Robert Pratt New President at Coast Hotels & Resorts

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. October 14, 2011

October 13, 2011 - Okabe North America Inc. announced the appointment of Robert Pratt, a hotel industry leader for more than 25 years, as President of Coast Hotels & Resorts responsible for leading the strategic direction, management and growth of the hotel chain's Canadian operations.

Immediately prior to joining Coast Hotels & Resorts, Mr. Pratt was Chief Operating Officer of Westmont Hospitality Group in Toronto where he oversaw operations of 160 hotels across Canada operating under 12 franchised brands employing 10,000 people.

"What attracted me to Coast Hotels was the company's dynamic people-focused corporate culture," says Pratt. "I also believe there's tremendous potential to expand the Coast Hotels & Resorts brand across Canada and provide added value to our hotel owners, franchisees and business partners."

Pratt built his career in the hospitality industry from the "ground floor up" working in hotels, restaurants and night clubs during his teen years. "I knew I wanted to work in the hotel business from the age of 16," he says. "I found the hotel industry to be a very people-oriented business, covering a wide variety of disciplines requiring well-honed business skills, which made it very exciting and challenging for someone starting out."

After graduating from Cornell University School of Hotel Administration with a Bachelor of Science, Pratt spent 17 years with Westin Hotels and Resorts holding progressively senior roles in sales, marketing and hotel operations eventually serving as General Manager of the Westin Hotels properties in Ottawa and Edmonton. He then joined Silverbirch Hotels & Resorts (formerly CHIP Hospitality) as the Regional Vice President of the Pacific Northwest region. He also held positions as the Senior Vice President of Operations and Executive Vice President at Silverbirch before being appointed President of Silverbirch Hotels & Resorts in 2007, where he was responsible for operations of 40 hotels coast-to-coast operating under 12 franchised brands employing 4,500 staff.

As a dedicated contributor to the community, Pratt has held senior volunteer positions with the United Way of Ottawa,Winnipeg and Edmonton and is very active in his local church. He is a current Board member of the Hotel Association ofCanada, sits on the advisory committee of the University of Guelph and is an admissions field interviewer for the Cornell University School of Hotel Administration.

A resident of North Vancouver, Robert and his wife of 27 years, Nicky, have two adult children and one teenager. Robert Pratt is a recreational runner, avid cyclist, skier and snowboarder. During the warmer weather months, he enjoys golf, tennis and is a passionate fly fisher. He also has a long history of performing as a singer in musical theatre productions.

Coast Hotels & Resorts has 30 hotels in Canada with 4,053 guest rooms in B.C., Alberta and the Northwest Territories.