"Preferred Hotels is proud to present these six new members and we're pleased to announce that Preferred has its first member hotel in South America," said Rob Cornell, Managing Director of Preferred Hotels & Resorts.   "These additions to the Preferred portfolio demonstrate Preferred's increasing global presence and travelers to these markets can now stay at a hotel that provides a unique travel experience with unparalleled service."

Membership in Preferred is restricted to individually owned, full-service luxury hotels and spas.  Preferred considers top-caliber properties for membership that meet and exceed the high operational levels required by Preferred's Standards of ExcellenceTM, an award-winning, quality assurance program that annually measures 1,600 aspects of a property's facility and service deliver.

The newest Preferred member hotels are:

The Balboa Bay Club Resort & Spa, Newport Beach, CA - Since 1948, The Balboa Bay Club has been host to a wide variety of high-profile members and is only minutes away from Fashion Island & South Coast Plaza and Disneyland. Now this membership-only club is building an adjacent 131-room luxury hotel, which is scheduled to open in April of 2003.  Membership and hotel guest privileges at The Balboa Bay Club include access to a private white sand beach, a bay front swimming pool, a year-round schedule of social activities and dining in Henry's Bistro, the new restaurant. Guest rooms have private patios or balconies, spacious stall showers, sunken tubs and "The World's Most Comfortable Bed." Guests can have dinner at the fine dining restaurant, "The First Cabin" before heading out to listen to live jazz at "Dukes Place," a jazz lounge named after the late John "Duke" Wayne, a former member. Meeting space includes a 7,000 square feet (650 square meters) Ballroom, ten meeting and banquet rooms, two executive boardrooms and an outdoor courtyard that is available for group events. The Health Spa and Fitness Center provides indoor racquetball and basketball courts, body therapies, facials and reflexology. Guests can also enjoy yachting, fishing expeditions and tours of Balboa Island.  The Balboa Bay Club will become an official member January 1, 2003.

Gran Estanplaza Berrini, Sao Paulo, Brazil - Gran Estanplaza Berrini is the first South American property to join the Preferred Hotels portfolio. The hotel is located in downtown Sao Paulo next to Brazil's largest luxury shopping mall and major corporate headquarters for Ford, Nestle, Bank Boston, Lloyd's bank and the Sao Paulo World Trade Center. From the 14-story hotel guests can enjoy great views of downtown and enjoy services that include a state-of-the-art fitness center and twice daily maid service.  Focal points at the hotel includes a beautiful marble lobby with floor to ceiling windows, lounges throughout the property for tea service, a lovely walled garden with a terrace for coffee and a full-service restaurant. The main "Convention Center" can seat up to 200 people theatre style or change to a ballroom for weddings or special events.  The hotel is scheduled to open in January 2003 with 214 rooms. Their membership officially begins on December 1, 2002. 

Hotel Valencia Santana Row, San Jose, California - Located in the heart of the Silicon Valley near the Santana Row development, the Hotel Valencia Santana Row is reminiscent of a grand European palazzo with its open-air courtyard and rooftop wine terrace overlooking the Santa Cruz Mountains. There are 261 guestrooms, each featuring a custom made "Hotel Valencia Bed", Poggesi Italian Home Style Egyptian cotton linens, Tivoli Table Radios, State-Of-The-Art Cisco IP Telephony with Internet access and NXTV Broadband Entertainment. Doorman and bellman services feature wireless remote curbside express check-in and check-out and the hotel's technology also includes wireless Internet access in public areas.  An outdoor heated pool is located on the sun deck overlooking Santana Row and the courtyard. Guests can also enjoy the Ayoma LifeSpa, which offers an array of spa treatments and services along with the fitness center and whirlpool spa. There are six meeting rooms ranging in size from 400 square feet (37 square meters) to 2300 square feet (213 square meters). 

The Lanesborough, London - The Lanesborough, London's foremost address for discerning travelers, is returning to the Preferred portfolio.  Located in the heart of London on Hyde Park Corner, this hotel is just minutes from Harrods, the exclusive boutiques of Sloane Street and Knightsbridge and the West End theatre district. Upon arrival guests receive a bowl of fresh fruit, mineral water and assorted sweets in their room that is replenished daily. Guest rooms are equipped with a television that has Internet Access, free in-room movies and video games and a mobile phone that can operate throughout Europe. There are six meeting rooms with the largest capacity holding 250 people. The Conservatory, one of London's renowned destinations for traditional afternoon tea, also offers a chic and lively atmosphere where guests can experience Executive Chef Paul Gayler's innovative international cuisine. Salvatore Calabrese's famed Library Bar offers a world-renowned collection of rare cigars and vintage cognacs.

Royal Capri Resort  & Spa, Riviera Maya, Mexico - Nestled discreetly on the Riviera Maya, bordered by white sandy beaches and crystal clear waters of the Caribbean Sea, Royal Capri Resort & Spa is a tropical oasis that truly embraces the beauty and splendor of the region. Ideally located between Cancun and Playa del Carmen, just a short 35 minutes drive south of Cancun International Airport, the Riviera Maya provides seclusion from the bustling action of the nearby cities.  Royal Capri Resort & Spa is surrounded by a string of sparkling beaches, Mayan archeological sites, tropical coves and a number of cultural and adventurous attractions. The world's second largest barrier reef lays just offshore while underground rivers, caves and jungles lure adventure-lovers.  This full-service, inclusive luxury resort will feature lavish accommodations and elegant Mexican décor with a splash of Mediterranean flavor. The property, which will open its doors in November 2003, is the ideal getaway for the discerning traveler. All 288 rooms and suites will provide breathtaking views of the Caribbean Sea and the most magnificent scenery in the Yucatan Peninsula. Royal Capri Resort & Spa will combine traditional colonial hospitality, luxurious accommodations and world-class service - setting the standards by which other resorts are judged. 

The St. Regis, New York, New York - The St. Regis is a 1904 Beaux Arts landmark that has been ranked among the top hotels in the world for more than a decade. The 315 guest rooms and suites feature Louis XVI-style furniture, crystal chandeliers suspended from high ceilings, deeply carved crown moldings and wainscoting, marble baths and silk wall coverings. Guest services include: babysitting services, florists and a personal shopping service.  The St. Regis ballroom has one of the best views in the city overlooking the lights of Manhattan. Lespinasse, the highly acclaimed restaurant, is a fitting showplace for Chef Christian Delouvrier's distinctive "cuisine de terroir." For afternoon tea, the Astor Court lounge is perfection.  Maxfield Parrish's beloved mural is the focal point of the King Cole Bar Lounge, where the Red Snapper cocktail (now known by most as the Bloody Mary) was born.

Founded in 1968, Preferred Hotels & Resorts Worldwide is a global brand of 115 of the world's finest individually owned and operated luxury hotels and resorts.  Every member hotel, however, shares the same dedication to service and must qualify for membership by adhering to Preferred's Standards of Excellence, an exhaustive quality assurance program that includes an annual, third party unannounced audit of 1,600 standards and practices.