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Joseph Gibbons Named Managing Director and Principal of Graves Equity
Partners, LLC; Will Focus on Expansion of Graves�-Branded
Hotels and Resorts
Patrick Clemons Named Corporate Director of Transient Sales

Minneapolis (Oct. 18, 2005) -- Graves Hotels Resorts, today announced the appointment of Joseph Gibbons as managing director and principal of the newly formed Graves Equity Partners, LLC. In his position, Gibbons will be responsible for advancing the expansion plans of Graves'-branded properties and development projects through securing debt and equity financing and maintaining quality relationships within the investment community. Graves Hospitality Corporation, parent company of Graves Hotels Resorts, is headquartered in Minneapolis.
 
According to James J. Graves, owner of Graves 601 Hotel Minneapolis and CEO of Graves Hotels Resorts, Graves Equity Partners was created to facilitate all financial aspects of the company's existing and future development projects.
 
"Our business has grown to a point where we need an internal team to focus on expanding the equity aspects of our business," said Graves. "We found in Joe a person with skill and experience who can move our development vision forward."

Graves noted that Gibbons� expertise makes for a good fit with his company, "Joe's long history within the financial community, identifying distribution and sales opportunities, as well as expanding investment solutions across a range of financial professionals and institutions is impressive. I'm confident his knowledge and acumen will positively affect the future success of our company," added Graves.

"I am inspired with Jim's vision and passion for real estate development, one that has resulted in an impressive portfolio of over 90 successful hotel, resort and high-end housing projects," said Gibbons. "I look forward to building on the company�s commitment to providing high quality and value for our guests, while continuing to generate a maximum return on investment for our current and future partners."

Graves added that Gibbons will seek new growth opportunities in top urban and resort destination markets, while working on projects currently under entitlement and/or development in downtown Chicago, New York City, San Diego, and Tamarindo, Costa Rica.

Gibbons broad financial industry experience includes over 23 years with a major investment management organization, Federated Investors, Inc. Most recently, Gibbons held the positions of Officer and Vice President of that company�s Broker Dealer Division.  He also served in key sales and management positions with Federated in Denver and Los Angeles. 

Throughout his career, Gibbons' focus has been on providing investment management solutions for broker/dealers, financial professionals, corporations and fiduciaries. The investments consisted of equity, fixed income, money market funds and separately managed accounts.
 
He is a graduate of both Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, and the Securities Industry Institute of The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. Joe has earned the National Association of Securities Dealer licenses (Series 6, 7, 26, 22, 63 and 63).
 
In addition to his professional contributions, Gibbons actively participates in community and civic organizations, serving as the Walker Art Center�s collectors� group co-chair and member of the McGuire Theater Fund-Raising Campaign to benefit the newly renovated Walker. He is also a board member of Kenwood Isles Area Association, Lake of the Isles Advocates and Mission Ridge Homeowners Association Vail, Colorado.        

Also Patrick Clemons has been named corporate director of Transient Sales. 

In this position, Clemons is responsible for increasing market share of Graves�-branded hotels by managing negotiated rate agreements with volume accounts, retaining established relationships with existing clientele, and leveraging these associations for new business opportunities when additional Graves�-branded hotels open in the future. He reports directly to Scott Fischburg, vice president of Sales and Marketing, Graves Hotels Resorts. 

�To be effective in hotel industry sales, it is extremely important to understand hotel operations on a variety of levels,� said Fischburg. 

�Patrick�s name quickly rose to the top of our candidate list when we learned that his experience spans not only sales and marketing functions, but also front- and back-of-the-house operations in guest services, at the front desk, and in housekeeping. We�re confident he will use his well-rounded background to further the Graves� transient sales objectives at our existing and future hotels.� 

 Clemons�s résumé boasts more than 17 years of hospitality industry experience and includes such titles director of travel management, human resources development assistant, front office manager and executive housekeeper.  

Most recently, Clemons was director of sales for Minneapolis-based Wirth Hotels. In this position, he managed the sales teams at the Grand Hotel in Minneapolis, the Grand Rios Hotel & Indoor Water Park in Brooklyn Center, Minn., and the Grand Lodge & Water Park of America in Bloomington, Minn.  Prior to this he served as the director of corporate sales for the Grand Hotel. 

As part of his professional responsibilities, Clemons stays active in hospitality industry groups by serving on the Board of Directors for the North Central Corporate Travel Association, and as a member of the National Business Travel Association. He was a finalist in 2002 and 2003 for Preferred Hotels and Resorts Manager of the Year award, and directed several Total Quality Teams to gain eligibility in the Malcolm Baldridge Award. 

Clemons is a graduate of Southeastern College in Orlando, Fla., with a degree in Hospitality Management, and holds certificates in the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People and Leadership Development courses.

About Graves Hotels Resorts
Founded in 1979 as a real estate development and management company, Minneapolis-based Graves Hotels Resort is focused on cultivating niche markets of development in upscale urban core and leisure destination markets. In 2003, the company opened its flagship, sophisticated modern luxury hotel the Graves 601 Hotel Minneapolis. Development plan call for the addition of five Graves-branded hotels in Chicago, New York City, San Diego, and Costa Rica. 

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Contact:

Scott Fischburg
VP of Sales & Marketing, 
Graves Hotels Resorts, 
Tel: 612-312-1138, 
[email protected]
www.graves601hotel.com

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Also See: Graves Hospitality Corporation Rebranding the Le Méridien Minneapolis to the Graves 601 Hotel Minneapolis; First Hotel to Fly the Graves Hotels.Resorts. Flag / July 2005
Graves Hospitality Corporation Appoints Scott Fischburg and Shawn Nayyar to Vice Presdent Positions / August 2005

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