Denver � July 28, 2003 � Richfield Hospitality Services, a SWAN solution that has been providing practical, profitable hotel management services for more than 30 years, was awarded the management contract for Cleveland�s Glidden House Inn. The inn is located on the campus of Case Western Reserve University, within walking distance of Cleveland's finest museums and cultural institutions in University Circle. 
 

�The Glidden House is a chic, boutique-style hotel catering to upscale visitors,� said Joe Shafran, owner of the Glidden House Inn. �With the excitement of projects in progress or planned for University Circle, our timing � in redecorating and redefining our image � couldn�t be more perfect. To accomplish that task, we knew that we needed to partner with a management company that could create a fresh look for the Glidden House and also generate

Glidden House Inn  1901 Ford Drive Cleveland, Ohio

�Richfield was the partner we were looking for,� he said. �We share the vision for what we want to accomplish at the Glidden House.�

A bit of history

The Glidden House was built in 1910 and served as the home of Frances K. Glidden of Glidden Paint and Varnish Company until 1953. In 1989, a local investment group bought the home and with the addition of 52 traditional hotel rooms and eight suites in the main mansion, the Glidden House opened as a bed and breakfast. 

According to Shafran, the property possesses a delicate blend of originality and quality that will appeal to the most discerning of tastes. Each room is equipped with the latest home and office amenities. Sergio�s restaurant, located in the Carriage House of the original mansion, is known for having the best patio in Cleveland with a menu to match. The cuisine includes Brazilian and seafood specialties, Brazilian beers, and an affordable food-friendly wine list.

�A hotel is a place to unwind and forget the burdens of the day. The Glidden House Inn is such a retreat,� said Tom Conran, Richfield Managing Director. �Surrounded by the Cleveland Institute of Music, the Cleveland Institute of Art, the Cleveland Art Museum, the Botanical Garden, Western Reserve Historical Society, the Museum of Natural History and Severance Hall � Home of the Cleveland Orchestra � the Glidden House is part of a rich, artistic culture. It offers first-class accommodations and service in a one-of-a-kind setting.�

Culture breeds contentment

The Richfield team also brings a distinctive management culture to the Glidden House based on more than 100 years� experience in hotel operations. Conran said that most management companies couldn�t afford to have the level of expertise on board that is apparent at Richfield.

�Members of the Richfield corporate team have previously held property level positions including experience as general managers, marketing directors and controllers,� Conran said. �We know the hospitality industry and understand the challenges owners and operators face on a daily basis, because we have worked side-by-side in the trenches with hoteliers for many years.�

He said Richfield has a proven track record of assisting owners and operators who are experiencing increased performance concerns relating to the repositioning of their asset in a competitive market. The company has successfully managed more than 250 properties, encompassing the entire range of product type, quality, size and scope of operation. Richfield�s focus always is on improving profitability.

�Our team is made of individuals who are committed to a group effort in making hotels successful and profitable,� said Aik Hong Tan, Richfield president. �That�s what makes a winning team. Our experience and enthusiasm trickles down to the property level to form a win-win situation for owners, managers, employees and guests.

�We are pleased to bring the Glidden House Inn into the Richfield family,� Tan said. �Just as the Glidden House has its own special mix of hospitality and history, we too have something special here within our own culture. Our management staff is a unique mix of professionals that cannot be replicated.�

Conran said Richfield will continue to attract and retain quality hospitality employees. They also will be completing several phases of ongoing renovations, which include pre-function meeting areas, guestrooms, suites and technology upgrades. A complete renovation of the common areas was completed in 2002.

About Richfield

Richfield Hospitality Services provides a full complement of successful management services to a broad range of limited-service, full-service and resort hotels.  The company achieves superior operating results through intense focus of its strong commitment to guests, employees and owners. Richfield is one of the key business units of SWAN Inc., a multi-service company focused on the hospitality industry.   Other hospitality services of SWAN include SCEPTRE (reservations management), SHIELD (insurance and risk management) and SOURCE (procurement of operating supplies and FF&E).

Swan Inc. is headquartered in Denver with approximately 1,000 employees. The company's shareholders include City e-Solutions Limited (CES) listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, and Millennium & Copthorne Hotels plc, a U.K.-based company listed on the London Stock Exchange, operating 91 hotels worldwide.