In addition, CAH is well on its way toward achieving its goal of 75 projects under contract by the end of this year, an increase of nearly 50 percent over its present portfolio of 53 hotel contracts. The group is presently signing an average of one contract every other week.

�It is very exciting to see our efforts come to fruition as these hotels on which we have been working start to open at a quicker pace,� said Paul J. Sistare, president and CEO of Choice Atlantica Hotels.  �Hotel guests in South America are about to see more and better�Choices.�

Choice Atlantica Hotels presently has US$560 million in assets under contract with nine hotels open, including four hotels in Brazil, three in Argentina and two in Chile. Forty-four hotels are under construction with openings planned well into 2003.

The three-year-old group has experienced rapid growth. In 1999, Choice managed 1,069 rooms. By 2003, Choice will have at least 16,800 rooms and 140 hotels.

�As evidenced by our rapid growth and the value of assets under contract, Choice Atlantica Hotels has quickly become recognized as a significant player in the Latin American hospitality industry,� said Sistare. �Since no two hotel deals are quite the same, we have found a variety of innovative ways to serve the needs of our clients and have become known as a company that offers solutions, not excuses.�

Soon-to-open Choice Atlantica properties in Brazil include:

Comfort Hotel Ilha do Leite, Recife, August 2000
This US $5.2 million property will feature 80 standard rooms, a business center, fitness center, restaurant, lounge and four meeting rooms. The hotel is located in the prestigious hospital district of the northeast city of Recife and is part of a three-hotel project with two other properties opening in 2001 and 2002.

Quality Hotel Metropolis, Alphaville, October 2000
Located just west of Sao Paulo in the district of Barueri, the Quality Hotel Metropolis is a multi-use project with the hotel portion alone valued at US$15.5 million. It will feature 212 guest rooms, lounge, meeting room and swimming pool. Choice Atlantica Hotels will manage the adjacent office complex as well as the hotel.

Quality Suites Forteleza, Forteleza, February 2001
The US$8.8 million ocean-front Quality Suites Forteleza will feature 126 guest rooms, swimming pool, fitness center, restaurant, lounge and two meeting rooms. The city of Forteleza is a resort city in the northeastern part of Brazil that is popular not only with regional travelers but also with Europeans.

Quality Hotel & Suites Lakeside, Brasilia, November 2000 
Located in Brazil�s capital city of Brasilia, this US $26.2 million property will feature 360 guest rooms, two restaurants, one lounge, four meeting rooms, two swimming pools and a fitness center. Conveniently located next to the Presidential Palace, the hotel features stunning views of the lake and is Phase One of a 540-room hotel project. Phase II is currently under construction and expected to open in 2002. Significantly, this is the first entry by an international hospitality management and franchise company into this important city.

Quality Suites Water Plaza, Vila Velha, November 2000
The Quality Suites Water Plaza � valued at US $11.7 million � will feature 180 guest suites, a business center, swimming pool, fitness center, restaurant, lounge and four meeting rooms. With a distinctive architectural design, all rooms offer views of the Atlantic ocean and will take advantage of the new growth in the state of Espirto Santos.

Sleep Inn Varginha, Varginha, December 2000
This US$3 million limited-service property is the third Sleep Inn project undertaken by Choice Atlantica Hotels in two years. Earlier Sleep Inns, the Sleep Inn Campinas and Sleep Inn Riberao Preto, quickly became popular and exceeded expected occupancy in a short time. The Sleep Inn Varginha will offer 64 guest rooms, restaurant, swimming pool and meeting room.

Comfort Hotel Anhembi, Sao Paulo, January 2001
One of Choice Atlantica Hotels� first projects, the Comfort Hotel Anhembi reflects an investment of US$15.6 million and is located adjacent to the largest convention and meeting center in the continent of South America. The property features 240 rooms with state-of-the-art meeting and conference rooms and continuous shuttle service to the Anhembi convention center, which hosted more than 4.5 million visitors in 1999. The Comfort Hotel Anhembi is the only hotel within walking distance of the convention center.

Comfort Suites Guarulhos, April 2001
Located at Guarulhos International Airport in Sao Paulo, this US$8.4 million property will feature 130 guest rooms, a restaurant and lounge, business center, conference facilities for up to 100 people, fitness center and swimming pool. The hotel also will feature continuous shuttle service to the International Airport, which serves 14 million passengers annually.

An independent Sao Paulo-based hotel-management company, Choice Atlantica Hotels owns the master franchise agreement for the development of Choice Hotel products in Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Paraguay, Uruguay and Bolivia.