Benchmark Launches National Literacy Initiative with Gift To New George & Cynthia Woods Mitchell Lib

From New York to Hawaii, Benchmark Properties Champion Literacy in Local Communities

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. October 14, 2008

HOUSTON, TX, November 29, 2005. Benchmark Hospitality International, which manages 28 award-winning resorts, conference centers and hotels in the United States and Japan, has launched a company-wide initiative to advance literacy in each of the markets in which it operates.

Part of the company's community outreach program, called "Hometown Hospitality," the initiative was kicked off on November 15 with a gift of $5000, presented by Burt Caba~nas, Founder, Chairman & CEO of Benchmark, to the newly-opened George & Cynthia Woods Mitchell Library in The Woodlands, Texas.

Benchmark's Home Office employees also contributed to the library by donating new hardcover editions of their favorite children's literature classics as well as contemporary fiction and non-fiction titles for adults.

"Literacy is a critical component of every person's success in life," stated Burt Caba~nas. "I experienced this first hand as a child coming to America from Cuba. Gaining command of the spoken and written language was an enormous help for rapid integration into school and the community in which I lived." Caba~nas continued with, "I'm deeply sensitive to the importance of providing literacy support within our home communities and so it is with great pleasure that I announce our company's first unified 'Hometown Hospitality' initiative - the drive toward literacy."

Each Benchmark property is actively supporting the literacy initiative in their local community through involvement with school programs, children's reading and tutorial initiatives, English as a Second Language classes for adults (which Benchmark provides for employees company-wide as well), book drives, active support of libraries, and many other literacy-focused programs.

"'Hometown Hospitality' is emblematic of our founding principles of Living, Learning and Leisure - a balanced approach to life and work," concluded Caba~nas. "Strong, civic minded companies can and should walk hand-in-hand with those in their community, leading to a better quality of life for everyone. This 'getting involved and giving back' is more than just about feeling good; in the end a healthy -- and literate -- community also makes sound business sense."