The three-story, 62-room Baymont Inn & Suites will feature special Ovation rooms, an indoor pool, a conference room and a deluxe continental breakfast, and is scheduled to open in the summer of 2004.

"We owned this property and felt it would be an ideal location for a midmarket hotel such as Baymont,� Pankow said.  "People were telling me the community needed an excellent lodging property."

Bob Caston, vice president of franchise development for Baymont Inns & Suites, said part of the reason for the chain�s success has been its ability to attract franchisees such as Pankow and Edler.

�Working with Jim and Gary has been a great experience,� Caston said.  �They really believe in the strength of the business environment in Plymouth and so do we at Baymont.�

Pankow said one of the reasons he and Edler chose Baymont Inns & Suites was the determination of its executives to make the Plymouth Baymont Inn & Suites a huge success.

"Five other hotel chains were trying to sell us a franchise, but Baymont stood out because for them it was about much more than just selling a franchise," Pankow said.  "Baymont is about doing everything it can to help owners succeed."

Pankow added that Baymont Inns & Suites has more properties in the state of Wisconsin than any other brand.

�Wisconsin is a strategic location for the Baymont brand and it is recognized as best in class,� Pankow said.

Strengthening the community

Lisa Hurley, president of the Plymouth Chamber of Commerce, said the new Baymont Inn & Suites would make the business community stronger in the city.  "Baymont has a great reputation, not only in Wisconsin, but across the country," Hurley said. "We are pleased we will have one of their hotels in this community."

Mayor William Kiley said the new Baymont Inn & Suites is impetus for future growth in the city.  "We are thrilled that we are getting a new Baymont Inn & Suites," Kiley said.  "There are plenty of events around town, so we know their rooms will be filled with guests.  It is going to be built in a prime spot.  Another hotel is exactly what we need in Plymouth."

Pankow said the success of other Baymont Inns & Suites was key in choosing the brand.

"We have talked with owners of Baymonts and they are very pleased with the organization," Pankow said.  "What�s even more impressive is that owners of hotels in competing chains also have good things to say about the Baymont organization.  Bob Caston and the others at Baymont have really gone out of their way to help us in our first hotel venture.  Baymont's determination and support made it an easy decision to pick this brand."

About Baymont Inns & Suites
Headquartered in Milwaukee, Wis., Baymont Inns & Suites continues to be a leading brand in the mid-market segment. The brand offers a 110% Satisfaction Guarantee, and has made a huge investment in its frequent-stay program�Guest Ovations®�with more than 260,000 members and growing. Under the 110% Satisfaction Guarantee, if any guest is dissatisfied with any aspect of his or her night's stay and the hotel is unable to resolve the problem, the guest will receive their night�s stay for free, plus a coupon for a 10-percent discount on their next stay at any Baymont Inns & Suites hotel.

In addition, Baymont�s Ovations Rooms offer upscale amenities not found in competitive mid-market hotels, such as plush pillow-top mattresses, Down Lite� pillows, fluffy towels, branded bath products and free in-room bottled water. The rooms also feature an enhanced workstation with an executive-sized desk, comfortable ergonomic chair and task lamp with a data port.

Baymont Inns & Suites operates or franchises more than180 locations in 31 states nationwide, is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Marcus Corporation (NYSE: MCS). For more information on The Marcus Corporation, go to www.marcuscorp.com. For more information about Baymont Inns & Suites, visit www.baymontinns.com.