Acquired in May 2005 by Jacksonville Waterfront Partners, LLC, a joint venture between Oxford Lodging Advisory & Investment Group, LLC, and Longwing Real Estate Ventures, LLC, a member of the Dubai Investment Group, the property recently unveiled its renovated public spaces including front desk, lobby, gift shop, health club, pool and four new restaurants including the famed Plaza III steakhouse of Kansas City. 

"We've created an entirely new upscale business casual personality for the resort that gives group convention and leisure guests the best of all worlds - premiere business resort amenities, genuine Florida warmth and hospitality and an unrivaled location in the heart of the downtown business district and directly on the waterfront of the St. John's River," explained Robert D. Kline, President of Oxford Lodging. "The renovated property now proudly distinguishes itself within the Hyatt Regency family." 

Working with The Gettys Group of Chicago, the new owners have created an open, upscale first-floor environment consistent with both the property's strong appeal with convention and business travelers and scenic Northeast Florida waterfront setting. Features of the renovation include a dramatic new front desk and newly configured lobby seating in a warm, Caribbean-inspired color palette. Guests can now take advantage of automated Hyatt Express Check-in kiosks and high-speed Internet access in the public areas, meeting and guest rooms, as well as four new dining and entertainment options including the casual Trellises Restaurant, offering a la carte, buffet and Sunday brunch; Jaxx Sports Bar; and the Currents Bar, which doubles as a Starbucks cafe in the morning. 

A new property highlight is Plaza III, the celebrated Kansas City steakhouse specializing in steaks, chops, prime rib and fresh seafood for lunch and dinner. Recognized on numerous top-10 steakhouse lists, Plaza III offers an extensive wine list, piano bar/lounge area, two private dining areas for larger groups and an outside patio seating overlooking the St. Johns River. 

Other newly renovated or appointed amenities include the rooftop pool and fitness center and sauna, featuring cardiovascular machines, free weights, strength-training machines, lockers and showers; the third-floor Business Center; and the lobby-adjacent Niva Gift Shop. 

Renovation of the hotel's 966 guest rooms, including 21 suites, will be completed later this year and include the Grand Bed, featuring a Sealy Posturepedic 720 Series pillowtop mattress, 21 oz. down blankets, 250-thread-count triple sheeting and lush down feather pillows. 

About Oxford Lodging Advisory & Investment Group, LLC 
Oxford Lodging Advisory & Investment Group, LLC is an advisory and investment firm focused on the investment, asset management, property management and renovation of high-quality lodging assets. Oxford Lodging's principals have been responsible for over $6 billion of lodging investments and have asset managed over 100 upscale and luxury hotels, resorts and conference centers. The firm is currently responsible for a $2.5-billion, 10,000-room portfolio of luxury and upscale hotels, conference centers and resorts located throughout the United States and Japan. Oxford Lodging's principals and employees are direct investors in 65% of this portfolio. Oxford Lodging is headquartered in San Francisco, with offices in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Tokyo. For more information on Oxford Lodging, please visit www.oxfordlodging.com. 

About Hyatt
There are 216 Hyatt branded hotels and resorts (over 90,000 rooms) in 44 countries around the world, operating under the Hyatt(R), Hyatt Regency(R), Grand Hyatt(R) and Park Hyatt(R) brands. Currently, there are an additional 32 Hyatt hotels and resorts under development, including 11 new hotels in China. Hyatt Corporation (domestic U.S., Canada and Caribbean hotels) and Hyatt International Corporation (international properties) are subsidiaries of Chicago-based Global Hyatt Corporation. Global Hyatt Corporation is also the owner of Hyatt Vacation Ownership, Inc. operators of the Hyatt Vacation Club (timeshare and fractional residential product), Hyatt Equities, L.L.C. (hotel ownership), Select Hotel Group L.L.C. (which owns, operates and franchises AmeriSuites hotels, Hyatt Place and Summerfield Suites hotels) and U.S. Franchise Systems, Inc. (which franchises Hawthorn Suites, and Microtel Inns and Suites). 

About Longwing Real Estate Ventures, LLC 
Longwing Real Estate Ventures, LLC, a member of the Dubai Investment Group, is a New York-based private real estate investment company established to make investments across industries and market segments in North America. The Longwing team has made, since its establishment in early 2003, well over a dozen such investments totaling nearly $1 billion in real estate assets across a wide variety of market segments. Longwing's Chief Executive is Vincent T. Pica, II, a 30-year veteran of the financial services industry and whose most recent corporate role was the Group President of Capital Finance at Prudential Securities. Longwing's President is Richard Schoninger, a +20-year veteran of the financial services industry and who ran Real Estate Investment Banking, among many significant roles, at Prudential Securities. Longwing brings a strong and mobile capital base to situations that can deliver competitively superior returns through the application of strategic management and the decisive use of capital. Through long-term relationships with Local Operating Partners, Longwing Real Estate Ventures focuses on leveraging its equity and the equity of its partners through the intelligent use of creative structures and value-added ideas. For additional information on Longwing, its employees and investment history, please visit Longwing's website at www.Longwing.us.

Oxford Lodging
Maxine Taylor, 415-296-7955 (office)
[email protected]

XPR, LLC for Oxford Lodging
Bob Ochsner, 949-233-0984 (mobile)
[email protected]