Resorts has today announced that Richard Lewis, formerly Chief Operating Officer for WorldRes Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), will be joining the deluxe international hotel group as Managing Director, as of September 2nd 2002.

As Managing Director of Summit Hotels & Resorts, Lewis will direct the development of the global brand and assume responsibility for driving business into the portfolio of 160 independent deluxe properties. One of his chief remits will be to oversee the growth of the portfolio (which has recently seen the addition of hotel members such as The Eton Group in the UK and Estanplaza Hotels in Brazil, and to continue the development of Summit`s QXL quality assurance programme introduced earlier this year.

Lewis has spent 25 years in senior management roles throughout the world, including key positions with Forte Hotels and CNN International. As Chief Operating Officer (EMEA) of WorldRes, he was instrumental in developing and implementing the company`s business strategy.

Lewis will report to Peter Cass, President and Chief Executive Officer of IndeCorp, Summit`s parent company. Mr Cass states: “Richard Lewis will bring strong leadership skills and experience to Summit Hotels & Resorts at an important time. His background, which includes reservations and distribution technology, hotel operations, account based marketing and advertising, coupled with strong leadership skills, will serve Summit and its members well as they move forward with new branding initiatives and the expansion of their marketing and sales services.”

Richard Lewis said: “I look forward with great enthusiasm to the challenge of developing the Summit brand and establishing it as a global leader for deluxe independent hotels. My aim is to ensure that Summit remains at the forefront of the independent hotel business, offering the choice and unique experience that so many travellers are seeking today. We will continue to work with the travel trade, and the consumer and to develop our Internet presence to ensure that our members benefit from the reservation and marketing capabilities Summit will bring them.”

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