News Releases

GARLAND, TX – May 14, 2009 – Hyatt Hotels & Resorts, Second Century Investments and Gateway Hospitality Group today announce the opening of Hyatt Place Dallas/Garland, conveniently located just steps from the Garland Special Events Center.

Hyatt Place Dallas/Garland, which will be managed by Gateway Hospitality Group, offers:

• 153 spacious guestrooms, all of which feature a 42-inch HDTV, the plush Hyatt Grand Bed™ and an eight-foot sectional sofa-sleeper

• Complimentary Wi-Fi access throughout the hotel

• Complimentary continental breakfast featuring a variety of fresh fruits, hot and cold cereal, yogurt, breads, coffee and an assortment of juices

• Freshly prepared snacks and entrées available 24/7

• 17,000 square feet of flexible conference and meeting space which includes a 9,200 square foot ballroom, 8,000 square feet of pre-function space, three dedicated boardrooms and five breakout areas, all with high-tech capabilities

 In addition to the Firewheel Conference Center, the hotel is just a short drive from local offices for Cisco Networks, AT&T, Texas Instruments, Raytheon and Perot Systems.  The hotel is also adjacent to Garland Special Events Center and minutes from Firewheel Town Center, which offers upscale shopping, dining and entertainment including a movie theater, water park and golf park.

“We believe the Hyatt Place brand is a homerun and hotel’s proximity to the Garland Special Events Center makes it an unbeatable location,” continued Ted Pittman, partner, Second Century Investments.  “We’re especially grateful to the Garland Special Events Center for its enthusiasm for Hyatt Place Dallas/Garland.”

 “Given the scope of the brand’s offerings, Hyatt Place Dallas/Garland is very well positioned to meet the needs of Garland residents and travelers to the area,” said Robert Voelker, CEO, Gateway Hospitality Group.  “Garland is experiencing significant growth and we’re confident in our management team and take pride in introducing the dynamic Hyatt Place brand to the city.”

“When creating Hyatt Place, we extensively researched the evolving needs of contemporary travelers to identify the right combination of style, service and amenities,” said Alison Kal, vice president, marketing, Hyatt Hotels & Resorts.  “Across the country, guest reactions have been tremendously positive and we’re thrilled to enhance Hyatt’s presence in the Dallas metro area and bring the Hyatt Place experience to Garland.”

 HYATT PLACE BACKGROUND

Hyatt Place, ranked “Highest in Guest Satisfaction among Mid-Scale Hotel Chains with Full Service” by J.D. Power and Associates, combines contemporary design with innovative services and amenities to create an atmosphere of casual hospitality.

Hyatt Place was inspired by the changing landscape of contemporary, multi-tasking business travelers, who have successfully adapted to today’s “24/7 lifestyle,” seamlessly merging personal and professional activities.  To help guests achieve this lifestyle, Hyatt Place offers a balanced mix of comfortable and functional amenities.

•  Guestrooms: For work, guests can take advantage of the complimentary Wi-Fi, oversized desk and ergonomic chair in each room.  And when it’s time to relax, they can stretch out on the eight-foot Cozy Corner sectional sofa-sleeper and watch their favorite shows on the room’s 42-inch LG™ flat panel, high-definition television.  Each room’s innovative Hyatt Plug Panel™ also allows guests to connect their own entertainment media to the television, including laptops, MP3 players, DVD players or any other portable device.  At bedtime, the signature Hyatt Grand Bed™ ensures guests will enjoy a peaceful night’s sleep.

• Gallery: An innovative welcoming arrival area where guests are greeted by a Gallery Host who assists guests with everything from check-in to preparing a freshly made snack, the Gallery offers two self-registration kiosks, an intimate coffee and wine café and bakery, free Wi-Fi, a TV den and an “e-room” with free access to public computers and a printer with secure print-ahead technology.

• Mealtime: Guests at Hyatt Place may purchase signature hot breakfast entrées along with Starbucks® specialty coffees or enjoy a free continental breakfast.  Hyatt Place also offers a variety of freshly prepared, café-quality items, including made-to-order entrées, sandwiches, soups, salads and pizza, which guests can order 24/7 via a touch screen menu in the Guest Kitchen or from a Gallery Host.

