Through the agreement, Bennigan�s® becomes a preferred foodservice provider to Ramada operators and will be given top consideration to develop restaurants within 6,500 square feet of allotted ground-floor, street-entry space in Ramada�s new hotel prototype as well as existing properties. Bennigan�s or its franchisees will operate the restaurants co-located with the Ramada properties, depending on location.

�Many hotel operators have seen internalized foodservice as a heavy but necessary burden for their lodging properties,� said Steven Belmonte, President and Chief Executive Officer of Ramada Franchise Systems. �Our arrangement with Bennigan�s enables our operators to focus on their core lodging business. More importantly, having Bennigan�s on-site helps deliver a well-rounded hospitality experience for our guests, because they don�t even have to leave the building to enjoy the great food and service that has made Bennigan�s a classic for more
than two decades.�

Jerry Comstock, President of Bennigan�s, said the opportunity to partner with Ramada gives the restaurant chain another compelling vehicle for its planned national and international growth.

�This partnership is a win-win proposition for two brands on a fast growth track,� said Comstock. �Our relationship with Ramada gives us an attractive venue for company and franchise development and a new way to win guests in both emerging and existing markets.�

He added that Bennigan�s and its franchisees will consider co-development with Ramada on a
property-by-property basis against a number of factors, principally location, market development plans and local trade area demographics.
 

Bennigan�s is a leading casual restaurant chain known for its Irish American hospitality and great tasting American food, as well as the most popular beer and drinks from around the world, and serves more 35 million guests annually in more than 250 restaurants in the U.S. and four other countries. Bennigan�s is a subsidiary of SA Restaurant Corp. and part of Plano, Texas-based Metromedia Restaurant Group (MRG®), one of the world�s leading multi-concept sit-down restaurant groups. Other MRG brands include Steak and Ale®, Ponderosa Steakhouse® and Bonanza Steakhouse®. Ramada Franchise Systems, Inc., a subsidiary of Cendant Corporation (NYSE: CD), is a mid- to upper-mid-market chain of over 1,000 Ramada Limited, Inn and Plaza Hotel properties throughout the United States.

The story is told of D. Bennigan, an Irishman who came to the United States in the early 1900's and went to work as a bartender with the dream of one day owning his own tavern. Legend has it that he served up tall drinks as well as tall tales, a combination that brought guests back for more of both. During the depression era, D. Bennigan was able to purchase a foreclosed bank building where he proudly opened the original Bennigan's Irish American Grill & Tavern. With a lot of hard work, some help from his friends, and a little luck, Bennigan's was a success. As you look around, notice the same elements from the original Bennigan's building like the brass rails, pictures, and memorabilia.