RAMADA INTERNATIONAL TRIPLES PRESENCE IN GERMANY WITH THE OPENING OF 15 RAMADA-TREFF HOTELS

Ramada International Hotels and Resorts announced today that it has almost tripled its presence in Germany with the conversion of 15 former Treff hotels to Ramada-Treff hotels, along with two additional hotels in Switzerland. This is the first phase of an agreement between Ramada International and Treff Hotels of Germany to convert 80 existing hotels over the next year. In an additional agreement, Treff Hotels will develop 10 new Ramada International hotels, primarily Ramada Encore properties, per year for the next five years in Germany.

“Both the Ramada International and Treff Hotel teams have worked hard to convert the first 17 hotels in 90 days. This has provided us with a great learning experience and really speaks to the dedication and spirit of both teams,” said Reas Kondraschow, senior vice president and managing director, Ramada International Hotels and Resort.

The first hotel, the Ramada-Treff Plaza Hotel Kassel, was converted on Nov. 7. It is the first Ramada Plaza hotel in Europe. Plaza is Ramada International’s upper-tier lodging product, offering more luxurious amenities than the standard Ramada International hotel.

The other hotels converted include:
Ramada-Treff Hotel Hamburg/Bergedorf
Ramada-Treff Hotel Rhein-Main
Ramada-Treff Hotel Europa Hannover
Ramada-Treff Hotel Huerth/Koeln
Ramada-Treff Hotel Bruehl/Koeln
Ramada-Treff Ueberseehotel Bremen
Ramada-Treff Hotel Bad Soden
Ramada-Treff Hotel Leipzig
Ramada-Treff Hotel Erfurt
Ramada-Treff Hotel Britannia Hannover
Ramada-Treff Hotel Wiesbaden
Ramada-Treff Hotel Bad Laasphe
Ramada-Treff Hotel Globus Berlin
Ramada-Treff Hotel Siegen
Ramada-Treff Engelberg Hotel, Switzerland Regina Titlis
Ramada-Treff Adelboden Hotel Regina, Switzerland

All of the converted hotels have been refurbished to bring the properties in Treff’s current lodging system in line with Ramada International’s guest services and security standards.

All of the Ramada-Treff hotels will maintain Ramada International’s five pillars, which are: a restful sleep, an invigorating shower, a well-trained staff, an exceptional level of cleanliness and the “Ramada Mornings Breakfast” – a selection that is hot, delicious and easy.

All Ramada-Treff hotel rates are listed in MARSHA, Marriott’s central reservations system, in Euros. It is Marriott International’s goal to quote room rates in Euros for all Marriott-branded hotels in the European Monetary Union (EMU).

Ramada International, operating outside of North America, is one of Marriott International’s 12 lodging brands. Currently, Ramada International properties are located in 14 countries around the world. Treff Hotels and Resorts are located in 80 cities in Germany, Switzerland and Italy.

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TREFF HOTELS is one of Germany’s largest hotel chains, with almost 100 hotels in Germany, Switzerland and Italy. Founded in 1969 by Helmut Fitz, the privately-held company is based in Bad Arolsen, Germany, which is also home to the company’s first hotel the Treff Hotel Bad Arolsen. Treff also owns and operates Hotello Objektaustattungen GmbH, a supply company for hotels. The company’s reported earnings in 1999 were DM 492 million.

Note: This release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of federal securities laws, including statements concerning the timing for and completion of the conversion of the 80 hotels and the development of 50 new hotels, that are not historical facts. The forward-looking statements in this press release are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by the statements herein.