SPRINGFIELD, Mo. � March 30, 2004 � Mr. John Q. Hammons today announced construction is underway on a 120-room, four-story Holiday Inn Express® hotel in Springfield, Mo., marking his fifth Springfield property and his 68th Holiday Inn to be built in the United States.  Strategically located at the southwest corner of St. Louis Street and National Avenue, the 2.5-acre hotel site is within walking distance of the newly opened Hammons Field, a 10,000-seat AA Minor League baseball stadium also built by Mr. Hammons.  The property will be owned and developed 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. 

The grand opening of the Holiday Inn Express � Springfield is scheduled for March 2005, which will coincide with the inaugural AA Minor League season at Hammons Field.  With approximately 1,000 square feet of meeting space, the Holiday Inn Express- Springfield will help support the growing need for guestrooms and meeting space in downtown Springfield.  Guests of the Holiday Inn Express � Springfield will not only enjoy fun and exciting baseball games at Hammons Field, but also other area attractions such as popular Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World and the new Wonders of Wildlife Zooquarium.

�Downtown Springfield is exploding with activity,� said Tracy Kimberlin, executive director of the Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau.  �In addition to Hammons Field, a new expo center, ice park and 977-space car park have opened within the past two years.  All of these developments, a visitor information center, and dozens of restaurants and nightclubs will be within walking distance of the Holiday Inn Express � Springfield.�

The new hotel is expected to parallel the success of Mr. Hammons� four other Springfield properties:  the Courtyard by Marriott®, the Holiday Inn® Springfield North Hotel and Conference Center, the University Plaza Hotel and Convention Center, and the Residence Inn® by Marriott®. 

�It is always exciting to bring another exceptional John Q. Hammons Hotels property to Springfield, where our company�s philosophy and vision were first created.  With Hammons Field so close by, the Holiday Inn Express � Springfield is a homerun for Springfield,� said Mr. John Q. Hammons, founder, chairman and chief executive officer of John Q. Hammons Hotels, Inc.  �Springfield�s business, tourism, sports and convention industries are experiencing rapid growth, so there is an immense need for a new downtown hotel that can help support the heightened demand for guestrooms.  The Holiday Inn Express brand is a leader in its category and will be a strong addition to our growing portfolio and the city of Springfield.�

Property Information
The Holiday Inn Express � Springfield will reflect a classic prairie architectural style and feature an inviting interior atmosphere to best accompany the outstanding customer service that defines John Q. Hammons Hotels.  The property will boast a variety of amenities for both business and leisure travelers, including ample 7-foot-wide hallways, which will allow guests with luggage to easily move throughout the property�s corridors.  The hotel�s guestroom accommodations will feature comfortable queen or king-sized beds, a sitting area with lounge chair, cable television, long-distance access, hairdryer, coffee machine, non-stick iron and ironing board.  For those travelers with business needs, guestrooms also will provide large desks with ergonomic chairs, data ports, two phones with private voicemail, complimentary high-speed Internet access and USA Today newspaper delivery. 
 

Hammons Field Information Located at John Q. Hammons Parkway and East Trafficway, Hammons Field is scheduled to open April 2, 2004.  The 8,100-seat stadium is designed and built to AA Minor League standards and features a center field wall 400 feet from home plate.  With 28 private suites seating 18 people each, three party decks, an interior executive suite at press box level, six concession outlets and additional grass berm seating, Hammons

Hammons Field Rendering

Company Information
Privately owned by Mr. John Q. Hammons, the Holiday Inn Express - Springfield 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.