Interstate Hotels & Resorts Enters the United Kingdom with Acquisition of Sanguine Hospitality Management Platform

-- Interstate Increases European Portfolio to 51 Hotels

ARLINGTON, Virginia and LONDON, March 1, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Strengthening its European presence, Interstate Hotels & Resorts – the leading U.S.-based global hotel management company – announced today its entrance into the United Kingdom as the first U.S.-based, third party management company with significant operating presence and a fully staffed team based in the U.K. Interstate acquired the management platform of Sanguine Hospitality – a Liverpool-based hospitality development and ownership company. Boasting a diverse U.K. portfolio, Interstate will gain a strong foothold in the country backed with the Company's industry-leading people, systems and relationships.

With this transaction, a high quality portfolio of 14 hotels in the U.K., aggregating more than 1,900 rooms, will be added to the Company's European portfolio, bringing the total number of hotels managed and signed by Interstate to 51 in the region. The U.K. portfolio includes nine newly developed hotels under leading international brands – mostly opened within the past two years – and five hotels currently in development. Two-thirds of the operating hotels are full service and the remaining are select service.

"It's incredibly gratifying to see Interstate's global footprint continue to grow, delivering on our overall expansion strategy," said Jim Abrahamson, chief executive officer of Interstate Hotels & Resorts. "As full U.K. operations join our established Interstate Europe platform in Russia and Continental Europe, we look forward to our alliance with Sanguine and their exceptional teams. This relationship strategically positions Interstate for abundant future growth and opportunities throughout the region, and our global operating experience paired with long-standing, beneficial relationships with top international brands promise a successful future between Interstate and Sanguine."

Interstate will manage the portfolio under long-term contracts, solidifying the company's European presence with dedicated, U.K.-based full-service operations, sales, finance, development, human resources and food and beverage services. International brand affiliations accompanying the acquisition consist of Doubletree by Hilton, Hampton by Hilton, Hilton, Wyndham and Hotel Indigo.

"While we have enjoyed significant success through organic growth and a strong market reputation, our new relationship with Interstate puts us on an entirely new level and provides a platform to achieve step change growth," said Simon Matthews-Williams, chairman of Sanguine Hospitality. "From our initial meetings, it was clear that Interstate identified Sanguine as a progressive, successful and ambitious business. We are confident that this is the right move at the right time, not just for the business, but also for our excellent staff and loyal customers across our portfolio."

"Future projections for this market are robust, and with 14 hotels signed or opened thus far, Interstate is eager to manage this portfolio with high quality developers and solid fundamentals, improving every hotel's bottom line," said Leslie Ng, chief investment officer of Interstate Hotels & Resorts. "Sanguine upholds a strong reputation in Europe for outstanding developments, and as we execute our global expansion strategy we anticipate success alongside our new partner, who has quickly established itself as one of Europe's premier developers of hotels."

For more information, visit www.interstatehotels.co.uk.

About Interstate Hotels & Resorts
Interstate Hotels & Resorts, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of a 50/50 joint venture between subsidiaries of Thayer Lodging Group and Jin Jiang Hotels, is the leading U.S.-based global hotel management company, operating branded full- and select-service hotels and resorts, convention centers and independent hotels worldwide.  Interstate and its affiliates manage 344 hotels with more than 65,000 rooms in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, including six wholly owned hotels.  In addition, Interstate has executed agreements to manage 45 hotels with more than 8,300 rooms under construction or development throughout the world.

For more information regarding hotel management in the United Kingdom, please contact Senior Vice President, Development-Europe, Aaron Greenman, at +32 490 43 15 72 or visit www.interstatehotels.co.uk.  For more information about Interstate Hotels & Resorts worldwide, please visit www.interstatehotels.com.  Connect with Interstate at www.linkedin.com/company/interstate-hotels-resorts, www.facebook.com/InterstateHotels, and http://jobs.interstatehotels.com.

About Sanguine Hospitality 
Prior to its agreement with Interstate Hotels & Resorts, Sanguine Hospitality developed and managed hotels, restaurants and spas across the UK, becoming one of the sector's fastest growing independent businesses.

Following this agreement, its development activity will continue. Led by chairman and founder, Simon Matthews-Williams, and under managing director, Nick Taplin, Sanguine has future plans for developments in Newcastle, Glasgow and three developments in the pipeline for London. Sanguine will open a new centrally located office in Birmingham City Centre in early 2013.

Since forming in 2005, Sanguine has entered into licensed agreements with InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), Hilton Worldwide, Wyndham Worldwide and Marco Pierre White. Working closely with these companies Sanguine operates hotels under Hotel Indigo, Holiday Inn Express, Hilton, DoubleTree by Hilton, Hampton by Hilton and Days Inn brands, and restaurants under the Marco Pierre White Steakhouse Bar & Grill and Frankie's New York Italian Bar & Grill brands.

Sanguine also operates its own brand of luxury health clubs and spas under theclubandspa brand.

Visit www.sanguine.com for further information.