MADISON, Wis., July 21, 2010—Officials of Chesapeake Hospitality today announced that the company has signed an agreement to operate the under development 230-room Crowne Plaza Madison Gateway.  The property, owned by Gateway Project, LLC, hopes to break ground by September 2010 and will be the first new-build, upscale, full-service hotel in the Madison downtown area in more than nine years.
 
Crowne Plaza has created a prototype that is operationally efficient and cost-effective for owners, leverages the brand's "The Place To Meet" positioning and showcases modern and efficient design features important to upscale business travelers.
 
“The addition of the Crowne Plaza Madison Gateway aligns perfectly with our portfolio of branded, full-service hotels,” said Kim Sims, Chesapeake president.  “This marks our sixth Crowne Plaza, and the hotel will benefit from our expertise operating this flag in large urban markets.  We will assist with construction and all pre-opening activities.
 
“Additionally, our proven track record of successfully opening new hotels will help us reduce ramp up time and focus more quickly on maximizing revenue streams,” Sims added.  “With the added advantage of IHG’s Priority Club reward program, we believe this hotel will become a market leader in short order.”
 
Located just off the West Beltline and adjacent to the Alliant Energy Center, the 7-story hotel will be near such business and leisure demand generators as Dean Healthcare, St. Mary’s Hospital, the University of Wisconsin and downtown Madison.  Hotel amenities will include 10,000 square feet of meeting space, indoor pool, business center and fitness center.
 
Consistent with the Crowne Plaza brand, the hotel will feature the Crowne Plaza Sleep Advantage®, available at all Crowne Plaza hotels in the Americas.  Sleep Advantage encompasses the entire sleep experience, from training staff on how to create and maintain a restful environment to providing innovative products and services.  Program components include signature bedding, guaranteed wake-up calls, designated quiet zones, nightlights, drape clips, and amenities, such as eye masks, ear plugs and lavender spray.

About Chesapeake Hospitality
Headquartered in Greenbelt, Md., just outside of Washington, D.C., Chesapeake Hospitality is a mid-sized, third-party hotel management company with a proven track record in both full- and select-service hotels.  Ranked in the top 50 largest independent operators, the company manages properties under the Hilton, Starwood and InterContinental Hotel Group brand families.  For additional information, visit the company's website:  www.chesapeakehospitality.com.