Park Plaza Hotels Europe today announced its plans to expand their portfolio
of hotels into Ireland, granting the Fitzwilliam Hotel Group exclusive
territorial franchise rights for the Park Plaza Hotels & Resorts brand.

The Fitzwilliam Hotel Group has commitments from two hotels to carry the
Park Plaza Hotels & Resorts brand in Ireland’s most key influential cities -
Dublin and Belfast - by the end of 2004.  The two Irish properties will have
300 guestrooms combined, bringing the total room-count for Park Plaza Hotels
Europe to some 3,500 and 23 hotels in Europe, Middle East and Africa by the
end of this year.

Mr Michael Holland, CEO for the Fitzwilliam chain is pleased to have joined
forces with such a diverse and developing hotel company, and the powerful
brand it represents:

 

“I am delighted to have reached this agreement with Park Plaza Hotels
Europe, allowing us the right to expand its current 4-star Park Plaza Hotels
& Resorts portfolio into Ireland.  These two hotels represent the beginning
of what we hope will be a 10-strong group of Park Plaza Hotels & Resorts in
Ireland within five years.”

 

On joining the Park Plaza Hotels & Resorts brand, the two hotels, which are
currently independently operated, will gain immediate access to the
award-winning Carlson Hotels Worldwide Reservation System - Curtis C - as
well as benefiting from a number of marketing, sales and public relations
programmes and professional franchise services.

 

Boris Ivesha, President of Park Plaza Hotels Europe, comments:

 

“We are delighted to announce this franchise agreement with the Fitzwilliam
Hotel Group.  Since the launch of our first franchise hotel - Park Plaza
Trier - in Germany last year, we have generated positive interest in our
franchise offering.  Our commitment to expanding the portfolio across
Europe, Middle East and Africa through management and franchise
opportunities is further substantiated by this agreement announced today.”

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