Preferred Hotel Group Announces Appointment of Micarl Hill As Managing Director of Summit Hotels & R

. October 14, 2008

CHICAGO, IL, June 26, 2006 - Chicago-based Preferred Hotel Group has announced Micarl Hill as Managing Director, Summit Hotels & Resorts. Hill assumes responsibility for operations, marketing, and new member acquisition for Summit - a dynamic collection of more than 125 internationally acclaimed independent properties in 37 countries. Summit Hotels & Resorts is a member of the Preferred Hotel Group family of brands, which also includes Preferred Hotels & Resorts, Preferred Boutique, and Sterling Hotels.

"Mica has a superb record of success in the hospitality industry, including his roles with four different properties within the Preferred Hotel Group," said John Ueberroth, Chairman of the Board and CEO, Preferred Hotel Group. "We know that Mica's commitment to excellence will serve Summit well," he continued, "as the brand expands in key markets here and abroad."

Hill has identified U.S. expansion as a priority for Summit, which currently features more than 70 European hotels and resorts within its portfolio. "We're looking at a range of opportunities currently," said Hill, "particularly west of the Mississippi, in order to balance existing strength on the East Coast." He continued, "We're focused on revenue development for our member hotels, and new programs that will elevate the guest experience and continue to build brand loyalty."

"Mica" Hill has more than 29 years of hospitality industry experience, including 18 years as general manager or managing director at a range of properties, where he earned a reputation for revitalizing or enhancing revenue growth. Hill has worked with four Preferred Hotels & Resorts properties, including: the Boston Harbor Hotel, as a member of the opening sales team; The Huntington, in San Francisco, where Hill served as managing director; The Sorrento Hotel, in Seattle, where he was general manager; and Hill's most recent position, as general manager of Clayton on the Park Hotel & Residences, in St. Louis.

Additionally, Hill has held management positions at the Clift Hotel in San Francisco and The San Mateo Marriott in San Mateo, CA. He also served as Vice President of Operations for Woodside Hotels & Resorts and Vice President of Wilmer Communications, Inc. in Seattle.

Known for his creative marketing strategies, Mica has been the recipient of four Preferred MAX Awards, and he received the first Distinguished Alumni Award from the School of Hotel, Restaurant and Travel Management at Cal Poly in Pomona, CA.

Mica Hill graduated from California Polytechnic University with a BS degree in Hotel, Restaurant and Travel Management. Mica and his wife Laureen, a cardio thoracic anesthesiologist and intensivist, currently reside Clayton, MO.

Preferred Hotel Group is a global leader in the hospitality industry. This creative, cutting-edge company is designed for a new era in travel - an era in which travelers embrace the individuality of distinctive hotels and resorts, yet desire a consistent commitment to excellence. The four brands of Preferred Hotel Group represent a collection of the finest hotels in the world and include Preferred Hotels(R) & Resorts, (www.preferredhotels.com); Preferred Boutique (www.preferred-boutique.com); Summit Hotels & Resorts (www.summithotels.com); and Sterling Hotels (www.sterlinghotels.com).

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Middleton & Gendron, Inc.

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