• StayFit@Hyatt: To help guests stay physically and mentally productive, each Hyatt Place offers a StayFit@Hyatt gym featuring state-of-the-art Life Fitness® equipment.

Travelers are raving about Hyatt Place hotels already open in more than 130 locations nationwide, including Atlanta, Birmingham, Chicago, Cincinnati, Dallas, Houston, Louisville, Miami, Phoenix, Orlando, San Antonio, Tampa and Washington, D.C.

About Gateway Hospitality
Gateway Hospitality Group, the hospitality companyfor Hyatt Place Dallas/Garland is the hospitality management company for the Hilton Bella Harbor on Lake Ray Hubbard; Hilton Garden Inn Cleveland Downtown, downtown Cleveland, Ohio; Hilton Garden Inn Cleveland/Twinsburg, Twinsburg, Ohio; the Hilton Garden Inn Pittsburgh/Southpointe and Double Tree Airport Hotel, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania;  the Hilton Garden Inn Dallas/Allen and the Hampton Inn and Suites, Allen, Texas; the Hilton Garden Inn Dallas/Duncanville, Duncanville, Texas; the Hilton Garden Inn Dallas/Lewisville, Lewisville, Texas; Hilton Garden Inn Missoula, Missoula, Montana; the Hilton Garden Inn Kalispell, Kalispell, Montana;  the Hilton Garden Inn South Bend, South Bend Indiana; the Hilton Garden Inn Billings, Billings, Montana; Blue Canyon Kitchen * Tavern, Twinsburg, Ohio; Blue Canyon Kitchen * Tavern, Rockwall, Texas;  Blue Canyon Kitchen * Tavern, Missoula Montana and Blue Canyon Kitchen * Tavern, Kalispell, Montana.

About Second Century Investments
Second Century Investments is a partnership comprised of Ted Pittman and Larry Masi.  Since 1990 the two partners have developed over three million square feet of retail centers, office buildings and hotels.

About Hyatt Place
Hyatt Place is a new kind of Hyatt for today’s relaxed lifestyle. Hyatt Place is ranked “Highest in Guest Satisfaction Among Mid-Scale Hotel Chains with Full Service” according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2008 North America Hotel Guest Satisfaction Index Study^SM. Catering to today’s discerning travelers, Hyatt Place combines The Hyatt Touch® with stylish design, purposeful amenities and forward-thinking technology.  Hyatt Place is a brand of Global Hyatt Corporation that currently offers more than 130 locations nationwide.  For Hyatt Place information or to make a reservation, call 1-888-HYATT-HP (888-492-8847) or visit www.HyattPlace.com.

Hyatt Place received the highest numerical score among mid-scale hotel chains with full service in the proprietary J.D. Power and Associates 2008 North America Hotel Guest Satisfaction Study^SM.  Study based on responses from 53,453 guests measuring 12 mid-scale hotels with full service and measures opinions of guests who stayed in a hotel May 2007-June 2008.  Proprietary study results are based on experiences and perceptions of consumers surveyed June 2007-June 2008. Your experiences may vary.  Visit jdpower.com.

About Global Hyatt Corporation
Global Hyatt Corporation, headquartered in Chicago, is one of the world’s premier hotel companies. The hotels owned, operated, managed or franchised by its subsidiaries provide authentic hospitality to guests in 44 countries through a passionate commitment to personalized service, cultural relevance, and the environment. Global Hyatt subsidiaries own, operate, manage or franchise more than 370 hotels and resorts worldwide under the Hyatt®, Hyatt Regency®, Hyatt Resorts™, Grand Hyatt®, Park Hyatt®, Hyatt Place®, Hyatt Summerfield Suites® and Andaz™ brands with additional properties under development on five continents. Global Hyatt Corporation is also the owner of Hyatt Vacation Ownership, Inc., operator of Hyatt Vacation Club®. The success of Global Hyatt is driven by the commitment and energy of the thousands of men and women around the world who provide exceptional service to hotel guests. From the U.S. and Canada, reservations for any Hyatt hotel worldwide may be obtained by calling 1-800-233-1234 or visiting www.hyatt.com.

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