ARLINGTON, Va. – January 19, 2018 – INTRIGUE™ Hotels & Resorts – Interstate’s platform for the management of independent and soft branded boutique and lifestyle hotels and resorts – announces that it has formed a strategic alliance with TQP Investments, founded by Thomas Prins, a principal of TQP Capital Partners, LLC. The union will accelerate the growth of this dedicated division.

“Our alliance with TQP and Tom taps into a multitude of benefits, enhancing the depth of resources available to Interstate Hotels & Resorts,” said Leslie Ng, Interstate’s Chief Investment Officer. “Tom brings his superb reputation and proven experience in this space and will be serving as an advisor to Interstate, providing operational guidance, deal sourcing and support to the INTRIGUE division in order to accelerate the growth of the platform.”

Thomas Prins co-founded Gemstone Hotels & Resorts, a premier boutique management company, in 1994. He became a partner in Benchmark Resorts & Hotels, A Global Hospitality Company, after the merger between Gemstone and Benchmark. Thomas sold his ownership interests in the combined companies in 2016. Thomas is an adjunct professor at his alma mater Cornell University in the Hotel School SC Johnson College of Business teaching graduate students hotel development.

“I am delighted to be partnering with Interstate,” said Prins. “We anticipate substantial growth for INTRIGUE Hotels & Resorts that is deeply advantageous to hotel owners/equity groups and sustainable for Interstate. I look forward to working closely with INTRIGUE’s dedicated team to infuse my experience derived from founding, growing and operating the Gemstone platform, which combined with INTRIGUE’s technology stack and backed by Interstate’s scale and strong industry relationships, will drive results and provide owners with a powerful platform and hotels with the tools and resources to reach peak performance.”