Hunter Investment Conference

Seek to Understand Rapidly Changing Economy

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. March 03, 2009

MARCH 3, 2009 - Officials of the 2009 Hunter Hotel Investment Conference, scheduled for March 15-17 at the Marriott Marquis in Atlanta, today announced that pre-conference attendee interest is strong, probably due to all of the negative news. Now more than ever owners feel the need to gather to learn how to handle today's challenges.

"In the 21 years we have put on this conference, I have never had as many inquiries into the state of the hotel industry and 'what's the value of my hotel?'," said Bob Hunter, CEO of Hunter Realty and Conference Chair. "For this reason, we have put together an agenda that covers all facets of the industry and have reached out to the top, senior-level executives, lenders, consultants and forecasters. We have asked them to tell us what lessons were learned in previous down markets that apply today; how to not only survive, but how to thrive in the current hotel real estate market. Without question, this is a most critical time to gain a clear understanding of what owners need to be doing. We have gone to great lengths to ensure that our attendees get the information they need to make the best informed decisions."

Hot Topics and Keynote Speakers:

o Advanced Financing Strategies - Expected to be one of the conference's most well attended sessions, this panel will focus on giving hoteliers the ways to locate financing as well as what the financing will look like when found.

o CMBS Loans - Of great interest to everyone with this type of loan. Assuming, modifying, extending...Can it be done? How?

o Keynote Speakers - Glade Knight, chairman & CEO, Apple REIT Companies, on March 16th, and Rich Karlgaard, publisher and columnist, Forbes Magazine, on March 17th, will offer a unique "30,000-foot" overview of the hotel industry and economy and explain how business leaders are responding to the government's current economic stimulus plans.

o Hotel Values - What's my hotel worth today?

o Asset Management, "Now More Than Ever" - A panel of highly-respected hotel asset managers share their guidance and strategies for surviving and thriving in this uncertain lodging environment.

Celebrating 21 years in 2009, the Hunter Hotel Investment Conference is one of four major annual events nationwide that attract the hotel industry's top leaders. It will feature a program of more than 100 speakers, 15 roundtables, 16 breakout sessions, seven "main" tent sessions and two keynote speakers. Proceeds from the conference benefit the scholarship fund at Georgia State University's Cecil B. Day School of Hospitality.

Details of the program are available at www.hunterconference.com. Attendees may register on line and make their room reservations at the conference website. For more information, contact Bob Hunter, Conference Chair; or Nancy Petenbrink, Conference Coordinator, at 770-916-0300; by fax 770-916-0301 and by email to [email protected]. The conference headquarters are located at 300 Galleria Parkway, Suite 620, Atlanta, GA 30339.