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News for the Hospitality Executive |
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 New Orleans (January 19, 2010) — Aimbridge
Hospitality today announced it now
manages the award-winning Windsor Court hotel in New Orleans
for Windsor Court Partners LLC, a joint venture between The Berger
Company Inc.
of New Orleans, Crow Holdings of Dallas, and
private New Orleans
investor Dr. Eric George. The 322-room property was purchased during
fourth
quarter 2009 from Orient-Express Hotels Ltd. Located a short walk from the historic French Quarter, the Windsor Court Hotel is the premiere luxury hotel in New Orleans. The hotel has a long list of awards to its credit, including top ratings from Zagat, Conde Nast Traveler and Forbes Traveler 400. In addition to its stellar accommodations, the Windsor Court Hotel is best known for its extensive art collection and The Grill Room, recognized by Zagat as one of the country’s finest dining establishments. The property also features Le Salon for traditional afternoon tea and the Polo Club Lounge featuring drinks and local light fare. The hotel boasts 10,000 square feet of elegant and unique meeting space, outdoor heated pool, Health Club, Business Center and Signature Boutique. “We are honored to have been named manager of New Orleans’ famed Windsor Court Hotel,” said Les Bentley, Aimbridge Hospitality Chairman. “It’s a very competitive environment today. Being selected from among the caliber of management companies evaluated to operate this property is a true testament to Aimbridge Hospitality’s ability to create and enhance value. We are delighted to once again serve as a management partner for Crow Holdings, and equally as pleased to enter into a new relationship with the prominent Berger family -- a seasoned group of executives with proven expertise in the French Quarter and the New Orleans Central Business District.” According to Diane Parmerlee of Crow Holdings, Aimbridge Hospitality was selected due to the management team’s strong experience in all aspects of hotel management, including marketing, operations and project management. This skill-set, along with a proven ability to drive top-line performance, will enable the company to quickly maximize asset value. “Aimbridge Hospitality has proven to be an entrepreneurial company that is passionate about what they do and very proficient at executing upon a variety of opportunities for owners,” Parmerlee said. “Based on our experience with the company and its principles, Les Bentley and Dave Johnson [Aimbridge Hospitality President and CEO], we are confident that Aimbridge Hospitality has what it takes to operate this property to the expert level that is required.” A major renovation of the property will be orchestrated over the next two years, but the new owners plan to keep the feel of the hotel the same. The plan includes a full renovation of all guestrooms and a refresh of public areas, meeting space and dining areas. No structural changes are planned and the property will remain open while renovations take place. “We definitely want to keep the theme of traditional elegance,” Berger said. “The Windsor Court is in wonderful condition and is only in need of a little updating. We view this acquisition as a big victory for New Orleans on two fronts: first, the Windsor Court is back in the hands of local owners; second, it is being operated by the management company we feel is best suited for this asset and market. “ For information on The Windsor Court, visit www.windsorcourthotel.com or www.aimbridgehospitality.com or call toll free at (888) 596-0955 for reservations. About Aimbridge Hospitality Aimbridge Hospitality is one of the nation’s leading independent hotel investment and management firms with a proven track record for delivering superior returns for its strategic partners in a variety of markets and economic cycles. Aimbridge provides management, asset management, development, renovation and consulting services. Based in Dallas, Texas, Aimbridge currently owns and/or manages 52 upscale, independent and branded hotels with nearly 11,000 rooms across the United States, including such affiliations as Marriott, Hilton, Embassy Suites, DoubleTree, Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton Inn & Suites, Aloft, Hyatt, Wyndham and the Phoenix Inn Suites chain of hotels. For more information on Aimbridge Hospitality, please visit www.aimbridgehospitality.com. About The Berger Company The Berger Company is headquartered in New Orleans and has over 35 years of experience in real estate. The company owns and has developed many signature properties including Jax Brewery; Canal Place, a five-star retail center anchored by Saks Fifth Avenue; the Royal Orleans Hotel; the Wyndham Riverfront and the Loews New Orleans Hotel. About Crow Holdings Dallas-based Crow Holdings is a privately owned business that makes investments on behalf of the Trammell Crow family and its investment partners. Today, Crow Holdings has a substantial stake in the ownership of various businesses, both real-estate and non-real-estate related, with a level of involvement in the management of these companies that ranges from active to passive. The company’s holdings also include significant, diversified positions in financial investments. Since 1998, Crow Holdings has sponsored four real-estate private equity funds; equity commitments from these funds total approximately $2.1 billion, $450 million of which was committed by Crow Holdings. To date, Crow Holdings Realty Partners IV L.P. is the largest fund sponsored by Crow Holdings, with equity commitments totaling approximately $850 million. Investors include endowments, foundations, pension funds, financial institutions and high net worth individuals. Crow Holdings is the largest investor in Crow Holdings Realty Partners IV, L.P., with a $150 million commitment. For more information, visit www.crowholdings.com. |
| Contact:
Barb Worcester |