Montage Beverly Hills Awarded Gold LEED Certification

Environmental Excellence and an Achievement Earned by Only 18 Hotels Worldwide

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. April 17, 2009

LOS ANGELES, CA, April 16, 2009 - The Athens Group, developer of environmentally-sensitive luxury hotels and resorts has learned that its latest project, the new Montage Beverly Hills, was awarded Gold LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).

"We are very proud to have partnered with Montage Hotels and Resorts to create an outstanding example of excellence in design and sustainability," said Kim Richards, president of The Athens Group.

He added, "Respect for the environment is paramount in everything we do. We have been recognized for our commitment to design and environmental excellence by the Urban Land Institute (ULI) and Environmental Protection Agency. We deeply appreciate the U.S. Green Building Council for recognizing Montage Beverly Hills with this highly valued certification." Only 18 hotels worldwide have achieved LEED certification.

Montage Beverly Hills is a perfect example of a successful public/private partnership. The Athens Group worked side-by-side with the mayor, City council and neighborhood groups throughout the design, development and construction process. By combining resources and talents, The Athens Group and the City created an inspired work of art reminiscent of the Golden Age of California. The Montage Beverly Hills was developed by The Athens Group for Beverly Hills Luxury Hotel, LLC - a partnership between The Athens Group and private investors.

The Athens Group is currently constructing Montage Deer Valley in Park City, Utah with environmentally responsible "green" features that will minimize the resort's environmental footprint, in accordance with established LEED principles. The LEED Certification system recognizes innovation in design, sustainable sites, energy efficiency, water efficiency, and indoor environmental quality among other criteria.

"When we designed Montage Beverly Hills with HKS Hill Glazier Studio, we looked to the past for inspiration and selected Spanish Colonial Revival architecture to complement the storied history, culture and tradition of Beverly Hills," said Jay Newman, Chief Operating Officer, The Athens Group and manager of the company's Los Angeles office. "We also looked to the future, and built the hotel to be sustainable and incorporate energy efficient systems and state-of-the-art technologies to minimize the impact on the environment. We are honored that Montage Beverly Hills has achieved Gold LEED certification."

The Athens Group collaborated with Montage Hotels and Resorts, the City of Beverly Hills and neighborhood groups to design, develop and construct Montage Beverly Hills. The mutual goal was to revitalize a previously abandoned, 2.5-acre retail area near Rodeo Drive and convert it into a sustainable site. Construction began in 2005, and the eight-story, 201-room luxury hotel opened in November 2008.