These ground-up construction projects are slated for completion  by mid-2003. The $14 million Crowne Plaza Hotel in  Santiago, on the island�s rich Cibao valley, will break ground this spring .  The 200-room property designed by renowned architect Alan Lapidus on New York,  is located on Autopista Duarte and Avenida Rafael Vidal  in the city�s commercial district.  It will include 1,000 square meters state of the art  meeting facility , two restaurants, and dedicated parking, as well as a casino.

The Crowne Plaza in Santo Domingo will be a 22-story tower located on Santo Domingo�s famed seaside boulevard (El Malecon), and will anchor a mixed-use complex that includes the hotel, a retail shopping mall, commercial office space and residential condominiums.  The $16 million property will also count on 208 guest rooms and suites, and a casino.

Both properties will provide the latest technology, a business center, and fitness center.  The operator of both developments is Coral Hotels & Resorts, which owns and operates four other resort properties in the Dominican Republic.  Coral Hotels is widely regarded as the Dominican Republic�s leading hotel company.  Their focus on guest satisfaction is reflected in one of the region�s highest percentage score in guest satisfaction surveys, 94%.

�The two Crowne Plazas are excellent additions to the fast-growing, global Crowne Plaza portfolio,� says Mr.  Diago.  �By combining the global branding efforts of Crowne Plaza, with the unique local expertise of Coral Hotels, we anticipate the projects to be among the most successful in the Caribbean.�

Mrs. Perelló remarked that with these properties Coral enters the market of business hotels, and the Crowne Plaza brand provides the necessary element to assure success. 

Coral Hotels & Resorts ® operates a total of 1,900 guest rooms in the Dominican Republic.  Their hotels are the Coral Hamaca® in Boca Chica, the Coral Costa Caribe® in Juan Dolio, the Coral Canoa® y Bayahibe, La Romana
and the Rumba® Heavens in Playa Dorada, Puerto Plata.  Aside from the Crowne Plaza hotels, it has under development a 456-room hotel in Costa Dorada, Puerto Plata and the Guavaberry Golf Club residential development in Juan Dolio. 

Bass Hotels & Resorts®  [LON:BAS, NYSE:BAS (ADR)], the hotel business of Bass PLC of the United Kingdom, operates or franchises more than 3,000 hotels and 490,000 guest rooms in 100 countries and territories.