Hotel Online Special Report
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300 Room Hawthorn Suites Under Construction at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport 
 Will Feature a New Harry Caray's Restaurant
 
 
ATLANTA, Aug. 10, 1998 -  U.S. Franchise Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: USFS), which owns the franchise system rights for Hawthorn Suites, the chain of upper-end extended-stay hotels, and Equity Inns, Inc. (NYSE: ENN) have announced that an 11-story 300-room Hawthorn Suites hotel near Chicago's O'Hare International Airport has broken ground. The property, expected to be completed in the third quarter of 1999, will feature a new Harry Caray's Restaurant, honoring Chicago's renowned sportscaster.

The O'Hare Hawthorn Suites will target business travelers requiring extended stays of four nights or more. It is located in Rosemont, Ill., near the Rosemont Exposition Center, one of the nation's largest convention centers, Rosemont Theatre and the 20,000-seat Rosemont Horizon stadium.

Commented Donald E. Stephens, Mayor of Rosemont, "I am very pleased that Hawthorn Suites and Harry Caray's Restaurant have chosen Rosemont for the site of their newest properties. This announcement marks a red letter day for our city and is another testament to our economic vitality and desirability as a premier location for business and leisure travelers. I look forward to working with the staffs of Hawthorn Suites and Harry Caray's Restaurant as they provide another fine addition to Rosemont's already strong hospitality industry."

Added Mike Leven, president and chief executive officer of U.S. Franchise Systems, "Our first transaction with Equity Inns -- The O'Hare Hawthorn Suites -- is a sizable property in a terrific location, and a big step in our strategy of expanding the Hawthorn brand to high profile markets such as Rosemont."

The O'Hare Hawthorn Suites is being developed by Chicago-based The Harp Group and will feature Harry Caray's Restaurant and 2,800 square feet of meeting space on the ground floor. The property's 120 one-bedroom suites -- including 10 meeting suites -- 20 studio suites and 160 standard hotel rooms, will each offer a wet bar, under-counter refrigerator, microwave, data ports, voice mail, extended cable TV with movie channel and VCP, working desk and complimentary newspaper. Daily complimentary hot breakfast buffet will be provided by Harry Caray's Restaurant, and there will be on-site exercise facility and convenience store, as well as a 90,000 square foot fitness club nearby.

Hawthorn Suites Continues Record Growth

Since USFS acquired the franchise rights to Hawthorn, the brand has continued to expand as a national player, opening more properties and developing in major markets across the country.  With the pipeline of new transactions at its highest level ever -- 26 new license franchise agreements were signed in the second quarter of 1998 alone -- the chain has grown to 179 properties open or under development.  The brand continues to benefit from participation in the Spirit Reservation System that also operates Hyatt's Worldwide Reservation Service, which contributed 25.9 percent of room nights for hotels open more than one year during the first six months of 1998, compared with 23.8 percent for the same period last year.

About Equity Inns

Memphis-based Equity Inns, Inc. is a self-advised real estate investment trust that focuses on the upscale extended stay, all suite and premium limited-service segments of the hotel industry.  With the settlement of previously announced acquisitions and its planned merger with RFS Hotel Investors, Inc., the company will own 172 hotels with over 23,000 rooms located in 38 states.

About U.S. Franchise Systems

Atlanta-based U.S. Franchise Systems was formed in 1995 by Mike Leven, with 38 years of experience in the lodging industry, and Neal Aronson, former principal of the New York investment firm Odyssey Partners, L.P., to acquire, market, service and expand well-positioned hotel brands.  The company purchased the franchise system rights to Microtel Inn  Suites in September 1995; it acquired the franchise rights to Hawthorn Suites in March 1996, and full ownership in March 1998.  In April 1998, USFS acquired the exclusive worldwide rights to Best Inns  Suites, along with the assets of a fee-based management company.

Certain of the above statements are forward looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially as a result of a variety of factors, including competitive developments, and risk factors listed from time to time in the company's SEC reports.
 

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Contact:
Barbara Wiener, 
Vice President, Public Relations 
of U.S. Franchise Systems, 
404-235-7400; 
Howard Silver, 
President and COO of Equity Inns, 
901-761-9651; 
or General Information, 
Bill Murphy, or Investor Information, Georganne Palffy, 
both of The Financial Relations Board, 
312-266-7800
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Also See:
Hawthorn Suites Golf Resorts To Hold Ground Breaking Of First Property / May 1998 
Equity Inns Announces Agreement to Purchase Two Hotels in Chicago / July 1998 

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