Company Press Release: Buckhead America Corporation
May 1, 2000
ATLANTA, GA -- Buckhead America Corporation (Nasdaq: BUCK), the hospitality services company, said its Country
Hearth Inn chain of mid-priced, limited-service hotels opened its 50th and 51st properties in McAllen/Pharr, Texas,
and Springfield, Mo.
The 70-unit Texas hotel serves business and recreational travelers in McAllen/Pharr on the southeast tip of Texas
near the Mexican border. The property includes 33 standard rooms, 27 suites, 10 hot tub king-size suites, a business
center, conference facilities and swimming pool and spa. It is the first Country Hearth Inn developed by Miracle
Partners LP, Pharr, Texas.
Marshall Doherty, managing partner of Miracle Partners, said, ``We wanted a hotel with a homey atmosphere, modern
amenities and a high emphasis on hospitality. We think Country Hearth Inn excels in all three criteria.''
The Springfield, Mo., opening marks the third Country Hearth Inn developed by Quality Lodging LLC, Smithville,
Mo., a closely held hotel developer. Construction of a fourth Country Hearth Inn will begin soon in Chesterfield,
Mo., near St. Louis. Quality Lodging has agreed to develop 12 Country Hearth Inns over a five-year period in Kansas
and Missouri with options for an additional 22 properties.
The 51 rooms and suites of the Springfield hotel are designed to serve business travelers to the fast-growing region.
The property includes conference facilities and an indoor swimming pool and is managed by The Lodge Keeper Group
Inc., Buckhead America's hotel-management subsidiary.
Gary Sirna and Stephen Danner, principals of Quality Lodging, said, ``We are committed to making the Country Hearth
Inn brand a force in hospitality in the Midwest and we have identified more than a half-dozen additional sites
for development.''
Country Hearth Inns are mid-priced hotels that serve both the business traveler and vacationer. The hotels combine
the homey atmosphere of a bed- and-breakfast, including an expanded complimentary breakfast, manager's reception
and free local telephone calls, with the convenience of a modern hotel. Buckhead America is expanding the chain
through franchise sales and company development.
Douglas C. Collins, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Buckhead America, said, ``We are pleased
to welcome these two quality properties to the Country Hearth Inn family, and we are gratified that Quality Lodging
and Miracle Partners have chosen to invest in our hospitality concept.''
In addition to the latest openings, Country Hearth Inns currently has 24 hotels in various stages of development
and master development agreements covering an additional 106 properties.
Buckhead America is a diversified hospitality services company whose holdings include the Country Hearth Inn lodging
system, The Lodge Keeper Group, a hotel-management company, and 33 additional hotels owned, leased and/or managed.
Buckhead America common shares trade on the NASDAQ National Market System under the symbol ``BUCK.''
Certain statements contained in this release are forward-looking statements as defined under the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995 based on current expectations. The accuracy of such statements is subject to a number
of risks, uncertainties and assumptions including, but not limited to, the effect of general economic conditions
on real estate investments and hotel development and franchising, and other factors listed in Buckhead America
Corp.'s Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including its form 10-KSB for the year ended December 31, 1999,
and in the ``RISK FACTOR'' section of its Registration Statement on Form S-3.
SOURCE: Buckhead America Corporation