ARLINGTON, Va., Aug. 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Interstate Hotels &
Resorts (NYSE: IHR), a leading hotel real estate investor and the nation's
largest independent operator of full- and select-service hotels, today
announced that it had formed a joint venture with an affiliate of Madison W
Properties, LLC to recapitalize the existing ownership of the former Radisson
Plaza Hotel Lexington in Kentucky and the adjacent 234,000 square foot,
class-A office building. Upon the transition, the hotel was renamed the
Lexington Downtown Hotel & Conference Center.
The 367-room hotel will begin a comprehensive $13 million renovation
encompassing guest rooms and public space, as well as the restaurant.
Following completion of the renovation, the hotel will be reflagged as a
Hilton. The hotel currently is managed by Interstate, who will operate the
property as an independent until the hotel is reflagged.
"This is our forty-ninth property in which we hold a minority ownership
interest and our first with Madison," said Thomas F. Hewitt, Interstate chief
executive officer. "We know this property well and believe it has
considerable long-term potential, given its excellent downtown location and
proximity to the convention center. Those advantages, combined with the
planned comprehensive renovation and rebranding as a Hilton, should position
this hotel to become a leader in this market."
"Interstate is a proven operator with a successful track record, and we
look forward to establishing a long-term relationship with them," said Peter
C. Lewis, president of Madison W Properties. "Their depth of experience in
the meeting and conventions subsegment add another dimension, making them a
compelling partner in this particular venture. We look forward to exploring
other opportunities with them."
Located at 369 West Vine Street, the 15-story Lexington Downtown Hotel &
Conference Center is situated just across from Rupp Arena and the Lexington
Convention Center, and is convenient to Blue Grass Airport, Keeneland Race
Track, University of Kentucky, and the Kentucky Horse Park. The hotel is
connected via skywalks to the Lexington Center and Rupp Arena, as well as the
shops at Victorian Square.
The hotel's amenities include a pool, fitness center, restaurant and
lounge, and 14,000 square feet of meeting facilities, including a grand
ballroom that accommodates up to 1,000 people. All guestrooms feature
complimentary high-speed Internet access, Sleep Number(R) Beds and
executive-size desks. The hotel's Bigg Blue Martini is a favorite night hot
spot in Lexington, and its Cafe on the Park on-site restaurant features local
cuisine created by an award-winning chef.
About Madison W Properties, LLC
Madison W Properties, LLC is a real estate investment company that has
acquired in excess of $130 million of properties since its inception in 2008.
The company focuses on value-added opportunities throughout the United States.
Madison W Properties, LLC is an affiliate of Madison Capital Management, LLC,
an investment management firm with more than $540 million under management,
and over $830 million invested to date. For more information, visit
www.madisoncap.com.
About Interstate
Interstate Hotels & Resorts has ownership interests in 56 hotels and
resorts, including seven wholly owned assets. Together with these properties,
the company and its affiliates manage a total of 221 hospitality properties
with nearly 46,000 rooms in 36 states, the District of Columbia, Russia,
Mexico, Belgium, Canada and Ireland. Interstate Hotels & Resorts also has
contracts to manage 16 to be built hospitality properties with approximately
3,800 rooms. For more information about Interstate Hotels & Resorts, visit
the company's Web site: www.ihrco.com.
This press release contains "forward-looking statements," within the
meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, about
Interstate Hotels & Resorts, including those statements regarding future
operating results and the timing and composition of revenues, among others,
and statements containing words such as "expects," "believes" or "will," which
indicate that those statements are forward-looking. Except for historical
information, the matters discussed in this press release are forward-looking
statements that are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could
cause the actual results to differ materially, including the volatility of the
national economy, economic conditions generally and the hotel and real estate
markets specifically, the war in Iraq, international and geopolitical
difficulties or health concerns, governmental actions, legislative and
regulatory changes, availability of debt and equity capital, interest rates,
competition, weather conditions or natural disasters, supply and demand for
lodging facilities in our current and proposed market areas, and the company's
ability to manage integration and growth. Additional risks are discussed in
Interstate Hotels & Resorts' filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, including Interstate Hotels & Resorts' annual report on Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2007.
Contact:
Carrie McIntyre
SVP, Treasurer
(703) 387-3320
SOURCE Interstate Hotels & Resorts