With approval of the development ordinance, construction on the multi-million dollar project is expected to begin in the fall of 2008, with an opening slated for spring of 2010. Located at K-10 and Ridgeview Road in Olathe, the land site of the future hotel and conference center is owned by Opus Northwest, L.L.C., which also owns and develops the Corporate Ridge development. The 200-acre office park on the K-10 Corridor houses headquarters of Terracon Consultants, Inc. and The National Board for Respiratory Care in addition to major tenants such as Garmin and Farmers Group, Inc. 

The Embassy Suites Hotel and conference center in Olathe will feature a signature John Q. Hammons custom design and will be Mr. Hammons� fourth development in the Kansas City Metropolitan area. His other Kansas City properties include the 236-suite Embassy Suites Hotel Kansas City � International Airport, 116-suite Homewood Suites by Hilton Kansas City International Airport, and 152-suite Residence Inn Kansas City International Airport. 

�As one of the fastest growing cities in the Midwest, Olathe has a long-term vibrancy I can appreciate. It is predicted that more than 100 companies will relocate to the general Olathe area in the next five to 10 years,� said Mr. Hammons, founder, chairman and chief executive officer of John Q. Hammons Hotels & Resorts. 

�I plan to build a luxury hotel facility with flexible, advanced meeting accommodations that will rival anything in the Kansas City metropolitan area, and I anticipate a positive outcome with the Council�s vote,� Hammons said. 

Mr. Hammons noted Olathe�s proximity to the significantly improved I-70, I-35, I-29, I-435 and K-10 as a major draw for relocating businesses and hotel and meeting guests. 

In addition to being accessible to major employers, local entertainment and attractions, such as the Kansas Speedway and new Bass Pro Shop in Olathe, the new hotel and conference center will be conveniently located near the bioscience-focused K-State campus currently being built. It is also near the New Century AirCenter and the area�s six college/university/vo-tech institutions, such as University of Kansas, Kansas University Edwards Campus, and Johnson County Community College, comprising a combined student population of more than 60,000. 

About Embassy Suites Hotels 
Embassy Suites Hotels properties managed by John Q. Hammons Hotels & Resorts feature a variety of amenities for both business and leisure travelers. Beautifully decorated to make guests feel at home, each spacious, two-room guest suite features a private bedroom and living room and is equipped with two televisions, refrigerator, wet bar, microwave oven, coffee maker, two telephones with voicemail, high-speed Internet access, work desk and in-room safe boxes. Each hotel also offers a complimentary, cooked-to-order breakfast and a nightly Manager�s Reception® with complimentary beverages. Other features include a relaxing atrium lounge, full-service restaurant and spacious meeting and conference facilities with hotel staff dedicated to each group�s specialized needs. Site amenities include a fitness center, indoor pool and sundeck. For more information about John Q. Hammons Hotels & Resorts� Embassy Suites properties, please call 1-800-EMBASSY or visit www.jqhhotels.com. 

About Opus Northwest, L.L.C. 
Opus Northwest, L.L.C. is headquartered in Minneapolis, with offices in Denver, Kansas City, Mo., Portland, Ore., Seattle and St. Louis, and is one of five regional companies within the Opus Group. Opus Northwest has developed more than 84 million square feet and currently has nearly 9 million square feet in planning or under development. The Opus Group, based in Minneapolis, is a $2.2 billion premier, full-service real estate development company with 55 years experience. Specializing in office, industrial, retail, multifamily, government and institutional development, the Opus Group has completed nearly 2,450 projects totaling 238 million square feet and currently has 35 million square feet in planning or development. Opus employs nearly 2,000 people in 28 offices in the United States and Canada. Committed to creating great real estate, Opus implements best practices in sustainable design and construction to maximize building performance and reduce environmental impact. A community steward since its inception, the Opus Group is committed to the long-term development of people and communities by contributing 10 percent of its pre-tax profits to community organizations. For more information, visit www.opuscorp.com. 

About John Q. Hammons Hotels & Resorts 
Springfield, Mo.-based John Q. Hammons Hotels & Resorts is the nation�s leading independent builder, developer, owner and manager of upscale, full-service hotels, resorts and suites, including: Embassy Suites Hotels, Renaissance, Marriott, Radisson, Residence Inn, Homewood Suites by Hilton, Holiday Inn and Courtyard by Marriott brands. With 76 hotels strategically located near demand generators, such as state capitals, universities, airports, corporate headquarters or office parks in secondary and tertiary markets, John Q. Hammons Hotels & Resorts� properties are dominant in their markets. Over the course of his impressive career in the hotel business, Mr. Hammons has developed 199 hotels. For more information about John Q. Hammons Hotels & Resorts, please visit the company�s Web site at www.jqhhotels.com. 

John Q. Hammons Hotels & Resorts
Scott Tarwater, 417-873-3591
[email protected]