The 257-unit Comfort Inn and Conference Center, located at 820 Busch Blvd. (off exit 50 of I-275), just one mile from Busch Gardens and Adventure Island and 10 minutes from downtown Tampa, is now open.

The Comfort Inn and Conference Center, rated three diamonds from AAA, is a “preferred hotel” of AAA South and a “preferred hotel” of Busch Gardens as of January 1, 2003.

The hotel is owned by Royal Palm Busch Gardens, LLC of Miami Beach and managed by All Florida Hospitality Management of Miami Beach, Fla.

“We have a winning combination,” said Phil Goldfarb, president of All Florida Hospitality. “With the Comfort Inn brand and these important preferred hotel designations we have positioned this hotel for great success in the market.”

The Comfort Inn and Conference Center, which recently completed an $4 million renovation, features 257 rooms including six two-room suites. Some units are poolside. Each room and suite features either one king or two double beds, a 25-inch remote control TV with cable programming and HBO and Disney channels, telephone with data port, coffee maker, hair dryer, in-room safe, iron and ironing board. Suites have an extra large living room with sofa bed and separate bedroom with one king or two double beds. Non-smoking rooms and rooms for individuals with disabilities are also available.

Hotel features include an indoor heated pool, outdoor pool, two whirlpools, a gift shop, game room, four lighted tennis courts, guest laundry and free parking.

The Palmtree Grill, the hotel`s full service restaurant, features American Cuisine for breakfast and dinner seven days a week. The Palmtree Grill offers a free deluxe continental breakfast of hot and cold cereal, danish, muffins, bagels, yogurt, fresh fruit, coffee, tea and juice in addition to offering a full a la carte breakfast menu and a $6.99 hot breakfast buffet. The Sidelines Sports Bar is open from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and from 5:30 p.m. to 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.

The hotel has 14 rooms from boardrooms to ballrooms with 20,000 square foot of conference and banquet space that accommodates up to 600 people.

The Comfort Inn and Conference Center is seven miles from the Tampa Convention Center, two miles from the University of South Florida and the local hospital district, three miles from the Museum of Science & Industry and ten miles from Tampa International Airport.

Room rates begin at $69. Guests receive a complimentary copy of USA TODAY and free local phone calls.

Discounts are available for senior citizens, business travelers, members of the American Automobile Association, government and military personnel and groups. Children age 18 and under stay free in their parents` or grandparents` room.

Member of Choice Privileges, Choice`s frequent-traveler program, qualify for points toward free stays and gift certificates when staying at U.S. Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Quality, Sleep Inn and Clarion hotels. Guests may also choose to earn airline miles with participating airlines (American Airlines AAdvantage, Delta Air Lines SkyMiles, Northwest Airlines WorldPerks, US Airways Dividend Miles and United Mileage Plus) when staying at Choice brand hotels in the U.S. and Caribbean.

Through December 15, 2002, members of participating airlines` frequent flier clubs receive double airline miles when staying at any of the 3,300 hotels in the U.S. and the Caribbean franchised by Choice Hotels International. Guests need only to stay at a qualifying rate* and provide the selected airline frequency program member number upon check-in.

For reservations at the Comfort Inn and Conference Center, contact Choice`s toll-free reservations service at 1-800-4CHOICE, or visit www.choicehotels.com on the internet. Reservations may also be made by contacting the hotel directly at (800)288-4011.

Choice Hotels franchises more than 5,000 hotels open and under development under the Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Quality, Sleep Inn, Clarion, MainStay Suites, Econo Lodge and Rodeway Inn brand names in 46 countries. For more information on Choice Hotels, visit the company`s internet site at www.choicehotels.com.

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