MONTVALE, NEW JERSEY (December 17, 1997). -- Andy Dolce, President & Chief Executive Officer of Dolce International, announced that James E. Fitzgerald was named Dolce International Senior Vice President, Acquisitions & Development on November 17, 1997. Fitzgerald will head a team dedicated to both the purchase and development of conference center hotels in strategic international locations as well as the acquisition of additional third-party management contracts of conference hotels and private/corporate centers.

Fitzgerald has extensive experience in real estate development in the hospitality industry. Most recently he served as a Senior Manager with the Real Estate and Hospitality Practice of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP, where he led the hospitality consulting practice for the Northeastern United States.  Prior positions with Omni Hotels, Marriott Corporation and Hilton Hotels culminate in over 20 years� experience in real estate acquisition, financing, marketing and operations in the hospitality industry.  Fitzgerald was also Director of Mortgage Finance for AIG Real Estate and Investment Management, responsible for seeking both hotel and non-hotel real estate investments as both an equity participant and as a traditional mortgage lender. As a Senior Consultant with Laventhol and Horwath, he performed feasibility and valuation studies for the hospitality industry.

Says Dolce, �Jim�s expertise in hospitality real estate development is crucial at this point in the history of Dolce International. The formation of the limited partnership Dolce/AEW, L.P. this summer provided our company with substantial capital to fund an aggressive growth plan in the United States and Europe. Jim will also take a leading role in the further development of third party management contracts for owners including pension fund advisers, insurance companies, and individuals.�

Continues Fitzgerald, � My first task is to seek out acquisitions in our targeted markets such as Chicago, California, Florida, Atlanta, Boston, London and other strategic locations where our multinational customers do business.�

Fitzgerald is a graduate of the prestigious Cornell University Hotel Administration program and is a member of the Distinguished Alumni of the Waldorf=Astoria. He also completed the Finance Training Program at Manufacturers Hanover, now Chase Manhattan Bank.

Dolce International is the only global conference center management company, managing ten conference hotels, conference resorts and private/corporate centers in the United States, Canada and Europe. For more information about Dolce International, please contact Jennifer Huhn, Director of Public Relations, at (201) 505-5909.