'Noble Investment Group is a significant strategic partner with America's Promise in our efforts to keep these Five Promises," said General Powell. 'We are proud to have their support, and we know that they will deliver. Noble Investment Group is a noble company embarked on a noble mission."

Noble's commitment covers all five of America's Promises basic tenets and focuses on forming a partnership between the company's properties and the local high schools by providing information, mentoring, training, and job placement to students interested in beginning a career in the lodging and hospitality field.

"We have always believed in community service," said Dr. Bharat Shah, Noble president and chief executive officer. "We are confident that our partnership with AH&MA and America's Promise will enable us to reach the students in our schools and develop the minds of the future."

The initiative is an expansion of Noble's existing program in that the company already works with local high schools in job placement. Noble now will also conduct seminars on the hospitality field, thus providing students with marketable skills and informing them about the skills necessary for the hotel industry and what positions and types of work exist. in addition, the company will work with counselors at each school to help place students at after school and weekend jobs and/or career oriented positions after graduation, and will supply all the necessary job training and internship programs.

Another component of the company's commitment is asking team members to dedicate 10 hours of volunteer time per month throughout the year to schools. This will enable members of Nobel's hotel teams to participate in programs where the school needs the most assistance, including community functions, school improvement projects, and fund raising opportunities.

"Our 2000 goal for America's Promise is to engage 1,500 properties reaching one million children," said AH&MA Vice Chairman John Russell. "We welcome Noble's foresight to be among the first leaders on the national level to climb aboard our industry's red wagon."

Noble, which began in 1979 with one property, now has more than 25 hotels and 500 team members. Noble has become one of the country's premier hotel management and development companies in the mid market, upscale. and all suite segments.

Noble Investment Group, Ltd., is an Atlanta, Georgia based leading hotel management company. Since 1979, Noble has managed primarily well known national hotel brands pursuant to franchise agreements from Marriott International, Inc., Hilton Hotels, and Bass Hotels and Resorts. Noble currently owns 25 hotels throughout the eastern United States. Noble's mission is to deliver the "greatest customer experience" each day, every time. Noble's commitment to quality allows us to return the highest value and enhance the loyalty of our guests, our team members and our investors.