Aimbridge Appoints Faisal Kamal GM and Tom Martone DOS for Embassy Suites

Embassy Suites Houston-Energy Corridor

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. May 15, 2009

HOUSTON, TX, May 14, 2009 - When opening a new hotel, Aimbridge Hospitality, a Dallas-based hotel real estate and management company, only hires the industry's top talent. As such, 19-year hospitality veteran Faisal Kamal has been named General Manager and Tom Martone named to Director of Sales for the Embassy Suites Houston (Texas) - Energy Corridor, scheduled to open in October. The 216-room all-suite hotel is located along the Katy Freeway/I-10 at the gateway to Houston's "Energy Corridor;" home to many of Houston's Fortune 500 companies and other local growth-oriented companies.

"This truly is an exciting time to join the Aimbridge Hospitality team and reunite with the Embassy Suites brand as General Manager of the new Embassy Suites Houston-Energy Corridor," Faisal Kamal said. "Today, while economic uncertainly is all around us, business in Houston's famed Energy Corridor is booming. With more than a million residents living in West Houston and 450,000 persons employed by leading companies in the medical, retail, technology, energy, engineering and service sectors, the Energy Corridor is fast becoming the No. 1 place to live, work and stay.

"The only thing that could make this growing, viable business and residential area any better is adding the spacious, upscale Embassy Suites brand to the relatively stagnant hotel market," he added. "There has been no full-service hotel development in this area for at least 15 years. Hilton's all-suite concept is ideal because it provides international and domestic visitors with 'more of what they want' - an exceptional guest experience with stellar accommodations and superior service."

Kamal is no stranger to the Embassy Suites brand or to Houston. As a resident of the "Space City," he served as General Manager at the Embassy Suites Galleria Houston from 2004 to 2007. He also held G.M. positions with Ramada, Radisson, and Holiday Inn hotels. Most recently he served as GM at the Hilton NASA Clear Lake in Houston. Kamal began his hospitality career in 1991 as a restaurant cashier, and later held front office manager, food-and-beverage manager, and general manager posts at hotels in Florida, New York, Massachusetts, Kentucky and North/South Texas. In addition he also serves as a board of director for the Hotel and Lodging Association of Greater Houston.

"Faisal's diverse hotel management background is a great asset to Aimbridge Hospitality and to all properties under his direction," said Dave Johnson, president and CEO of Aimbridge Hospitality. "His experience with the Embassy Suites brand, combined with his years of experience in hotel operations will be instrumental in maintaining brand integrity and guest-service consistency. With Faisal at the helm, we are confident that the Embassy Suites Houston-Energy Corridor will be successful out of the gate. On behalf of Mac Haik and all at Aimbridge Hospitality, we welcome him aboard."

"Embassy Suites Hotels are widely recognized for providing 'unparalleled value' for Corporate, Meetings and Leisure travelers alike - a quality that travel planners will be excited about in our West-Houston locale," Tom Martone said. "Hotel growth in the Westside/Energy Corridor area has been stagnant over the past 12 to 15 years, and the traveling consumer has been asking for something new and exciting. They don't have to wait much longer.

"We at Aimbridge Hospitality are especially excited to introduce this property to the Houston market, and vow to deliver an exceptional guest experience with stellar accommodation and superior service," he added. "The Embassy Suites Houston - Energy Corridor will be ideal for local business persons seeking a quick spot to grab lunch and will also serve as a dynamic destination for meeting planners and international business travelers."

Martone noted that in 2008, Embassy Suites was recognized for an unprecedented seventh time for JD Powers' annual award for "Highest Guest Satisfaction Among Upscale Hotel Chains." He said: "The Embassy Suites Houston - Energy Corridor will do its part to continue the proud tradition here in Houston."

Previously, Martone served as Associate Director of Sales for the Embassy Suites Hotel-Phoenix-Scottsdale, a golf resort also managed by Aimbridge Hospitality, a Dallas-based hotel real estate and management company that provides renovation, supervision, accounting and consulting services for its strategic partners. He also served as National Sales Manager for Ritz-Carlton hotels in Phoenix and Rancho Mirage, Calif.; Director of National Accounts for the Grenelefe Golf & Tennis Resort in Haines City, Fla.; and held numerous sales and operations positions for Hyatt hotels in Los Angeles, Orlando, and Houston.

"When we were selected by Mac Haik to manage the Embassy Suites Houston-Energy Corridor, we knew that Tom Martone was the individual who could bring the excitement and experience necessary to introduce this property to Houston," said Dave Johnson, Aimbridge Hospitality President and CEO. "His diverse background and talents are a true asset to the Aimbridge Hospitality sales team, and we are confident that he will quickly become an even more valuable ally to the Houston hotel community."