ARLINGTON, Va. and NEW DELHI, April 4, 2013 -- Interstate Hotels & Resorts announces Deepak Sarin as chief operating officer of JHM Interstate India Hotels & Resorts. Sarin will be responsible for the Company's operations in India, including maintaining a dynamic team of hospitality experts, integrating and supporting the Company's intelligent systems within the portfolio, maintaining the current portfolio and owner relationships and executing on the Company's overall growth strategy, driving JHM Interstate India to become the premier independent hotel management company on the Indian sub-continent. JHM Interstate India is a joint venture between Interstate Hotels & Resorts and JHM Hotels.

"Interstate's international expansion strategy demands a dynamic, knowledgeable team and Deepak's extensive experience in India aligns perfectly with our growth plans," said Jim Abrahamson , Interstate Hotels & Resorts' chief executive officer. "A New Delhi local, Deepak carries intrinsic knowledge of this emerging market and his guidance will propel JHM Interstate India to success, achieving our vision of becoming the leading, independent hotel management company in India."

Sarin's industry experience is worldwide, spanning Japan, Zambia, Nepal, England, Morocco, Thailand and India, with tenure at companies such as Oberoi Hotels, TAJ International Hotels, DLF Hospitality, Fortis Healthcare and Mayar Health Resorts. Most recently, he worked as a hospitality advisor and consultant, pairing hotel brands with operators for franchise, technical and management services. His experience as a consultant encompassed evaluations, appraisals, plans, acquirements and executions for more than 30 endeavors, including hotels, resorts and projects worldwide. Additionally, Sarin gained experience as a Fellow of the Hotel and Catering International Management Association (HCIMA) U.K., and Sarin holds three esteemed degrees, including a Master of Business Administration from the University of Delhi and two post-graduate degrees in Hotel Management from the Oberoi School of Hotel Management in Delhi and International Hotel Association in Paris.

"Deepak is a wealth of knowledge, and his culmination of 40 years of industry experience involves development, management and brand relationships," said Ted Knighton , Interstate Hotels & Resorts' president and chief operating officer. "He will benefit JHM Interstate India and help us strategically align with the region's hotel management needs, also providing owners in our current portfolio with resources for a profitable bottom-line."

JHM Interstate India's portfolio includes ten upscale properties – including the newest addition, The Khyber Himalayan Resort & Spa in Gulmarg, a luxury year-round ski resort featuring the world's highest gondola. Since introducing the dedicated, owner-focused management platform in 2008, the Company has gained significant momentum in India.

JHM Interstate India is a joint venture between JHM Hotels, based in South Carolina, U.S., and Interstate Hotels & Resorts, based in Arlington, Virginia, U.S. With rich histories spanning more than 50 years of innovation, Interstate and JHM represent two of the most preferred hotel management companies of major global brands, as well as independent, non-branded hotels and resorts. For more information, please visit www.jhminterstate.com.

About JHM Interstate Hotels India
JHM Interstate India is joint venture partnership formed in 2008 between Interstate Hotels & Resorts and JHM hotels. It is headquartered in New Delhi, India, with a fully staffed Resource Center in Gurgaon, Haryana. The management team in Gurgaon provides expertise in all aspects of hotel operations including sales and marketing, food and beverage, information technology, human resources, construction and design, finance and quality assurance. Currently, JHM Interstate India operates 10 hotels with 976 rooms in addition to three hotels under construction and anticipated to open in 2013. For more information, contact Lloyd Lauland , executive director JHM Interstate India, at 91 124 3091700, or visit www.jhminterstate.com.

About JHM Hotels
JHM Hotels, a premier lodging company based in Greenville, S.C., has developed, acquired, owned and operated hotels throughout the United State for more than 36 years. The company currently owns and operates 43 U.S. hotels with more than 7,500 guestrooms, operating under such well-known brands as Marriott, Hilton, Starwood and Hyatt. For more information about JHM hotels, visit www.jhmhotels.com.