Global Expansion for Regent Hotels

NEW YORK, NY, March 7, 2006 -- Regent, one of the most respected brands in the luxury segment of the lodging industry, will add a total of nine hotels over the next two years to its existing luxury portfolio. Current operating hotels are located in Shanghai, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Taipei, Berlin, Zagreb, Almaty and Beverly Hills. Global development for Regent is at an all time high. In the Americas, four hotels are presently under construction: three hotels in Florida (South Beach, Bal Harbour, and Winter Park), and one in Boston. Asia will see the rise of three new Regent hotels: in Bangkok, Beijing and Ningbo. In EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) two Regent hotels are under development in Budapest and Kuwait.
Four Hotels to Open in the U.S.

The Regent South Beach (Miami) – The Regent South Beach is set to open in the summer of 2006. The 80-suite, five-story luxury condo hotel will offer captivating views of the Atlantic Ocean and two famed South Beach boulevards, Collins Avenue and Ocean Drive.

Inspired by ocean breezes, world-renowned architectural firm, Arquitectonica, has designed the Regent South Beach to embrace South Beach style. Each oversized guest suite will average 490 square feet (45.5 square meter) and feature 200 square foot (18.5 square meter) balconies. Thirty-six of the units will offer expansive patios with private Roman hot tubs. Each top floor penthouse suite will include a 700 square foot (65.0 square meter) rooftop garden with Roman hot tub, wet bar, and dining area.

Celebrity chef Govind Armstrong will debut Table 8 - South Beach, sister restaurant to his trendy Table 8 – Los Angeles, featuring prime indoor and al fresco dining with an expansive Bar & Lounge. A local high profile retailer and an elite in-residence spa will offer travelers style and relaxation.

The Regent South Beach is within steps of the Lincoln Road Shops, Miami Beach Convention Center, and Jackie Gleason Theater of the Performing Arts, Bass Museum & Cultural Center and the Miami Beach Marina. American Airlines Arena, home to the Miami Heat, Miami International Airport and Bal Harbour Shops are within a twenty-minute drive.

The Regent Bal Harbour – The Regent Bal Harbour, due to open in December 2006, will feature 124 hotel suites in the luxury condo hotel being built on the borders of the Atlantic Ocean and Baker’s Haulover Inlet in the prestigious Village of Bal Harbour, Florida. The focal point of the development will be the 17-story hotel component. The Regent Bal Harbour will dramatically intersect a 26-story residential condominium tower (One Bal Harbour) and provide breathtaking panoramas of the ocean to the east, Intracostal Waterway to the west, Miami to the south, and Haulover Inlet to the north.

The hotel and residential condominiums are being developed by WCI Communities, Inc., named “America’s Best Builder” by the National Association of Home Builders and Builder magazine. The hotel will be the centerpiece of the One Bal Harbour development, the ultra-luxury “One” Collection WCI is creating on Florida’s East Coast, destined to be the developer’s premier South Florida residential and hotel address.

The Regent Bal Harbour offers the option to reserve a spacious Studio Hotel Suite; a one bedroom, one and a half bath Executive Hotel Suite; or a lavish two bedroom, two and a half bath Grand Hotel Suite with a living room, kitchen, powder room, master bedroom and guest room. One of the many trendsetting features of the hotel condominium residences is that every room will have its own semi-private elevator lobby. Along with superior accommodations, the Regent Bal Harbour will feature a gourmet signature restaurant, an elite in-residence 10,000 square foot spa operated by L’Institut de Guerlain, swimming pool and cabanas.

The Regent Winter Park Hotel and Residences – The Regent Winter Park Hotel and Residences near Orlando are expected to open in early 2008. The development will be comprised of a 230-room boutique condo hotel and 23 ultra luxury residences. Just blocks from Rollins College, Florida's oldest university, the Regent Winter Park is situated on the grounds of the former Langford Hotel with its storied Winter Park history that dates to the 1880's.

The hallmark of this elegant new hotel will be a 20,000 square foot (1,858 square meter) world class spa designed by Cary Collier of Collier + Collier in consultation with Hirsch Bedner. The spa will offer customized treatments, private cabanas, couples suites, a rooftop pool, state-of-the-art fitness center and a full service salon and boutique.

The Regent Winter Park will also include a gourmet restaurant and lounge and the area’s finest banquet facilities, all with the backdrop of breathtaking Asian-inspired gardens and romantic waterscapes designed by the celebrated landscape planning firm, Edward D. Stone and Associates. Each guest room and suite will have its own private patio with a scenic view of Winter Park or Rollins College and the surrounding area.

The Regent Winter Park is steps from the city's picturesque Park Avenue. The tree lined brick street is one of the most fashionable shopping areas in Florida. Neighboring the Regent Winter Park are numerous art museums and art galleries that have earned Winter Park a reputation as one of the leading cultural centers in Florida. Among the city's many cultural events are one of the largest juried art festivals and the renowned Bach Music Festival, one of the oldest and most prestigious in the United States.

The Regent Boston at Battery Wharf Hotel and Residences – The Regent Boston at Battery Wharf Hotel and Residences are scheduled to open in late 2007/early 2008, with a spectacular four building complex, consisting of a 150-room luxury condo hotel and 104 exclusive residences. Boston based Development Management Corporation is developing the luxury hotel and residences in Boston’s historic North End.

