Grand Heritage Hotel Group is one of the premier owners/operators of upscale, historic and luxury hotels and resorts in the United States and owns or controls trademark registrations for Grand Heritage, the swan logo and related names and marks in the United States and in other areas throughout the world.

In 1999, Distinguished Hotels, Ltd. obtained a 20-year license to operate a system to provide marketing to a portfolio of hospitality properties under the Grand Heritage International name only in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Upon expiration of this license, Grand Heritage Hotel Group will have exclusive control of its registrations and filings in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The suit alleges that Distinguished Hotels is seeking to market properties in the United States under the Grand Heritage name infringing on the Grand Heritage Hotel Group's rights and seeks to halt such practice by Distinguished Hotels.

"Grand Heritage Hotel Group will vigorously enforce its rights and will pursue action to halt all trademark infringement in the United States or elsewhere," said Edward Wender, Grand Heritage's lead counsel from Venable LLP., Group. "The Grand Heritage brand is among the company's most valuable assets, and the suit alleges an attempt by Distinguished Hotels to infringe Grand Heritage's rights which could cause significant damage to Grand Heritage Hotel Group's operations in North America as well as confusion as to the use of the trade name in the United States."

About Grand Heritage Hotel Group

With offices in New York City and Portland, Oregon, Grand Heritage Hotel Group LLC is one of the nation's premier owner/operators of upscale, historic hotels. Grand Heritage owns or controls and licenses independent hotels and resorts throughout the United States under the Grand Heritage name and logo. Specializing in restoring historic boutique hotel's to their former grandeur, Grand Heritage Hotel Group currently manages or owns the Stanley Hotel, Estes Park, Colorado; Vanderbilt Hall Hotel, Newport, The Avalon Hotel and Spa, Portland, Oregon and The Biltmore, Providence, Rhode Island, and The Governor Hotel, Portland, Oregon and has built strategic relationships with Elizabeth Arden, McCormick and Schmick's Restaurant Corporation, The Compass Group and Starbucks Corporation. Grand Heritage provides independent hotels with the opportunity to take advantage of group marketing and promotion at reasonable cost through the promotion and marketing of the Grand Heritage system.

John Cullen, who founded and served as chairman of Grand Heritage Hotels International until the company was sold in 1997, restarted Grand Heritage in 2003 with the assistance of Endeavour Capital of Portland, Oregon. Endeavour Capital has committed substantial growth capital to GHHG to expand its branded hotel management and operating company nationally and internationally.