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Sunburst Hospitality Purchases Arkansas-based Glenwood Country Club, Plans Golf Resort Development

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Silver Spring, MD � January 14, 2004 � Sunburst Hospitality announced today that the company has purchased the Glenwood Country Club and Estates located in Glenwood, Arkansas. Sunburst plans to upgrade the club, renovate the golf course, and develop the surrounding property for resort and retirement ownership. 

Located near tourist-rich Hot Springs, Arkansas, the Glenwood Country Club will immediately benefit from proximity to Sunburst�s Clarion Resort on the Lake located on Hot Springs� scenic Lake Hamilton. Sunburst will offer attractively priced golf resort packages allowing golfers to enjoy access to Lake Hamilton and the Clarion�s resort amenities coupled with a first-class golfing experience at Glenwood. Located at the foot of the Ouachita Mountains, the Clarion Resort features its own dock, boats dedicated for water skiing and other water sports, jet skis, floating trampoline, lakeside outdoor pool, tennis, volleyball and basketball courts. With more than 9,000 square feet of meeting space, restaurant, bar and grill, free high-speed internet access and business facilities, the Clarion Resort is one of the booming area�s premier meeting and leisure destinations.

�This is a time when travelers and golfers seek new experiences and value unique regional terrain, culture and cuisine. We believe the Glenwood Country Club is a project that will thrive based on local support as well as regional and national interest,� said Sunburst�s Vice President of Operations Tom Murphy in making the announcement. 

The course was recently ranked No. 7 in the state for daily-fee courses by the Arkansas Democrat Gazette. Built 10 years ago and designed by Bobby McGee, the Glenwood Club Course takes full advantage of the countryside�s rolling terrain dotted with native hardwoods and pines. As a result of Mr. McGee�s skill, the course has a lot of character and challenge but is one that average golfers will enjoy playing. 
�Unlike other courses, the par 4s are not severe and overpowering,� commented Mr. McGee,� but can be challenging to every skill level.�

Sean Carey, a PGA member who played on the tour from 1971-1978, has been hired by Sunburst as the Club�s new General Manager and Director of Golf. Fellow PGA member Kelly Millender, who recently served as General Manager, Director of Golf at nearby Belvedere Country Club, has joined Glenwood as Head Golf Professional.
�This is a wonderful opportunity,� said Mr. Carey who has been employed at top courses in the Carolinas and Midwest over the past 30 years. �We have a great team and this is a great course. It�s like a breath of fresh air.

�We want to boost our visibility. This is a beautiful location and we are very user friendly,� continued Mr. Carey. �We want golfers to come out and enjoy the experience of not waiting in long lines to play a great course.�

Mr. Carey has already submitted a bid for the club to host an upcoming PGA ProAm Tournament.

In addition to planned improvements in the country club, Sunburst will work to develop resort home sites on 150 acres surrounding the course.

Glenwood�s Mayor, Ron Martin said the plans at the club are �a real plus� for the area. The upgrade at the club and the land development are likely to bring money and business into the area and create more jobs, according to the Mayor. �I really think this project will be a shot in the arm for Glenwood,� said Mayor Martin. 

Sunburst�s CEO Jim MacCutcheon, stated, �We believe the area is ripe for appropriate development. The Club will support redevelopment of the city�s historic district and our complementary golf and resort lodging offerings will tap into the bustling economy of Hot Springs.�

Mr. MacCutcheon concluded by stating the specifics of the real estate development surrounding Glenwood are being worked on currently and that a master plan will be finalized in early 2005.

About Sunburst Hospitality
Sunburst Hospitality Corporation is a leading hotel owner and manager of nationally recognized hotels and operates in 16 states. Sunburst's hotels are branded as Comfort Inns and Suites, Best Western, Clarion Hotels, Holiday Inn Express, Quality Inn, and Sleep Inn. 

James A. MacCutcheon, the company's president and CEO, has been with the company and its predecessor organizations since 1987. Sunburst grew from a portfolio of 11 hotels to 89 hotels, and achieved $210 million annual revenue at its peak.

Sunburst is committed to developing and successfully implementing strategies to maximize the value of its operating hotels. Mr. MacCutcheon and the executive management team have a successful record of managing ahead of industry cycles.

Prior to the most recent hospitality industry downturn, the Company was able to liquidate a substantial portion of its existing hotel portfolio. The Company capitalized on the distressed real estate and capital markets in the early 1990s by opportunistically acquiring hotels at significant discounts to replacement cost. In January 2001, management completed a leveraged buy-out of the Company, which formerly traded on the New York Stock Exchange. Sunburst Hospitality remains one of the largest private owners and operators of hotel properties in the U.S.


 
Contact:
Sunburst Hospitality Corporation
10770 Columbia Pike
Silver Spring, MD 20901-4448
301.592.3800
Also See: Sunburst Hospitality Awards Top-Performing Hotels; The Peabody Court Hotel, Baltimore, Maryland, Named Full-Service Hotel of the Year / October 2004
Sunburst Hospitality Completes Long-Term Disposition Plan, Reduces Debt, Improves Year-Over-Year
RevPAR / June 2004


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