easyGroup Founder and "Serial Entrepreneur" Stelios Hajhoannou to Address the Americas Lodging Inve

. October 14, 2008

WASHINGTON, DC, January 12, 2006. Stelios Haji-Ioannou, the dynamic chairman and founder of easyGroup and founder of Europe's largest and most innovative low cost air carrier easyJet, will address attendees at the Americas Lodging Investment Summit (ALIS) during "The Hot Seat" session on January 24, 2006, at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza in Los Angeles, Calif.

Stelios is often credited as the pioneer who changed the European aviation scene for the benefit of millions of consumers. He has extended this "hot" brand into easyHotel, easyCruise, easyCar, easyBus, and much more.

In July 2005, Stelios launched his first easyHotel in London, offering rooms as cheap as $35 per night. The second property opened in Basil, Switzerland. According to Stelios, the rooms are small and sparse, similar to an Amtrak sleeper car or a berth on a yacht. Ranging in size from 25 to 75 guestrooms, easyGroup is pursuing opportunities at various city centers.

"Stelios' impact on air travel and tourism in Europe has been remarkable, and now he is taking his focused business model into the lodging and cruise industries," said ALIS Conference Chair Jim Burba. "He has done a great job leveraging the power of a brand and we are delighted that he is coming to Los Angeles to share his brilliant and innovative entrepreneurial ideas with our delegates."

In 1992, Stelios founded the Cyprus Marine Environment Protection Association (CYMEPA), a non-profit association of ship owners and Cyprus-based business people. Stelios recently endowed this association with a gift of more than $600,000. Additionally, in 2005, he made a pledge to both his alma maters, the London School of Economics and the City of London Cass Business School, for the funding of 100 scholarships over a period of 10 years at each establishment.

Co-hosted by the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) and Burba Hotel Network (BHN), ALIS is designed to address the unique needs of the hospitality investment community and provide a meeting and networking place for hotel executives, investors, lenders, developers, and professional financial advisors. ALIS features an extensive array of seminars hosted by leading experts and investors discussing important trends and identifying new opportunities. Proceeds from ALIS will benefit the educational, research, and training missions of the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Foundation, AH&LA's not-for-profit affiliate.

A complete list of speakers and online registration are available via the ALIS Website at www.ALISconference.com. For general event information and sponsor opportunities, contact BHN Associate Jonathon Zink at (949) 574-3900 or [email protected].

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AH&LA is a 96-year-old association of lodging properties and companies throughout the United States. Members are represented by AH&LA at the national level as well as by our partner state associations, which provide many additional cost-saving benefits. With some 10,000 members in the United States and internationally, AH&LA represents more than 1.3 million guest rooms. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., AH&LA provides members with advocacy on Capitol Hill, education, research and information, and bottom line benefits, as well as serves as the voice of the industry to ensure a positive business climate for the U.S. lodging industry.

BHN brings together more than two decades of experience developing and organizing the world's most prominent gatherings of the hotel and tourism investment community. At these events (over 50 conferences completed and/or in development), the investment community has come together to network, conduct business and learn about the latest industry trends. They have become "must attend" events for those interested in investing in hospitality real estate. The BHN Web site at www.BURBA.com, is the gateway for information about the conferences BHN produces, as well as providing a direct link to important players in the hospitality investment world, including lenders, brokers, architects, designers and hotel industry-related organizations.

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