The team will be located in the company's New York City headquarters and will be responsible for increasing brand awareness and significantly growing the individual corporate and meeting business for the five-property portfolio, as well as new hotels that will be added as part of the company's expansion strategy. Boutique Hotel Group is the largest collection of boutique hotels in Manhattan, including The Shoreham, The Mansfield, The Roger Williams, Hotel Wales, and The Franklin. Three pedigree industry sales executives have been recruited to comprise the new team and together represent well over three decades of hospitality sales experience.

"The creation of a dedicated and highly qualified national sales team gives Boutique Hotel Group an important competitive edge," says Christopher R. Perry, vice president of sales and marketing for the group. "The team is the perfect fit for the brand and the direction we intend to take as we grow this outstanding collection of boutique properties."

Spearheading the team will be Melinda Allen Bennett as corporate director of sales. Ms. Bennett comes to the Boutique Hotel Group with over a decade of hospitality sales experience on both the East and West coasts. Prior to joining Boutique Hotel Group, she was director of sales and marketing, North America, for Design Hotels International since June 1999. From 1997 to 1999 Ms. Bennett was national sales manager for Manhattan East Suite Hotel Company. Before that she was based in San Francisco as director of sales for the Kimpton Hotel Management Company for four years. She began her hospitality career with The Prescott Hotel in San Francisco where she was senior sales manager. Ms. Bennett is a member of the HSMAI Big Apple Chapter.

Lourdes Del Valle joins the team as national sales manager. She has 15 years of experience selling New York hotels. Ms. Del Valle was most recently director of sales & marketing at the Empire Hotel in New York. Prior to that she was the assistant director of sales for the SoHo Grand and Tribeca Grand hotels, and held senior sales positions with the Sheraton Park Avenue, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts and the New York Helmesley Hotel.

Veronica Popova has been named corporate sales manager and comes to the group with over eleven years of hospitality sales, marketing and management experience. Prior to the Boutique Hotel Group, Ms. Popova was sales manager at The Iroquois in New York. She has held sales positions with The Drake Swissotel and with the tour operator, Nouvelles Frontieres.

Boutique Hotel Group's new national sales team will compliment the existing on-site sales staff through a centralized, cluster arrangement, resulting in improved service and a greater opportunity to cross sell the entire portfolio based on the client's need.

Since its inception in 1999, Boutique Hotel Group has assembled a team of pedigree hospitality executives, including an exceptionally strong sales and marketing staff, and recently launched a strategic expansion and acquisition program. The Company has linked up with several entrepreneurial capital sources to help drive its expansion.

Boutique Hotel Group has continues to take the industry lead in developing the overall brand, while marketing the unique aspects of each property. The portfolio of five Manhattan hotels is known for being among the early trailblazers in the city's boutique hotel movement and have since been recognized for their enduring design and fresh approach to the industry. The Group earned worldwide recognition for branding its own line of Jazz CD's and was awarded "Best Hotel Design 2000" by Interiors magazine. On an on-going basis the hotels integrate New York City arts organizations into the marketing mix, such as partnerships with American Ballet Theater, Broadway musicals and a rotating exhibition of works by emerging artists. Particular emphasis in the first year was given to developing the group's technological capabilities and creating one of the top online booking engines in the industry.

Information on Boutique Hotel Group can be accessed at www.boutiquehg.com.

Gayle Conran
212/481-3853
Boutique Hotel Group LLC