Year-end performance data for the global hotel industry isn't spectacular but it is getting better, according to Marvin Rust of HotelBenchmark and Randy Smith from Smith Travel Research. At ALIS, held last week in Los Angeles, the two teamed up to discuss industry numbers for 2003 and the forecast for the future for the US and Europe. In this streaming audio interview, Marvin Rust provides comments on Asia, Europe and the Middle East.

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Marvin Rust is the partner in charge of the UK Hospitality industry program, the lead partner for tax services to the Travel, Tourism and Leisure sector, and the sponsoring partner for HotelBenchmark.com. Marvin has wide experience in the public acquisition arena and has worked on a number of the significant merger and acquisition situations in the hospitality area over recent years. His client base includes Marriott International Inc, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, RF Hotels, Holmes Place and Virgin.

The HotelBenchmark Survey contains the largest independent source of hotel performance data outside of North America and tracks the performance of over 6,000 hotels and 1.1 million rooms every month. Four regional monthly rate and occupancy reports are produced covering Asia Pacific, Caribbean and Latin America, Europe and the Middle East & Africa. These are supplemented by country reports for Australia, Belgium & The Netherlands, Germany, Italy, New Zealand, South Africa, the UK and a city survey for London. Annual profitability surveys are run across all regions of the world, whilst in Germany and London monthly profitability surveys are conducted. For further information or details on how to join the survey please visit us www.HotelBenchmark.com.

About Deloitte & Touche LLP - In this press release references to Deloitte are references to Deloitte & Touche LLP. Deloitte & Touche LLP is the UK's fastest growing major professional services firm based in 21 UK locations, with over 10,000 staff nationwide and fee income of £1,228 million in 2002/2003. It is a member firm of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, a leading professional services organisation, delivering world class audit, tax, consulting and corporate finance services, with around 120,000 people in over 140 countries. Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu is a Swiss Verein, and each of its national practices is a separate and independent legal entity. Deloitte & Touche LLP is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. The information contained in this press release is correct at the time of going to press. For further information, visit our website at .

Kevin Heilbronner is the US Editor for wiredhotelier.com and hospitalitynet.org, providing streaming multimedia-content for these websites. Based outside of Washington DC, Heilbronner has worked with Hsyndicate to conduct interviews at several hospitality trade shows in the US and Europe over the last couple of years. His column and content are featured in the Hospitality Net weekly newsletter. A familiar voice in Washington, DC, Heilbronner is the stadium announcer for the NBA's Washington Wizards, WNBA's Washington Mystics and WUSA's Washington Freedom. He resides in Centreville, VA and can be reached via email: [email protected].

Kevin Heilbronner
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