BOSTON, Aug. 31 / In a reaffirmation of the close ties that bind Boston with its sister city Dublin, Boston's Saunders Hotel Group (SHG) today announced that it has joined forces with Ireland's Jurys Doyle Hotel Group to develop and manage the police headquarters hotel in the Back Bay. The international alliance, which will bring more than 200 urgently needed hotel rooms to Boston and revitalize a landmark city building, is a result of the companies' common approach to hotel management and operations as well as a patriarchal friendship that has lasted several decades.

"This is a 'win-win' agreement for both of our companies and for the city of Boston," said Gary Saunders, Chairman of the Saunders Hotel Group, "It gives Jurys Doyle a strong entree to the Boston market, which has a deep Irish heritage, and it enables us to partner with a renowned organization to create a distinctive, world-class property which compliments and rounds out the Saunders Hotel Group's portfolio of Boston hotels."

Jeff Saunders, CEO of the Saunders Hotel Group called the partnership a "milestone." He added, " When complete, the police headquarters property will be a living monument to the friendship of SHG founder Roger Saunders and the late Vincent Doyle, one of the creators of Jurys Doyle Hotels." The two hotel group patriarchs were friends for many years and the similarities between the two companies operating philosophies, approaches to hotel development and management and their track records of success are similar. Saunders added that the agreement does not affect the ownership, operation or positioning of any of the Saunders Hotel Groups' other properties in Boston – The Lenox, The Copley Square and the Comfort Inn & Suites Boston Airport.

Through the cooperative effort, the Jurys Doyle Hotel Group will provide funds for the historic renovation of the property through a long-term ground lease and will provide day-to-day operations management upon the property's completion and opening. The Saunders Hotel Group will purchase and develop the property from the city of Boston and will be the asset manager over the property.

Pat McCann, CEO of Jurys Doyle Hotel Group, welcomed the new partnership. He said, "Our cooperation on the former Boston Police Headquarters marks an important step in expanding Jurys Doyle's unique style and sensibility to gateway cities in the United States. Along with our three hotels in Washington, D.C., we are well on our way to establishing our brand in U.S. markets that are critical to our core European customer base."

Both parties, Jurys Doyle Hotel Group and Saunders Hotel Group, expressed the belief that the alliance will increase Irish, British and other European visitors to Boston as a result of the strength of the strong Jurys Doyle name and distribution system in Europe. In addition, each group mentioned that the Boston alliance may be just the first of many joint ventures between the Jurys Doyle Hotel Group and the Saunders Hotel Group. Jeff Saunders said, "We look forward to keeping our friends in Boston and Ireland updated on the evolving partnership between our two companies and on the development of the property."

The Saunders Hotel Group

The Boston-based Saunders Hotel Group is operated by a distinguished family with a rich tradition of leadership in the hospitality industry and an unparalleled reputation for delivering consistent, customized, unique guest experiences at each of its properties. The police headquarters project continues the Company's commitment to preserving the past and protecting the future, providing the highest standards of guest comfort, attention and excellence among Boston hotels.

The Jurys Doyle Hotel Group

Jurys Doyle Hotel Group plc is a rapidly growing publicly held international hotel operator headquartered in Dublin, Ireland and is Ireland's largest hotel company. Jurys has 33 properties, totaling more than 6,400 rooms with 4,000 employees. The Company offers business and leisure travelers a portfolio of 3, 4, and 5-star hotels and inns in Ireland, the United Kingdom and the United States.