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St Andrews Bay Golf Resort & Spa |
TORONTO, June 7, 2006 - Fairmont Hotels & Resorts is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement to manage the St Andrews Bay Golf Resort & Spa in Scotland. Apollo European Real Estate Fund II, L.P. will purchase the resort from Chateau Elan Hotels & Resorts, with financing from Bank of Scotland Corporate. Fairmont will assume management of the 209-room resort on July 1, 2006 under a long-term management contract and the property will be reflagged early Fall 2006. This latest acquisition expands Apollo's European investments in the hospitality sector and the hotel company's European presence, joining The Savoy, A Fairmont Hotel and the Fairmont Monte Carlo. Located two miles from the town of St Andrews and the venerated Old Course, the resort features five dining outlets, a 3,500 square foot spa and health club and two 18-hole golf courses. Within a short drive of the resort are another 10 golf courses. Built in 2001, the property will be enhanced through a pnds stlg 10 million, multi-year refurbishment program. Renovations include guestrooms, public areas, meeting rooms and technology upgrades. William R. Fatt, Fairmont's Chief Executive Officer, said, "St Andrews
is the acclaimed "home of golf" and we are pleased to not only expand our
presence in Europe but also to increase our truly distinctive golf offerings
through the addition of this resort. We recognize the current owners' commitment
to the property, and look forward to working with Apollo in enhancing the
resort and building upon its success."
Damian McGann, Head of Corporate at Bank of Scotland commented "We are delighted to be supporting two first rate partners, who we know well, in the next chapter of the highly successful St Andrews Bay story." Don Panoz, Founder of Chateau Elan Hotels & Resorts said, "We look forward to St Andrews Bay realizing the major benefits from the financial strength, international links, global marketing capability and excellent reputation that the partnership of Apollo and Fairmont offers and are convinced the resort and its employees' best interests will be well served by this transaction." About Fairmont Hotels & Resorts Featuring a collection of fabled castles, secluded lodges, storied meeting places and modern retreats, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts opens the doors to some of the world's most celebrated addresses. With locations throughout nine countries, our 50 distinctive hotels - including The Fairmont San Francisco, The Fairmont Banff Springs and London's Savoy - promise travelers rich experiences and lasting memories in unparalleled settings. Committed to growing its portfolio of world-class hotels, Fairmont will soon reflag five hotels in Kenya and anticipates the 2007 re-opening of New York's famed Plaza Hotel. Future Fairmont Hotels & Resorts also include locations in Cairo, Turks & Caicos, Abu Dhabi and Dubai's Palm Island. Fairmont Raffles Holdings International owns and operates 120 hotels worldwide under the Fairmont, Raffles, Swissotel and Delta brands. For more information or reservations, please call 1-800-441-1414 or visit www.fairmont.com. About Apollo Real Estate Advisors Apollo Real Estate Advisors is one of the most active and prominent opportunistic real estate investors in the U.S. and internationally. Apollo focuses on the acquisition of fundamentally sound income-producing assets in the major European markets. The firm seeks to add value, with proven local operating partners through aggressive asset management. Since the firm's founding in 1993, Apollo has overseen the investment of eight real estate funds totaling more than $4.5 billion in equity. Apollo funds collectively have invested in more than 210 transactions with an aggregate value of more than $20 billion. Apollo principals are William Mack, founder and senior partner; Lee Neibart, senior partner; John Jacobsson and Richard Mack, managing partners, New York; William Benjamin, managing partner, London; Richard Ackerman, partner, Los Angeles; and Stuart Koenig, partner and global CFO. The firm's Web site is www.apollorealestate.com. |
Contact:
Fairmont Hotels & Resorts Inc.
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