Press Release: MeriStar Hotels & Resorts
October 5, 2001
WASHINGTON, DC -- MeriStar Hotels & Resorts (NYSE: MMH), the nation's largest independent hotel management
company, today announced that its BridgeStreet Corporate Housing Worldwide subsidiary has unveiled its new, second
generation Web site, www.bridgestreet.com.
The significantly enhanced site features a new, more powerful search engine that greatly simplifies the planning
and booking process for the company's 30,000 high quality, fully furnished corporate apartments in the United States,
Canada, United Kingdom, France and 35 additional countries.
``We've substantially increased the amount of information available for each property and location, which ultimately
enables our guests and corporate travel planners to make better, more informed decisions,'' said Thomas Vincent,
president, BridgeStreet Corporate Housing Worldwide. ``We've removed a lot of nonessential information, which gives
our site a more streamlined appearance and makes it even easier to navigate, obtain information about our properties
and make online reservations. Our improved search engine allows visitors to search for properties based on a number
of variables, including region, state (U.S.) or province (Canada), keywords and amenities.
In addition to enhanced search capabilities and more detailed property descriptions, the new site features virtual
tours of apartment units and more exterior and interior photos so that guests can ``see'' exactly what to expect.
Other improvements include a clickable world map that helps narrow a visitor's search from the home page, a link
to information about rates, maps of the locations of many properties, and detailed inventories of equipment, utensils
and amenities in each rental unit.
``We've also added comprehensive information about the surrounding areas of our apartments, our `Area Profile'
pages,'' Vincent said. ``Photos and area maps will help guests visualize their location within the context of a
metropolitan area. Our Area Profiles also include a list of all the BridgeStreet properties in that geographic
region or metropolitan market, with links to rate information for the area.''
Vincent noted that visitors will be able to click a ``Reservation Request'' link from any area of the site that
provides a partially filled out reservation request form. ``We intend to continuously upgrade our Web site capabilities
to provide easy and fast access to all the information a guest or corporate travel planner may want. We've even
added a ''click to talk`` feature, allowing visitors to contact our office directly by phone from our Web site
to discuss their needs. Our goal is to introduce online, real time booking within the next few months.''
Washington, D.C.- based MeriStar Hotels & Resorts operates 276 hospitality properties with more than 58,000
rooms in 40 states, the District of Columbia, Canada, and Puerto Rico, including 54 properties managed by Flagstone
Hospitality Management, a subsidiary of MeriStar Hotels & Resorts. Its BridgeStreet Corporate Housing Worldwide
subsidiary is one of the world's largest corporate housing providers, offering upscale, fully furnished corporate
housing throughout the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Paris, France and 39 additional countries through
its network partners. Through its Doral Golf Division, MeriStar manages 11 golf courses. For more information about
MeriStar Hotels & Resorts, visit its Web site: www.meristar.com.
This press release contains ``forward-looking statements'' within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities
Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 about MeriStar Hotels & Resorts, including
those statements regarding future operating results and the timing and composition of revenues, among others. Except
for historical information, the matters discussed in this press release are forward-looking statements that are
subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially, including
the following: the ability of the company to cope with the economic disruption resulting from the terrorist attacks
that occurred on September 11, 2001; the ability of the company to successfully implement its acquisition strategy
and operating strategy; the company's ability to manage rapid expansion; changes in economic cycles; competition
from other hospitality companies; and changes in the laws and government regulations applicable to the company.
For a more detailed description of some of those risks and uncertainties, please read the sections titled ``Risk
Factors'' and ``Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements'' in the annual report on Form 10-K of MeriStar
Hospitality Corporation for the year ended December 31, 2000.
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Contact:
MeriStar Hotels & Resorts
Bruce Riggins
Director of Finance
(202) 295-2276
or
MeriStar Hotels & Resorts
Melissa Thompson
Director of Corporate
Communications
(202) 295-2228
or
Daly Gray Public Relations
Jerry Daly or Carol McCune
(Media)
(703) 435-6293