Press Release: Millennium Hotels and Resorts
January 4, 2001
WASHINGTON, DC -- One of the U.S. lodging industry's most ambitious system-wide renovation and rebranding programs
has been announced by Millennium Hotels and Resorts with the kickoff of a $70-million program of improvements at
the company's 12 Regal hotels. Acquired by London-based Millennium and Copthorne Hotels plc earlier this year,
the properties, located in major business and leisure cities across the country, form the nucleus of the newly
formed Millennium Hotels and Resorts. As the refurbishment project at each hotel is completed, the property will
be renamed as a Millennium Hotel.
The renovation program, now underway and expected to be completed by April 2001, reflects the significant upgrading
of the hotels and Millennium's investment in becoming a major player in the American four-star hotel market, according
to Robert Morse, president, The Americas and Executive Director, Millennium and Copthorne.
``Our goal is to have highly competitive hotels with excellent facilities and services in prime locations. We don't
intend to be the biggest but we do intend to be the best at what we do and offer our customers a distinctive product.
The renovation program will help ensure that Millennium is known as a vibrant and noteworthy hotel company, particularly,
but not exclusively, as a premier choice for the business, group and meetings customer. In short, we will offer
the finest four-star plus quality experience at each and every Millennium property.
The company-wide improvement project will include property guestrooms and public spaces, new facilities and expanded
offering of club floors and accommodations. Further renovations and expansions are planned through 2003, including
improvements to convention, entertainment and recreational facilities at several hotels.
One centerpiece of Millennium's renovation program is the conversion of guestrooms at several hotels into Millennium
Classic rooms, based on the highly successful model used in the company's Millennium Broadway in New York. Millennium
Classic rooms have the feel of a contemporary, upscale residential apartment, with a friendly but sophisticated
ambience. Neutral tones are punctuated with bright accents and liberal use of light-colored English Figured Sycamore
wood in a large headboard covering almost an entire wall, as well as in the casework to lend a restful air. Telecommunications
technology and lighting, especially in the uplit glass bathroom vanity, are installed to be highly functional without
detracting from a cozy, warm atmosphere. Such touches as Knoll Soho ergonomic chairs, in-room fax machines and
large desks with dataport and electric outlets further ensure comfort.
Four of Millennium's U.S. hotels -- the Regal Biltmore, Regal Knickerbocker, Regal Bostonian and the Regal Harvest
House in Boulder, Colorado -- are receiving customized renovations that feature more traditional furnishings and
artwork in keeping with their history, style and character. These and the conversion to Millennium Classic accommodations
elsewhere, along with substantial improvements and expansion of business and meeting facilities at most properties,
will result in a uniformly higher standard of guest rooms, public areas and meeting space system-wide.
In Cincinnati and St. Louis, Millennium's two largest hotels each has two towers. The company is in the process
of negotiating to have a franchised mid-priced south tower and a Millennium north tower in each location. ``This
approach ensures that we can fill the hotels, with the help of a non-competing brand. Millennium, of course, will
manage both brands,'' Morse said.
Millennium Hotels and Resorts (MHR), established in the United States in 2000, is the North American arm of London-based
Millennium & Copthorne Hotels plc (MLC). MHR USA operates MLC's 13 holdings in the United States, comprised
of the Millennium Broadway and Regal U.N. Plaza Hotel (New York), Regal Biltmore Hotel (Los Angeles), Regal Knickerbocker
Hotel (Chicago), Regal Bostonian Hotel (Boston), Regal Minneapolis Hotel, Regal Riverfront Hotel (St. Louis), Regal
Cincinnati Hotel, Regal Harvest House Hotel (Boulder), Regal University Hotel (Durham), Regal Alaskan Hotel (Anchorage),
Regal Maxwell House Hotel (Nashville) and Regal McCormick Ranch Resort (Scottsdale). MLC holdings outside of this
brand portfolio include ownership interests in The Plaza and Millennium Hilton (New York), Sunnyvale (California)
Hilton and the El Dorado Hotel (Santa Fe). All Regal branded hotels in the United States will be rebranded as Millennium
Hotels and Resorts (MHR) by mid-2001.
Millennium & Copthorne is a dynamic international hotel company with 120 hotels in 13 countries around the
world including the United States, United Kingdom, Singapore, Australia, France, Germany, Indonesia, Malaysia,
New Zealand and the Philippines.
For further information on Millennium Hotels and Resorts call 800-222-8888 or visit http://www.millennium-hotels.com.
SOURCE: Millennium Hotels and Resorts