The development is believed to be the first project of its kind to transform first generation Class A office space into an upscale hotel. The 417-room Wyndham Chicago Hotel, expected to open in the second quarter of 1999, will become the eighth Wyndham property in the Chicago area and the company's second in the downtown market.

The Wyndham Hotel Chicago is ground leased by Oxford Wyn 633 Investment Company, LLC., which is the combined ownership of Oxford Blackpoint Co., II, LLC. and the wholly owned subsidiary of Patriot American Hospitality, Inc., WHC Chicago, LLC. Oxford Wyn 633 Investment Company, LLC. is leasing the hotel space at 633 St. Clair from the American College of Surgeons for a period of 99 years. The Wyndham hotel proprietary brand name is owned by Patriot American Hospitality, Inc. (NYSE: PAH). The hotel will be managed by Wyndham Management Corporation, a subsidiary of Wyndham International, Patriot's paired operating company.

"Our long-term commitment to Chicago and the high profile this hotel will receive in our brand portfolio is very exciting," said James D. Carreker, chairman and chief executive officer of Wyndham International. "The addition of the Wyndham Chicago Hotel will not only continue our growth in this important market, but it will also help meet Chicago's increasing demand for upscale hotel accommodations."

Located at 633 St. Clair Place, the Wyndham Chicago Hotel is situated only one block east of North Michigan Avenue, affording guests easy access to Chicago's financial district and the Magnificent Mile's famed shopping attractions, including Water Tower Place and Oak Street. Additionally, the hotel is poised to prosper from its proximity to Northwestern Memorial Hospital's new Medical Center.

The Wyndham Chicago Hotel is located in a 28-story, multi-use tower, with a ballroom to be constructed above the existing single story, ancillary building located to the east. Valet parking will be provided and self parking will be located one block north on St. Clair Place. Opened in 1992 as a Class A office building, 633 St. Clair was designed by renowned Chicago architects Loebl Schlossman Hackl/Hague-Richards, architects of the Chicago landmarks, Water Tower Place and Two Prudential  Plaza. Bovis Chicago has been hired as the general contractor for the construction project.
 

Other Wyndham properties in the Chicago area include the 408-room Wyndham Hotel Northeast Chicago -- Itasca; the 225-room Ambassador West -- a Wyndham Grand Heritage Hotel -- Chicago; the 242-room Wyndham Garden Hotel -- O'Hare International Airport; the 228-room Wyndham Garden Hotel -- Oakbrook Terrace; the 188-room Wyndham Garden Hotel -- Schaumburg; the 162-room Wyndham Garden Hotel - Wood Dale and, the 143-room Wyndham Garden Hotel -- Naperville.

Wyndham Hotels Resorts is an upscale, full-service hotel chain tailored to urban, suburban, and select resort markets to best serve its core customers, which include business and leisure travelers. For reservations or information, call your travel planner or Wyndham Hotels Resorts at 800-WYNDHAM or visit Wyndham on the Internet at http://www.wyndham.com or http://www.travelweb.com.

Dallas-based Patriot American Hospitality, Inc. (NYSE: PAH) is currently the nation's second-largest hotel real estate investment trust (REIT) with a portfolio composed of 488 owned, managed, leased or franchised hotels and resorts with more than 105,000 rooms. Wyndham International leases, manages and franchises primarily upscale hotel and resort properties. It is composed of the Grand Bay Hotels Resorts Luxury Group, represented by the proprietary brands, Grand Bay Hotels Resorts and Golden Door; the Upscale Hotel Group, represented by the Wyndham Hotel Group, Summerfield Suites and Arcadian; the Mid-Scale Hotel Group includes the proprietary brands Club House Inns and Sierra Suite; and, the Management Services Group, which provides management services for third-party owned hotels and resorts.