Crescent to Manage Two Hotels in St. Paul

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. September 10, 2009

ST. PAUL, MN, September 8, 2009 - Crescent Hotels & Resorts officials today announced that the company has taken over management of two hotels in St. Paul-the 470-room Crowne Plaza St. Paul-Riverfront and the 249-room Hilton Garden Inn St. Paul City Center. Both properties are owned by SP Hotels, LLC.

"We have considerable experience in the upper Midwest and believe these properties will benefit from our proprietary management and marketing systems, as well as economies of scale," said Michael George, Crescent president and CEO. "In the past 12 months as the economy has worsened, hotel investors increasingly have sought out operators who not only can manage successfully through the current economic crisis, but that also can generate momentum as the economy rebounds. These hotels match up well with our portfolio of premium-branded upscale and upscale focused-service properties."

George added that both properties are in strong, strategic locations and offer guests unique St. Paul experiences. "Despite the current economic slowdown, St. Paul remains a major travel destination in the upper Midwest for both businesses and leisure travelers."

Crowne Plaza St. Paul-Riverfront

Part of The Saint Paul Skyway System, the 470-room Crowne Plaza St. Paul-Riverfront is located at 11 East Kellogg Boulevard, in St. Paul, near the Minnesota State Capitol and Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport and overlooking the Mississippi River. The well-appointed guestrooms and suites feature complimentary high-speed wireless Internet access. The property's amenities include a fitness center and indoor pool; 50,000 square feet of functional meeting space, including the 10,000 square-foot glass-enclosed Great River Ballroom; and three dining options--Restaurant 11, Plaza Java and Port of Call.

"As one of the largest hotels in the area, this hotel is ideal for conventions and meetings of up to 2,000 people, plus we have the advantage of utilizing additional space at the adjacent St. Paul River City Convention Center," said Pete Bauchle, general manager. "We are developing attractive, value-added and unique meeting packages that will appeal to local and national corporate accounts and establish the Crowne Plaza St Paul-Riverfront as one of the area's top free-standing convention facilities. The Windows Ballroom, located on the top floor of the hotel, provides a stunning setting for weddings, social functions, and business events, too."

The Hilton Garden Inn St. Paul City Center has 249 spacious rooms, each offering flat-screen HDTVs, complimentary high-speed Internet access, and the signature Garden Sleep SystemTM. The property is in the heart of the retail and business districts, near the Minneapolis Convention Center and the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, and features an indoor skyway to the Government Center and adjacent retail stores. The hotel offers a fitness center, pool, and two distinct eating and drinking options, the Great American Grill(R) restaurant and The Pavilion Pantry(R) convenience mart. The hotel features a large, unique glass ceiling atrium that is ideal for social galas and weddings.

"The hotel is the only Hilton Family brand attached to The Saint Paul Skyway System, and boasts a prime location close to all the important attractions," said Luke Musselman, general manager. "There are more than 11,000 square feet of flexible meeting space, which accommodates groups of up to 600 people. We are in the process of collaborating with local corporations, associations and civic organizations to host exhibits, lunches and day meetings. In addition, we are revamping our packages and meeting/sleeping room incentives to best address the needs of our business guests."