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Mr. John Q. Hammons Celebrates Building 150 Properties with Opening of Courtyard by Marriott Oklahoma City Downtown/Bricktown Hotel



OKLAHOMA CITY & SPRINGFIELD, Mo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 9, 2004-- Mr. John Q. Hammons celebrates the milestone of building his 150th property with the recent grand opening of the $30 million, 225-room Courtyard(R) by Marriott(R) Oklahoma City Downtown/Bricktown Hotel and Arena Parking. Located in Oklahoma City's Bricktown, one of the fastest growing entertainment districts in the Southwest, the new eight-story property and more than 600-space parking garage are owned by Mr. John Q. Hammons and managed by Springfield, Mo.-based John Q. Hammons Hotels, Inc. (AMEX:JQH), the nation's leading independent builder, developer, owner and manager of upscale full-service hotels, resorts and suites.

"Marriott International would like to congratulate Mr. John Q. Hammons on reaching his 150th development milestone," said Ted Coleman, vice president of owner and franchise services for Marriott International. "He is one of the most respected and successful individuals in the lodging industry, and Marriott is proud to be a part of his elite group of properties. We applaud him on this significant accomplishment."

Operations of the new hotel are led by General Manager Jim Rickards. Rickards entered the hospitality industry with John Q. Hammons Hotels, Inc. in 1995 and has held several management positions within the company. In his most recent position as General Manager of the Hampton Inn & Suites(R) in Springdale, Ark., Rickards was responsible for overall operations at the hotel, marketing, and hiring management and staff. During his tenure, Rickards successfully increased gross revenues and led the hotel to a top ranking among all Hampton Inn & Suites properties nationwide.

"Amidst the variety of businesses, convention-goers and visitors, the Courtyard by Marriott will greatly contribute to the growth Bricktown is realizing," Rickards said. "Our seasoned executive staff works to ensure we are maintaining the high standards that make all John Q. Hammons Hotels unique and well regarded in the industry. We are honored to be Mr. Hammons' 150th property to be built and look forward to being one of the premier hotels in downtown Oklahoma City."

Executive Staff

The executive staff at the Courtyard by Marriott Oklahoma City Downtown/Bricktown Hotel brings several years of hospitality experience and knowledge to the property. In addition to Rickards, members of the executive staff include: Mireida de Cam, assistant general manager; Shannon Nance, director of sales and marketing; Tammy Johnson, revenue manager; Chris Januszewski, food and beverage manager; Leoatis Hill, chief engineer; Nancy Arenas, executive housekeeper; Shawn Patel, front office manager; Mike Harvell, chef; Diana Blakeney, human resources manager and bookkeeper; Isis Pena, human resources and bookkeeping assistant; David Perry, dining room supervisor; and Jessica Painter, sales coordinator.

About the Bricktown Area

Bricktown is an old warehouse district converted into the city's hot spot for entertainment. It offers turn-of-the-century charm and a wide array of restaurants, clubs, boutiques and galleries. The Courtyard by Marriott Oklahoma City Downtown/Bricktown Hotel is strategically located at 2 West Reno Ave., across the street from the recently renovated Cox Business Services Convention Center, which features a 15,000-seat arena, several meeting rooms, a 25,000-square-foot ballroom, and 100,000-square-foot exhibit hall. The hotel is only a few steps away from the Ford Center, Oklahoma City's new state-of-the-art sports and entertainment facility, which also is the home of the Central Hockey League's Oklahoma City Blazers. Also located in Bricktown are the Oklahoma City National Memorial, the Oklahoma RedHawks Baseball Club and Ballpark, and the Oklahoma City Museum of Art.

About the Hotel

Representing the third Oklahoma City property in Mr. Hammons' portfolio, the Courtyard by Marriott Oklahoma City Downtown/Bricktown Hotel features a variety of amenities for both business and leisure travelers, including a dozen two-room suites, 13 whirlpool king rooms, a complete health and fitness center, indoor pool, whirlpool and sauna. The spacious guestrooms feature a separate seating area, large work desk with no-glare lighting, an ergonomic chair, color television, complimentary in-room coffee and tea, high-speed Internet access, hair dryer, and two multi-line telephones with data ports and voicemail. In addition, guests can enjoy delicious American and seafood cuisine at the hotel's 146-seat restaurant and bar.

Making a Reservation

Room rates at the Courtyard by Marriott Oklahoma City Downtown/Bricktown Hotel range from $89 - $149 per night. To make a hotel reservation or to book a group function, contact the sales and catering department at 405-232-2290, email [email protected], or call your travel agent. The Courtyard by Marriott Hotel participates in Marriott Rewards(R), Marriott International's award-winning frequent travel program, where meeting planners and travel agents can earn points toward free vacations for booking meetings at Marriott properties. The hotel also can be booked under the following GDS codes: Amadeus OKCDTC, Sabre 32889, Apollo 63223, and Worldspan OKCDT.

Company Information

Privately owned by Mr. John Q. Hammons, the Courtyard by Marriott Oklahoma City Downtown/Bricktown Hotel is managed under contract by John Q. Hammons Hotels, Inc. Publicly traded on the American Stock Exchange (AMEX:JQH), Springfield, Mo.-based John Q. Hammons Hotels is the nation's leading independent builder, developer, owner and manager of upscale, full-service hotels, resorts and suites, including: Embassy Suites Hotel, Renaissance, Marriott, Radisson, Residence Inn, Homewood Suites by Hilton, Holiday Inn and Courtyard by Marriott brands. With 60 hotels strategically located near demand generators, such as state capitals, universities, airports, corporate headquarters or office parks in secondary and tertiary markets, John Q. Hammons Hotels' properties are dominant in their markets. The company's focus is capitalizing on positive operating fundamentals in the upscale, full-service sector, converting existing hotels to franchise brands and selling mature assets, while reinvesting the proceeds and reducing debt. Over the course of his impressive career in the hotel business, Mr. Hammons has developed 150 hotels.
For more information about John Q. Hammons Hotels, please visit the company's Web site at www.jqhhotels.com.



CONTACT: John Q. Hammons Hotels, Inc. Scott Tarwater, 417-873-3591 [email protected] or Publicis Dialog for John Q. Hammons Hotels, Inc. Molli Samuels, 972-628-7763 [email protected] or Christina Teagarden, 972-628-7875 [email protected]
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