The site, located in a historic residential neighborhood at the edge of Boston Harbor, is within walking distance of Boston’s central business district, government center, and historic landmarks including the Freedom Trail, Old North Church and Faneuil Hall.

The hotel and residences will offer spectacular views of Boston Harbor in one of the city’s most sought after residential neighborhoods with the highest standards of luxury and services. Such services include personalized concierge, world class dining and access to an 18,000 square foot (1,672 square meter) European style spa and health club. The spectacular waterfront site also offers 300 square feet (91.5 square meters) of dockage and a water taxi stop providing on-demand, non-stop direct service to Logan Airport, Charlestown and the Seaport District.

The Regent Boston at Battery Wharf will boast a bar and lounge with spectacular views of the Bunker Hill monument and Charlestown, a seasonal café along the promenade and a gourmet restaurant with waterfront views, as well as 6,200 square feet (576 square meters) of meeting space.

Three New Regent Hotels to Open in Asia

The Regent Beijing –The 500-room Regent Beijing is scheduled to open in November 2006 and will be located in the heart of Beijing’s commercial centre to serve business and leisure travelers and local residents.

Developed by Fu Wah International Group, the complex incorporates the 216-room Park Plaza Beijing Wangfujing, which opened in December 2005.

To reflect the luxury and uncompromising service offered by Regent Hotels around the world, the Regent Beijing will feature 443 guest rooms, 57 suites, four restaurants, two ballrooms and a health club. For the business audience, the hotel will also contain a boardroom and eight meeting rooms.

The Regent Ningbo – The Regent Ningbo is scheduled to open in early 2007 and will be the first international luxury hotel in this fast growing area of east China, 100 miles (160 kilometers) south of Shanghai.

The 325-room Regent Ningbo will be the centrepiece of a major redevelopment currently underway to transform the downtown area of the Ningbo Economic and Technical Development Zone, also known as Beilun.

The 1.2 million square foot (110,000 square meter) project also includes offices and a retail and entertainment centre. The hotel will have a mix of 270 guestrooms and 55 suites and offer two Chinese signature restaurants, a Japanese restaurant, a bar and grill, and international cuisine restaurant and lobby and poolside bars. It will also feature an 11,000 square foot (1,000 square meter) ballroom, function and meeting rooms, business centre and an executive lounge.

The Regent Bangkok Hotel & Residences – The Regent Bangkok Hotel & Residences are scheduled to open in early 2008.

This state-of-the-art development comprises two separate high rise towers, with the Regent Bangkok positioned in front of the residential condominium tower. The hotel will feature 327 luxurious rooms, including 23 suites, while the residential development, branded the Regent Residences, will include 350 stylish condominiums.

Superbly situated on Sukhumvit Road next to Soi 13, one of Bangkok's prime business and entertainment districts, the Regent Bangkok Hotel & Residences will hold a prime position in the center of Bangkok, proving attractive to both corporate and leisure travelers.

The location is near high-end retail centres, commercial offices and embassies and provides easy access to Nana Skytrain and Sukhumvit subway stations. The Regent Bangkok will include five levels of public space featuring an extensive retail area, high end restaurant and bar outlets, a 7,000 square foot (650 square meter) ballroom, parking area for 200 cars, and a rooftop health club with swimming pool and spa.

Two New Regent Hotels to Open in the Middle East and Europe

The Regent Kuwait – The Regent Kuwait, scheduled to open in 2007, is located on the beautiful beachfront of the Messila district in Kuwait. The Regent Kuwait will have 145 luxury guest rooms, 162 exquisite suites, 75 serviced apartments and 12 beachside chalets. Guests will enjoy a variety of cuisines in several different restaurants. A deluxe spa and health club will be available to all guests, plus a private beach club and sports facilities. There will be extensive meeting and conference space in addition to significant wedding and social banquet facilities.

The Regent Budapest – The Regent Budapest is scheduled to open in 2007 in one of the most historic buildings in Budapest, which formerly housed the National Ballet School. Located on Andrassy Boulevard, the Regent Budapest will offer 198 luxury accommodations and suites, plus restaurants and bars. An exclusive fitness centre and spa facilities will be available to guests of the hotel. For the business traveler and meeting planner there will be state-of-the-art conference rooms and a business centre.

Reservations for all Regent properties can be made online at www.regenthotels.com or by calling your travel consultant. Reservations in Canada and the U.S. can also be made by calling toll free (800) 545-4000 or for the Universal International Free Phone Number dial your country’s international access prefix followed by (800) 0888 8880.

Regent International Hotels has established a global leadership position in the luxury hotel and resort industry by offering premier locations, elegant facilities and personalized service to the world’s most discerning travelers. Regent is part of Carlson Hotels Worldwide, a global hotel industry leader encompassing nearly 915 hotel and resort operations in 69 countries. Regent is developed globally with partners: Singapore-based Carlson Hotels Asia Pacific, regional headquarters for Carlson Hotels Worldwide in the Asia-Pacific region; and Rezidor SAS Hospitality, with master franchise rights to develop Regent throughout Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

Carlson Hotels Worldwide is one of the major operating groups of Carlson Companies, a global leader in providing corporate solutions and consumer services in the marketing, travel and hospitality industries. Other names in the Carlson family of brands and services are: T.G.I. Friday’s® restaurants, Regent Seven Seas Cruises®, Carlson Wagonlit Travel®, and Carlson Marketing Group®, the largest relationship marketing services company in the U.S.