White Lodging begins construction of 255-room Hyatt Place in downtown Nashville

MERRILLVILLE, Ind., June 26, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- White Lodging has begun construction in downtown Nashville of a 255-room Hyatt Place hotel slated to open in late 2013. The hotel will be owned by Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc. and White Lodging and is the first new construction, select service venture for Host.

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"Nashville is such a thriving and vibrant city, and we're thrilled to help expand Nashville's convention market through our first project with Host Hotels & Resorts," said Deno Yiankes, president and CEO of White Lodging's Investment and Development Division. "Hyatt Place Nashville/Downtown marks the third urban Hyatt Place development for White Lodging, and highlights our confidence in the Hyatt Place brand and our commitment to continue growing with premium-branded hotels in the urban cores in some of the country's greatest cities."

White Lodging is currently building the Hyatt Place Chicago\River North, currently under construction and scheduled to open in the Summer 2013. The Hyatt Place Austin is also under construction and scheduled to open in the Spring of 2013.

Hyatt Place Nashville/Downtown located at 301 3rd Ave. South in downtown Nashville, will be constructed on the former site of Rock City Machine Co, and will be developed and managed by White Lodging. The 13-story hotel is designed by PFVS Architects, and will include 3,600 square feet of meeting space and a 175-space parking garage. The hotel's lobby will include Hyatt Place's signature food and beverage options, including The Gallery, a full bar serving wine beer, spirits and coffee open 24 hours and a new complimentary hot breakfast, known as the a.m. Kitchen Skillet, featuring breakfast sandwiches and other offerings.

"This joint venture is an effective use of our capital to expand and diversify our investments to include the development of upscale properties in urban locations while minimizing our risk and achieving attractive yields.  We view this transaction as a unique opportunity to build a relationship with an outstanding, independent operator," said W. Edward Walter, president and chief executive officer of Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc.

The downtown hotel, White Lodging's second hotel in Nashville, will complement the construction of the Music City Center, Nashville's new convention center scheduled to open in 2013 on 19 acres in Nashville's downtown and only a block away from the hotel site. Along with the convention center, Hyatt Place Nashville/Downtown's guests will be a block away from the newly expanded Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, a short walk from the city's business district and around the corner from one of the countless live music venues just two blocks away on Broadway, the street where many of today's top musical artists got their start.

"With all of the current growth in downtown Nashville, the Hyatt Place concept is the perfect brand to meet the needs of both business and leisure travelers in this market," said Brett Lasher, vice president of real estate and development for Hyatt. "We're excited that this project involves two of the most well-respected hotel developers and investors in the hospitality industry as we continue to expand our relationships with the top names in lodging across both of our Hyatt select-service brands."

For sports fans, Hyatt Place Nashville/Downtown will be a short walk from the Bridgestone Arena, home of Nashville's professional hockey team, the Predators, and one of the closest hotels to the LP Field, where the Tennessee Titans gain the home field advantage. The hotel is also less than two miles from Vanderbilt University and restaurant-filled West End District.

All 255 suites are 20 percent larger than the average hotel room, and decorated in Hyatt's signature, upscale decor. Guests can relax in separate sitting and sleeping areas equipped with a mini fridge while watching their room's 42-inch flat screen TV and enjoying free Wi-Fi.

White Lodging is scheduled to open its 160th hotel in October in Salt Lake City, and has an ambitious growth plan to add an additional in excess 50 properties to its managed portfolio by the end of 2015.

About Hyatt Place - Hyatt Place, a brand of Hyatt Hotels Corporation, offers more than 160 locations throughout the United States, with more than 20 properties under development in China, Europe, Latin America, India, the Middle East and the United States. Spacious guestrooms feature multiple areas to work and relax, and include the Cozy Corner, an eight-foot sectional of sofa sleeper; plush Hyatt Grand Bed; and ergonomic work center. Every guestroom is also equipped with a state-of-the-art media center that allows electronic devices to plug directly into the 42-inch, high-definition television, giving guests instant access to the technological amenities they're accustomed to accessing at home or in the office. For Hyatt Place information or to make a reservation, call 1-888-HYATT-HP (888-492-8847) or visit www.HyattPlace.com

White Lodging Services Corporation - was established in 1985 and is headquartered in Merrillville, Ind. White Lodging is a fully integrated hotel ownership, development and operations company – a recognized leader that has defined and cultivated the ability to achieve consistent, sustainable growth among mid-to large-scale hotels across the country. Its current portfolio consists of more than 158 hotels in 20 states and encompasses representation of the following leading brands: Preferred Hotels, Marriott International, Inc., Hilton Worldwide, Hyatt Global, Starwood Hotels and Resorts, InterContinental Hotel Group and Carlson Hotels Worldwide.

For more information about White Lodging, please visit www.whitelodging.com.

Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc. - is an S&P 500 and Fortune 500 company and is the largest lodging real estate investment trust and one of the largest owners of luxury and upper-upscale hotels. The Company currently owns 104 properties in the United States and 16 properties internationally totaling approximately 64,000 rooms. The Company also holds non-controlling interests in a joint venture in Europe that owns 13 hotels with approximately 4,200 rooms, a joint venture in Asia that owns one hotel with approximately 300 rooms in Australia and a joint venture in India that is investing in seven hotels with approximately 1,750 rooms, two of which recently opened in Bangalore and five that are in various stages of development in two cities. Guided by a disciplined approach to capital allocation and aggressive asset management, the Company partners with premium brands such as Marriott®, Ritz-Carlton®, Westin®, Sheraton®, W®, St. Regis®, Le Meridien®, The Luxury Collection®, Hyatt®, Fairmont®, Four Seasons®, Hilton®, Swissotel®, ibis®, Pullman®, and Novotel®* in the operation of properties in over 50 major markets worldwide. For additional information, please visit the Company's website at www.hosthotels.com.

Contact:
Kathleen Quilligan
Phone: 219.472.2861
Fax: 219.472.2273

SOURCE White Lodging