Press Release: The Marcus Corporation
September 7, 2001
MILWAUKEE, WI -- In a move that embodies its ``Easy to Do Business With'' business philosophy, Baymont Inns &
Suites, a division of The Marcus Corporation (NYSE:MCS), yesterday announced that it has launched a new, state-of-the-art
Web site dedicated to the hotel franchise community. The new site, www.baymontfranchise.com, provides hotel developers
with easy-to-access, comprehensive information about the brand to simplify and speed the development process and
also serves as a source of up-to-the-minute information about the company for current franchisees.
Divided into seven easy-to-navigate sections, www.baymontfranchise.com is a single information-rich site about
the company and the Baymont brand that also offers unique capabilities. The ``Cost Estimator'' software program
allows prospective franchisees to estimate the construction cost of a Baymont Inn & Suites hotel in a variety
of configurations in a specified city. In addition, visitors can download license applications, worksheets and
all the legal forms associated with franchising a Baymont Inns & Suites hotel.
``Franchise interest in the Baymont brand continues to expand, even in this challenging economic environment,''
said Daniel Daniele, president, Baymont Franchises International. ``Our new franchisee Web site provides the kind
of `nuts and bolts' information that developers want and need to begin the development process or to move it forward.
The result is that properties are brought on line more quickly, which can translate into significant cost savings.''
``Virtually all the elements of our franchise development process are available on the Web site and can be researched
with just a few `clicks of the mouse.' We continue to look for ways to streamline the process and remove any impediments
to development, which underscores our commitment to being easy to do business with.'' Daniele said that the franchisee-dedicated
Web site complements the hotel brand's regular Web site, www.baymontinns.com, which is fast becoming a key source
of bookings, currently accounting for 2-3 percent of all rooms booked year-to-date. ``Increasing numbers of leisure
and business travelers are turning to the Internet as a fast and reliable source of information about hotel availability
and amenities and booking their reservations on line. We want Baymont's development information to be just as accessible
and useful to the hotel franchise community.''
Baymont Inns & Suites is a leading mid-priced segment hotel brand. The Marcus Corporation currently operates
or franchises 188 Baymont Inns & Suites in 31 states and seven Woodfield Suites. The company's movie theatre
division includes 482 movie screens in the Midwest and a family entertainment center in Wisconsin. Its Marcus Hotels
and Resorts division owns or manages 11 hotels and resorts across the United States. For more information, visit
the company's Web site at www.marcuscorp.com.
Certain matters discussed in this press release are ``forward-looking statements'' intended to qualify for the
safe harbors from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking
statements may generally be identified as such because the context of such statements will include words such as
the Company ``believes,'' ``anticipates,'' ``expects'' or words of similar import. Similarly, statements that describe
the Company's future plans, objectives or goals are also forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements
are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited, to the following: (i) the Company's
ability to successfully define and build the Baymont brand within the limited-service, mid-price without food and
beverage segment of the lodging industry; (ii) the availability, in terms of both quantity and audience appeal,
of motion pictures for the Company's theatre division; (iii) the effects of increasing depreciation expenses and
pre-opening and start-up costs due to the capital intensive nature of the Company's businesses; (iv) the effects
of adverse economic conditions in the Company's markets, particularly with respect to the Company's limited-service
lodging and hotels and resorts divisions; (v) the effects of adverse weather conditions, particularly during the
winter in the Midwest and in the Company's other markets; (vi) the effects on the Company's occupancy and room
rates from the relative industry supply of available rooms at comparable lodging facilities in the Company's markets;
(vii) the effects of competitive conditions in the markets served by the Company; and (viii) the effects of increased
energy costs. Shareholders, potential investors and other readers are urged to consider these factors carefully
in evaluating the forward-looking statements and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking
statements. The forward-looking statements made herein are made only as of the date of this press release and the
Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update such forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events
or circumstances.
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Contact:
Daly Gray (Media)
Jerry Daly or Carol McCune, 703/435-6293
or
The Marcus Corporation (Investors)
Doug Neis, 414/905-1100