BENCHMARK®, a global hospitality company, Celebrates the Nation’s Essential Heroes by Extending Lowest Employee Rates to U.S. Healthcare and First Responder Personnel Throughout 2020

The Woodlands (Houston), Texas - BENCHMARK®, a global hospitality company, announces that its managed hotels within its two luxury brands, Benchmark Resorts & Hotels and Gemstone Collection, are offering lowest employee accommodation rates to the Essential Heroes of the COVID-19 pandemic, extending throughout 2020. These rates, previously exclusive to Benchmark employees and their families, are now extended to the essential frontline healthcare and first responder heroes of the COVID-19 crisis in the United States. Included are Benchmark hotels and resorts from Maine to Florida to Texas, California, Hawaii and many destinations in between.

Announcing the new Essential Heroes program, Alex Cabañas, chief executive officer for BENCHMARK, stated, "Our company's passion is to 'Be The Difference', and these heroic healthcare professionals and first responders have been doing just that and more for all of us." Mr. Cabañas continued, "Brighter days lie ahead thanks to their efforts. Our Essential Heroes program is our way of thanking and celebrating these extraordinary professionals who are on the front line making an enormous difference in all of our lives during this unprecedented time."

Effective immediately, Benchmark hotels will offer their lowest employee rates to doctors, nurses, EMTs, paramedics and other frontline healthcare employees as well as firefighters, police, and members of the National Guard—all leading the fight against the global pandemic. Participating hotels that are currently closed in response to COVID-19 will accept reservations for future 2020 travel dates when they reopen for guests in coordination with guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), local and state officials.

Benchmark operates 80 properties globally and 50 commercial hotels and resorts within the United States and the Caribbean, including among many others Gloria & Emilio Estefan's Cardozo South Beach in Miami, Florida; The Equinox Golf Resort & Spa in Essex, Vermont; The Abbey Resort in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin; La Cantera Resort & Spa in San Antonio, Texas; Chaminade Resort & Spa in Santa Cruz, California; Turtle Bay Resort on Oahu's North Shore and Santa Barbara Beach & Golf Resort on Curacao.

For nearly 40 years, Benchmark has been at the forefront of the hospitality industry. At the heart of the company's core values is a belief that travel can be a transformative experience empowering authentic moments of connection. Speaking about his outlook for travel, Cabañas stated, "We understand that travel may not be a current priority, but when that day comes, and we hope it comes soon, we will remain committed to our guests' safety, serving them exceptionally well and delivering those transformational moments that become lifelong memories."

Benchmark's Essential Heroes program features rates from $65 per night at participating properties. Employee rates vary across Benchmark's diverse portfolio of hotels and resorts, stretching from Maine to California to Hawaii. All U.S. healthcare and first responder heroes are eligible for these lowest employee rates throughout 2020 by using Promo Code: THANKYOU. More information and booking, visit www.benchmarkresortsandhotels.com/heroes.