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Highland Hospitality Acquires the 332-room Tucancun
Beach Resort & Villas, in Cancun for $31.0 million
Barcelo Hotels Will Manage as an All-inclusive Resort
Under the Barcelo Brand Name

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MCLEAN, Va., April 18, 2005 - Highland Hospitality Corporation (NYSE: HIH), a lodging real estate investment trust, or REIT, announced today that it has acquired the 332-room Tucancun Beach Resort & Villas located in Cancun, Mexico, for approximately $31.0 million, plus customary closing adjustments, or approximately $93,400 per room.  The Company purchased the hotel from a private seller based in Mexico.  Barcelo Hotels & Resorts, a global lodging company based in Spain, will manage the beachfront property as an all-inclusive resort under the Barcelo brand name.

James L. Francis, Highland's President and CEO, stated, "We are extremely excited about our acquisition of the Tucancun Beach Resort & Villas and the opportunity to strengthen our relationship with our global partner, Barcelo Hotels & Resorts.  This acquisition is our first in Mexico and is representative of our strategy to invest a portion of our capital in all-inclusive beachfront resorts outside of the United States.  We believe that attractive pricing of this asset, along with Barcelo's ability to efficiently market and operate the resort, will help to generate significant current returns and create value over time for our shareholders."

The Tucancun Beach Resort & Villas is centrally located within the Hotel Zone on Cancun Island, approximately twenty minutes from Cancun International Airport and downtown Cancun.  The resort is also closely situated near two of Cancun's premier shopping malls, which offer several luxury retail boutiques and upscale restaurants and bars.  The resort complex consists of four multiple-story towers and villas situated on over 4.5 acres of fee-owned land, including approximately 600 feet of direct beachfront.  Approximately two-thirds of the 332 rooms have private terraces and ocean views and all guestrooms are finished with stone floors and bathrooms.  On-site amenities include three pools (including a lounge pool), four restaurants, three lounges, on-site car rental and travel agencies, concierge services, aqua sports & dive services, fitness room, tennis court, business center and a 3,000 square-foot ballroom.

About the Companies:

Highland Hospitality Corporation is a self-advised lodging real estate investment trust, or REIT, focused on hotel investments primarily in the United States. With the acquisition of the Tucancun Beach Resort & Villas, the Company now owns 19 hotel properties with an aggregate of 5,475 rooms in ten states and Mexico. 

Barcelo Hotels & Resorts is a subsidiary of Barcelo Corporacion Empresarial, a privately-owned hotel ownership and management company based in Palma de Mallorca, Spain.  Barcelo Hotels & Resorts operates 130 hotels and resorts in 14 countries across four continents, including 36 properties in the United States through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Barcelo Crestline Corporation. 

Certain statements and assumptions in this press release contain or are based upon "forward-looking" information and are being made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. 

Contact:
Highland Hospitality Corporation
Web Site: http://www.highlandhospitality.com
http://www.barcelo.com
Also See: Barceló Joint Venture to Sell 18 - Hotel U.S. Portfolio / January 2004
The 196- room Sheraton Annapolis Acquired by Highland Hospitality Corporation for Approximately $18.0 million, or $91,800 per Room / February 2005


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