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LOS ANGELES - July 26, 1999--Forte Hotels� upscale international
hotel brand, Le Meridien, announced today the acquisition of the Hotel
Nikko at Beverly Hills, the first owned property in the United States for
the UK�s largest hotel group. Beginning today, the 297-bedroom, four-star
deluxe hotel will be called Le Meridien at Beverly Hills.
�This new acquisition is part of our strategy to become the best and most profitable hotel operator,� said Antione Cau, Chief Executive, Forte Hotels. �We are committed to building an extensive network of hotels in leading gateway cities to strengthen the awareness of Le Meridien worldwide.� This acquisition marks an important first step in Le Meridien�s strategy to strengthen its position in the United States by securing outstanding properties in key gateway cities. The company�s North American acquisition coincides with its aggressive expansion in Europe, the Middle East and Asia, where Le Meridien has secured 12 new hotel management contracts since the beginning of this year. �Le Meridien Beverly Hills complements our six hotels in North America,� said Bernard Lambert, President and Managing Director, Le Meridien. �More and more, international travelers are buying brands and, with our ever-strengthening network, characteristic European style and high service standards, we intend to make Le Meridien their top choice in Beverly Hills.� As a Meridien, the hotel will benefit from Forte�s expertise in sales and marketing including an international network of 15 Forte sales offices; Forte�s 37 reservation centers worldwide; a dedicated Meridien web site; partnership with 18 frequent flyer programs; and a strong Corporate Privilege program. Minimal renovations will be required to ensure the property reflects
the high standards of Le Meridien. The hotel already boasts excellent facilities
with exceptionally large guestrooms and more than 50 suites, all equipped
with the latest technology. The renowned conference and banquet facilities
are complemented by the leisure complex, bar and restaurant.
A prime location, Le Meridien at Beverly Hills is situated on the eastern border of Beverly Hills, in the middle of Restaurant Row and two blocks from one of the region�s top 20 most visited attractions, the Beverly Center. It is also well situated for access to the airport, Hollywood and the Santa Monica beach area. There are 113 Le Meridien hotels worldwide, with almost 30,000 rooms
in more than 50 countries. Le Meridien is positioned to expand to more
than 150 hotels in the near future.
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Also See: | Forte Signs New Contract with REZsolutions Inc.'s Utell International / July 1998 |
Nikko Hotels Offers The ABCs of Global Table Manners / July 1999 |