Boston, MA, August 2, 2001 � Jeffrey G. Saunders, President of the Saunders Hotel Group (SHG), announced today that Jose Estrompa, CHA, currently the General Manager of SHG�s Copley Square Hotel, will add management responsibilities for The Lenox, also an SHG property. He will assume the title of General Manager, The Lenox, and Vice President, Saunders Hotel Group, effective September 7, 2001. The announcement follows a national search to fill The Lenox General Manager position, which has been open since April. Estrompa has more than thirty years of hotel management experience, with more than twenty of them in Boston with SHG and its properties.

�We are delighted to announce the promotion of Jose Estrompa into this critical management position,� said Saunders. �Over two decades he has quietly established himself as one of Boston�s premier hoteliers, and is uniquely qualified to lead both the Copley Square and the Lenox Hotel, which together are the crown jewels of Back Bay lodging.� 

The Copley Square Hotel offers the classic design, style and history of a late nineteenth century hotel with the �comfort� improvements of today � including recent upgrades such as a brand new heating and air conditioning system, room renovations and the addition of new guest rooms. The Lenox is Boston�s �Baby Grand,� a AAA four-diamond property that has been recognized for gracious accommodations and attention to detail for more than 100 years. Together, the two properties, located less than 100 yards from one another, account for 356 rooms in the heart of Boston�s exclusive Back Bay. 

�I am honored and excited by this opportunity,� said Estrompa. �Managing these hotels is a dream come true.� �I look forward to building on the strong track record of success we have established at the Copley Square Hotel, and further enhancing the sterling reputation and guest offerings of The Lenox.� He concluded, �I am grateful to the Saunders family for their confidence in me and look forward to a successful, profitable future.� 

About Jose Estrompa

Jose Estrompa is one of Boston�s premier hoteliers and an internationally known hotel manager. He has been the General Manager of the Copley Square Hotel for more than fifteen years, during which time he oversaw a multi-million dollar capital program; engineered an unprecedented turnaround in RevPar (Revenue Per Available Room), and established the Copley Square as one of the city�s highest busiest hotels, averaging 90% occupancy annually. He has previous management experience at The Lenox, as Assistant General Manager and head of the rooms division; as Front Desk Manager, and as Assistant Manager of the Hotel. He also has management experience at the Hotel Atenas and the hotel Diplomat, both in Lisbon, Portugal.  Born in Lisbon, Jose received degrees from the Tourism School of Lisbon and Almada College. He did graduate work at Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, and the American Cultural Institute, Lisbon. Jose has been active in Skal International for more than eleven years, and has been an officer of the Boston chapter for the past two years. He speaks several languages and lives in Taunton, MA, with his wife Maria and his daughter Jennifer.

The Lenox Hotel and the Copley Square Hotel are part of the Saunders Hotel Group (SHG), which also owns the Comfort Inn and Suites Boston Airport and is developing the former Police Headquarters in Boston�s Back Bay. SHG is operated by a distinguished family with a rich tradition of leadership in the hospitality industry and an unparalleled reputation for delivering consistent, customized, unique guest experiences at each of its properties.