MODESTO, Calif. - October 12, 2007 - Rim Hospitality, one of the 40 largest hotel management companies in the United States, today announced that Jay Barter (the company's chief operating officer) is leaving Rim to form a new hotel management company serving the Asia Pacific marketplace.
 
Dan Evans and Russ Cox, currently Senior Vice Presidents of Operations for Rim, will continue in their respective roles of overseeing hotel management throughout the company based upon existing geographic divisions and property focus. 

Barter will continue his COO responsibilities at Rim through the end of October. Following his departure as COO, Barter will serve as an advisor to the Rim board of directors. Additionally, Barter will retain his ownership stake in Rim Hospitality. 

"Jay has been with us from the very beginning and has played a key role in helping grow Rim Hospitality into one of the largest hotel management companies in the United States," said Mark Burden, Rim Hospitality president and CEO. "As a company founder myself, I understand full well that the siren call of entrepreneurism can be quite enticing. And to be honest, the Asia Pacific marketplace is one that we have had our eyes on for some time. So when Jay told us of his dreams to begin his own firm, how could we not give him our full support? 

"In that regard, I appreciate his willingness to continue to serve our board in an advisory capacity. In the meantime, we will do all we can to sustain Jay in his non-competitive efforts. And should the opportunity arise in the future, we will welcome the chance to collaborate closely with Jay again."

Barter Forms B&A (H.K.) Hotels and Resorts Limited 
 
Barter has formed B&A (H.K.) Hotels and Resorts Ltd., which will be based in Hong Kong. Barter's partner in B&A Hotels and Resorts is Jackson Y. C. Lam, owner and operator of Amage Hotels and Resorts Management, a well established and respected hotel management company based in China.

B&A Hotels and Resorts will oversee the management of the Amage hotels in China, and aggressively seek new third-party, full-service management contracts, provide asset management services for owners, and assist owners developing new hotels with hotel brand selection.

"Obviously, this is an idea I have nurtured for awhile, and I believe that this is the best time for all parties for me to begin this great journey," Barter said. "I know that with Dan and Russ continuing on in their executive positions with Rim, the company, its properties and its investors will be in good hands. I also appreciate how truly supportive everyone at Rim has been as I have approached this venture, from Mark down throughout the entire organization. 

"That said we're starting B&A Hotels and Resorts with my nearly 30 years of hands-on and executive management experience in the hotel and hospitality industry, as well as the fantastic on-the-ground expertise of my partner Jackson Y. C. Lam. As a result, I'm confident that we will be able to make definite headway in establishing B&A Hotels and Resorts as a market leader in the Asia Pacific market."

Barter's announced departure from Rim and his formation of B&A Hotels and Resorts was timed to coincide with the 18th Annual Hotel Investment Conference Asia Pacific being held October 10-12 at the InterContinental Hong Kong. Asia's longest-running hotel investment event, HICAP has become the most important gathering of hotel investors, financiers and leading industry professionals in Asia. 

Rim Hospitality
Mark LeBlanc
Senior Vice President of Development
209-602-4432
[email protected]