Interstate Hotels & Resorts Announces Recent Global Hotel and Resort Openings

ARLINGTON, Va., Feb. 27, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Interstate Hotels & Resorts – the leading U.S.-based global hotel management company – announces the opening of seven new leading hotels around the world expanding the Company's portfolio by nearly 2,000 rooms, including the four top hotels in the dynamic Olympic city of Sochi, Russia; the award-winning combined Residence Inn and Courtyard New York Manhattan/Central Park, renowned as the tallest hotel in North America; and the new contemporary designed Streamsong® Resort, a critically-acclaimed Florida golf resort and conference center featuring two top-ranked signature golf courses and world class amenities. The new global openings further prove the Company's ability to open any hotel or destination resort, no matter asset class or brand, in any market of the world, even within a two-month span.

From eastern Russia to New York and Central Florida, Interstate enters 2014 leading the hotel sector with an incomparable level of global diversity, managing a standard of hotels unattained by other independent management companies. Interstate's abilities were demonstrated through its success in opening four hotels in Sochi, Russia where, through proven systems, experienced leadership and skillfully assembled management teams, it was the only management company to receive 'gold medals' from guests and attendees on consistent first class service and comfortable luxury accommodations.

"It is exciting to see Interstate's continued growth, expanding across the globe in dynamic destinations like Russia, New York and Florida," said Jim Abrahamson, Interstate's chief executive officer. "With the scope of our global footprint coupled with our breadth of experience and depth of resources, only Interstate has the capabilities to open and manage renowned hotels and resorts in every corner of the world. Broadening our geographic portfolio diversity is a strategic venture possible through our proven performance, producing strong results for owners worldwide."

Sochi Marriott Krasnaya Polyana Hotel
Managed by Interstate, Marriott International's first hotel in Gorky Gorod opened just weeks before thousands of international media, sponsors, VIP invitees and visitors descended upon the city. The five-star Sochi Marriott Krasnaya Polyana Hotel is spread over seven floors with 428 rooms and suites, strategically situated within walking distance of world-class ski slopes and adjacent to the new state-of-the-art Media Center, the largest conference center in the area, which also served as home to the international Olympic media center. The hotel is located at the center of the new year-round ski resort and houses a luxury spa, as well as indoor and outdoor pools.

Gorki Hotels
Gorki Grand, the five-story, 194-room hotel in Krasnaya Polyana, Russia, is situated halfway up the Caucasian mountains in the heart of the new ultramodern resort village of Gorky Gorod. With direct ski-in/ski-out access to a network of ski slopes, the hotel features exclusive accommodations, breathtaking mountain views, gourmet cuisine, an amphitheater, meeting rooms, a spa center and impeccable service, including four multi-level luxury penthouses. Also located on the slopes of the Caucasian Ridge, the 302-room, Gorki Panorama hotel features spacious rooms with breathtaking mountain views, cozy interiors, cutting-edge technology and leading service, meeting the requirements of the most sophisticated guests. With the variety of activities available in these resorts, including ski-in/ski-out access, the hotel provides all conveniences for active and leisure vacations, and business meetings year round. Gorki Plaza hotel is located at the footsteps of the Caucasian Ridge. The seven-story, 204-room luxury resort is a step away from the gondola, has direct access to boutique shopping, outdoor adventure, world-class entertainment facilities and distinct dining, including two all-day-dining restaurants serving international and Russian cuisine.

"Interstate utilized 35 dedicated task force team members and executives from the Moscow corporate office and our area hotels to assist with the pre-opening of the four Sochi resorts, specifically developed for the 2014 Winter Games," said Ken McLaren, Interstate's executive vice president of international operations. "With the depth of our management team's strength, we were able to open these resorts on an expedited timeline, operating seamlessly for guests, athletes and media upon arrival. Interstate's ignition process is incomparable, utilizing the Company's unmatched depth of strength and experience."

Residence Inn and Courtyard New York Manhattan/Central Park
Recognized at the Americas Lodging Investment Summit (ALIS) as the 2013 Development of the Year, the stacked 378-room Courtyard hotel and 261-suite Residence Inn hotel in Midtown Manhattan, is the tallest single-use hotel in North America. Steps away from Central Park, the 68-story building offers guests convenient access to Carnegie Hall, the Broadway Theater District, Fifth Avenue, Rockefeller Center and Radio City Music Hall. This one-of-a-kind hotel will serve as a flagship for Marriott's high performing Courtyard and Residence Inn brands in the most exciting city in America welcoming visitors from around the world.

"The dual-branded hotel creates intuitive efficiencies, with the hotels vertically stacked," said Ted Knighton, Interstate's president and chief operating officer. "The purposeful design allows for Interstate to utilize one front office team, one bell staff welcoming guests, one laundry facility, one fitness center, one general manager and one maintenance staff. The advantage is incomparable."

Streamsong Resort
Interstate's 25th hotel in Florida – the 228-room Streamsong Resort – sits on 16,000 acres, emphasizing a contemporary design with state of the art conference facilities and two signature restaurants. Two critically-acclaimed golf courses, Streamsong Red, designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, and Streamsong Blue, designed by Renaissance Golf Design (Tom Doak) have been named the best new courses in America by GOLF magazine. The resort features world-class bass fishing, a sporting clays facility, grotto-style spa, stunning vistas, wildlife and more in a natural Florida setting.

"With our depth of experience opening and operating signature branded hotels and resorts across the globe, Interstate has the broadest brand diversity in the industry, managing nearly 400 properties across every asset class," said Leslie Ng, Interstate's chief investment officer.  "Our bench strength, culminated through more than 50 years of worldwide experience, translates into valuable knowledge that is applied to each hotel. Because of this global intuition, Interstate can bring any brand to any area of the world, from Russia to urban New York City and beyond."

Spanning North America, the UK, Europe, Russia/CIS, China and India, Interstate is the leading U.S.-based global hotel management company. The Company's comprehensive services are built on large-scale company resources, delivered with the personalized and focused attention of a small company. Including an owner-aligned organizational structure; experienced corporate support; and expansive industry and global knowledge, Interstate uses the experience culminated over 50 years to contribute to each owner's success.

About Interstate Hotels & Resorts
Interstate Hotels & Resorts, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of a 50/50 joint venture between subsidiaries of Thayer Lodging Group and Jin Jiang Hotels, is the leading U.S.-based global hotel management company, operating branded full- and select-service hotels and resorts, convention centers and independent hotels worldwide.  Interstate and its affiliates manage 390 hotels with more than 73,000 rooms in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, with ownership interest in 31 hotels. In addition, Interstate has executed agreements to manage 30 hotels with nearly 5,500 rooms under construction or development throughout the world. 

For more information about Interstate Hotels & Resorts worldwide, please visit www.interstatehotels.com. Connect with Interstate at www.linkedin.com/company/interstate-hotels-resorts, www.facebook.com/InterstateHotels, and http://jobs.interstatehotels.com.

SOURCE Interstate Hotels & Resorts