�We will be able to expand the chain by offering the Red Lion name to quality hotel operators and owners,� said Jim Dina, chief operating officer for Red Lion Hotels  Inns. �We believe there is strong demand for a mid-market, high-quality hotel brand and Red Lion will fill that void.�

Red Lion has filed the required Uniform Franchise Offering Circular (U.F.O.C.) with the federal government and has gained approval to offer franchise opportunities in 40 western states, as well as in Mexico and Canada.

Franchise opportunities for Red Lion Hotels  Inns will be spearheaded by Manfred Gerling, director of development for Red Lion Hotels  Inns, whose distinguished career in the hospitality industry spans 20 years. He will be working in conjunction with other members of the development team for Promus Hotel Corporation, Red Lion�s parent organization, to identify quality hotels to add to the chain.

�It is a pleasure and a privilege to return to the Promus organization to play a central role in this exciting new chapter in the history of Red Lion Hotels  Inns,� said Gerling. �This brand has so much to offer, and the professionals behind it truly understand the needs and motivations of the franchise owner. This is going to be a very rewarding relationship for our existing and prospective partners.�

The Red Lion portfolio will consist of full service hotels and limited service inns. They are typically mid-market, high-quality facilities offering care, comfort and value to its guests, employees and owners. �Value is important to Red Lion,� said Dina. �We want to offer value to our hotel owners through our respected brand, revenue-producing programs and operating expertise. In turn, we want new partners to bring value to the brand by offering a great guest and employee experience.�

Red Lion Hotels Inns, headquartered in Vancouver, Wash., was founded in the early 1960s. Including the nine hotels to be converted Oct. 4, 1999, the portfolio of Red Lion�s hotels includes 29 properties with over 4,800 rooms located in nine states. It is owned by Promus Hotel Corporation (NYSE:PRH), one of the world�s premier lodging companies with system-wide annual revenues of approximately $5 billion. Promus is headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee and has approximately 40,000 employees.