Burke previously was Interstate's executive vice president of operations, overseeing a portfolio of full-service properties, ranging from independent resorts and boutique properties to large, branded urban hotels. In the new position, he will oversee the company's hotel operations. Additionally, several operations support functions - sales and marketing, brand assurance and training - will report to Burke.

"Interstate has exceptional bench strength and promoting Paul was a natural progression," said Thomas F. Hewitt, Interstate CEO. "He has more than 25 years of operating experience with a wide variety of properties and has a great grasp of our organization and culture."

Under the organizational realignment, two other operating executives took on new positions. Tom Bardenett was promoted to executive vice president of Crossroads, Interstate's select-service division, which operates such brands as Residence Inn by Marriott, Courtyard by Marriott, Homewood Suites by Hilton, Hilton Garden Inn, and Hampton Inn. Ted Knighton, has been named executive vice president of the company's investment fund/joint venture portfolio.

Prior to joining Interstate, Burke was vice president of operations for Starwood Hotels & Resorts, responsible for corporate-owned and -managed W, Westin and Sheraton hotels in the Southeast. He is a former senior vice president of Homestead Village Incorporated, where he oversaw operations for 65 hotels across the United States. He began his career with ITT Corporation-Sheraton Hotels, where he held increasingly responsible management positions. Burke holds a bachelor's degree in history from Concordia College and an MBA from Farleigh Dickinson.

Knighton joined Interstate Hotels Corp., a predecessor company, in 1990, where he held positions of increasing responsibility, including regional vice president of operations for full-service hotels. In 2002, he was named EVP, operations, Crossroads division. Prior to joining Interstate, Knighton was vice president of operations for Radisson Hotels, supervising 56 hotels, and also worked for Hyatt Hotels Corporation. He holds a bachelor's degree in hotel accounting from Cornell University.

Bardenett began his career in hotel sales and marketing and subsequently joined Interstate in 1988. He was promoted to regional director of sales at the Crossroads division in 1994 and also held the position of regional director of operations before promotion to senior vice president of sales & marketing in 2003. He holds a bachelor's degree in communications from Oswego State University of New York.

Interstate Hotels & Resorts operates more than 300 hospitality properties with nearly 70,000 rooms in 41 states, the District of Columbia, Canada, Russia, and Portugal. BridgeStreet Corporate Housing Worldwide, an Interstate Hotels & Resorts' subsidiary, is one of the world's largest corporate housing providers. BridgeStreet and its network of Global Partners offer more than 8,700 corporate apartments located in 91 MSAs throughout the United States and internationally. 

This press release contains "forward-looking statements," within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, about Interstate Hotels & Resorts.

Interstate Hotels & Resorts
www.ihrco.com