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.Benchmark Hospitality International
Launches Benchmark Japan


The Woodlands (Houston), Texas, February 21, 2008 - Burt Cabañas, chairman and CEO of Benchmark Hospitality, announces the launch of Benchmark Hospitality International Japan (Benchmark Japan), a joint venture partnership with Mr. Hiromi Takagi and Ms. Kozue Honda, both of Tokyo.  Mr. Takagi and Ms. Honda have been affiliated with the leading hospitality management company for several years through Benchmark Tech, Benchmark Hospitality's Japanese affiliate, serving as president and chief operating officer, and vice president and general manager respectively.  Benchmark Japan has acquired 100 percent of Benchmark Tech from Tech R&DS, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Daiwa House, a leading Japanese company in residential and commercial construction, resort hotels and retail home centers.  Benchmark Tech is now officially rebranded as Benchmark Hospitality International Japan or Benchmark Japan.  
 
"I am extremely pleased to make this announcement," said Burt Cabanas.  "With this acquisition, we expand our strong relationship with our business partners, Hiromi Takagi and Kozue Honda, and enhance our opportunities for future growth in Japan."  
 
Benchmark Hospitality has a long-term business relationship with Mr. Takagi and Ms. Honda going back over 15 years when Ms. Honda introduced Burt Cabanas to Mr. Nobuyasu Ishibashi, then president of Tech R&DS.  As part of Benchmark Tech, Mr. Takagi and Ms. Honda have been actively and successfully developing the "Conference Center Concept" in Japan.  
 
Benchmark Tech operated the Tokyo Conference Center Shinagawa, which includes 20,000 square feet of certified meeting space and the Something Delicious Restaurant.  Tokyo Conference Center Shinagawa is a member of the International Association of Conference Centers, the prestigious global organization governing conference centers.  The property now officially joins the Benchmark portfolio of managed properties.
 
"We are very excited to officially join Benchmark Hospitality" said Mr. Takagi and Ms. Honda.  "We believe that the 'Conference Center Concept' in day centers, similar to Tokyo Conference Center Shinagawa, as well as in hotels and resorts has significant opportunity to expand and grow in Japan," stated Mr. Takagi.  Ms. Honda, based on her experience as general manager, said "Our clients recognize the advantages of Tokyo Conference Center Shinagawa 's purpose-built meeting facilities and services.  We look forward to expanding Benchmark Japan to better serve our existing customers across Japan and introduce the 'Conference Center Concept' to other Japanese cities and clients."
 
Burt Cabanas also announced that Benchmark Japan, as part of a larger development team, has been awarded the development rights to a mixed-use office project in the Ariake area of Tokyo. The project is a 20-story office tower that will include a non-residential conference center similar to Tokyo Conference Center Shinagawa. The project is scheduled for completion in 2010.   Benchmark Japan is also involved in hotel and conference center development in the City of Nagoya's "Sasashima Live 24 Area," south of Nagoya station, which is scheduled for completion in 2013.
 
"The relationship with our Japanese partners began a decade and a half ago with the formation of Benchmark Tech, an operating partnership between Benchmark Hospitality and Tech R&D" said Mr. Cabanas.  "This relationship led to the purchase of Chaminade Conference Center in Santa Cruz, California, which served for ten years as a training ground for our Japanese team members in learning and replicating the 'Conference Center Concept' in Japan."  
 
Cabanas concluded with "looking to the future, Benchmark Japan will enhance our company's international presence, offer tremendous growth opportunities to Benchmark Hospitality and our employees, and further promote the 'Conference Center Concept' globally."
 
Benchmark Hospitality International, an independent hospitality management company based in The Woodlands (Houston), Texas, operates resorts, conference centers, hotels and condominium resorts both domestically and internationally.  For locations of Benchmark Hospitality properties and for additional information, visit Benchmark's Website at www.benchmarkhospitality.com. 
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Contact:

Ken Ellens
Ken Ellens Communications 
201-758-2864 / 201-758-2865-Fax
[email protected]

Mitsuhashi or Doi 
Cosmo PR
03-5561-2915 / Fax:  03-5561-2912
 

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Also See: Benchmark Japan Opens Second Center in Tokyo, Tokyo Conference Center Shinagawa / September 2003
Kozue Honda Elected to IACC's Global Board of Directors / July 2005
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