David Lagarce has extensive experience as general manager and with opening new hotels.  Most recently he was the opening general manager for the upscale Renaissance Resort World Golf Village in St. Augustine, Florida.  Previous to this he was opening general manager for the University Plaza Hotel in Bowling Green, Kentucky, and before  general manager for the Holiday Inn Select, Knoxville, Tennessee, where he oversaw a complete property renovation.

Prior to this, Mr. Lagarce was opening general manager of the Embassy Suites Resort, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, and for the Embassy Suites Hotel in Memphis, Tennessee.  Before this, he was Director of Operations for Holiday Inn�s corporate and managed hotels throughout the southeastern United States.  Previous to this he was general manager was for the Rivermont Hotel, also of Memphis, Tennessee.

David Lagarce is a graduate of the State University of New York with a degree in Hotel Administration.  He is the past President of the Memphis Hotel / Motel Association and the Tennessee Hotel / Motel Association.  He and his wife Linda reside in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

The Chattanoogan is a 210,000 square foot, state-of-the-art conference center and hotel being constructed at the center of Chattanooga�s burgeoning economic development zone in the city�s Southside district.    The $43 million property, which is expected to achieve Four Star status, will upon completion offer 200 deluxe guest rooms, 20 dedicated meeting rooms, a restaurant and banquet facilities, two private dining rooms, and an adjacent parking garage to accommodate over 1000 vehicles.  The property is being co-developed by Benchmark Hospitality and Hines Interests Limited Partnership for the City of Chattanooga.    It is expected to open in the spring of 2001.

With headquarters in The Woodlands, Texas, Benchmark Hospitality is a recognized leader in resort, conference center and conference hotel management.