RICHARDSON, Texas (DALLAS Area), May 18 / Springfield, Mo.- based developer John Q. Hammons Hotels, Inc. JQH today announced the opening of the new 336-room Renaissance® Dallas-Richardson Hotel. Located in the heart of the thriving Telecom Corridor® area in Richardson, Texas, the luxurious property is owned and operated by John Q. Hammons Hotels, Inc. and marks the company's entree into the North Dallas area. To celebrate the property's opening, the Renaissance Dallas-Richardson Hotel will host a special grand opening event in June.

The Renaissance Dallas-Richardson Hotel executive staff comes to the hotel with extensive experience in the hospitality industry. The team is led by General Manager Tom Dwyer and includes: Jackie Devine, director of sales and marketing; Peter Genera, executive chef; Brian Inman, assistant general manager, food and beverage; Hal McNeely, assistant general manager, rooms; and Jacques Monteil, director of catering.

With 13 of his 20 years of experience in the hotel industry with John Q. Hammons, Dwyer has held general manager positions for several full-service properties. In his most recent positions at the Embassy Suites in Omaha, Neb., and the Collins Plaza Hotel and Convention Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Dwyer was the opening general manager, responsible for hiring management and staff, as well as overseeing marketing and overall operations at the hotels. In his new role as general manager at the Renaissance Dallas-Richardson Hotel, Dwyer coined the term "service revolution," which stands as the overriding philosophy for the hotel and its entire staff. Dwyer promises that a "service revolution" is what guests of the Renaissance Dallas-Richardson Hotel can expect – personalized service that caters to every guest's individual needs – and that is carried out in such a superior manner that it continually exceeds all expectations.

"To ensure that we consistently deliver a superior guest experience, we needed an exceptional executive staff. I couldn't be happier about the talented group of people we have working at this property," said Tom Dwyer, general manager of the Renaissance Dallas-Richardson Hotel. "There is such amazing fervor surrounding the opening of this hotel. The entire community has been overwhelmingly positive and supportive, and we are seeing tremendous results in bookings. I am confident that with this talented staff in place and committed to the 'service revolution' concept combined with the official opening of the property, we quickly will earn the reputation as a premier hotel in the area."

Strategically located at Campbell Road and Central Expressway at 900 East Lookout Drive, the Renaissance Dallas-Richardson Hotel resides in the 27-acre Galatyn Park Urban Center. The hotel is adjacent to the Eisemann Center, which is scheduled for completion in June 2002. In addition, the Galatyn Park DART station is under construction and is expected to begin providing service to the area in 2002. Construction of the Renaissance, a Marriott International, Inc. brand, began in November 1999 and represents the first full-service hotel to be built in the North Dallas area in the past 10 years.

The Renaissance Dallas-Richardson Hotel boasts a timeless style, combining a touch of whimsy with a contemporary flair that invites guests to revel in the first class appointments and exceptional customer service that defines the Renaissance brand. Designed with the signature atrium style of John Q. Hammons Hotels, the unique decor of the 12-story hotel is vibrant and inviting, reflecting the cutting-edge spirit of the popular Telecom Corridor®. The modern-day feel of the property is achieved with eclectic furniture in rich jewel-tone colors, dramatic art glass and expressive sculpture.

The more than 30,000 square feet of functional meeting space, including a 12,400-square-foot ballroom, makes the Renaissance ideal for a variety of events from lavish weddings and celebrations to corporate meetings and conferences. The hotel's staff caters to a group's specialized needs and provides a full-range of event planning assistance and catering. The hotel also features a variety of amenities for both business and leisure travelers. In addition, the hotel also has a full-service restaurant, a New York style cafe, a complete health and fitness center, indoor pool, whirlpool and sauna.

Making a Reservation

Room rates at the Renaissance Dallas-Richardson Hotel range from $179 - $259 per night. To make a hotel reservation or to book a group function at the Renaissance Dallas-Richardson Hotel, contact the sales and catering department at 972-367-2000, email [email protected] or call your travel agent. The Renaissance Dallas-Richardson Hotel participates in Marriott Rewards®, Marriott International's award-winning frequent travel program, where meeting planners and travel agents can earn points toward free vacations for booking meetings at Marriott properties. Readers of Business Traveler magazine recently named Marriott Rewards the "Best Hotel Rewards Program in the World." The Renaissance Dallas-Richardson Hotel also can be booked under the following GDS codes: Amadeus DALRDB, Galileo 35663, Sabre 58092 and Worldspan DALRD.

Company Information

Privately owned by John Q. Hammons, the Renaissance Dallas-Richardson Hotel is managed under contract by John Q. Hammons Hotels, Inc. Publicly traded on the American Stock Exchange, Springfield, Mo.-based John Q. Hammons Hotels is the nation's leading independent builder, developer, owner and manager of upscale full-service hotels, resorts and suites including: Embassy Suites, Renaissance, Marriott, Radisson, Crowne Plaza, Residence Inn, Homewood Suites, Holiday Inn and Hampton Inn & Suites brands. Properties in Texas also owned and managed by John Q. Hammons Hotels include: Holiday Inn Beaumont Plaza, Beaumont, Texas; Embassy Suites Outdoor World, Grapevine, Texas; Radisson Hotel, Houston, Texas; Hampton Inn & Suites, Mesquite, Texas; and the newly announced Embassy Suites in Frisco, Texas.

Renaissance Hotels, Resorts and Suites is an upscale brand providing full- service accommodations with local flair to discriminating business and leisure travelers at over 100 properties in 26 countries. The brand's presence is strong in the United States and worldwide, with more than 40 properties in the United States and more than 55 properties throughout Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Renaissance Hotels, Resorts and Suites properties are often located in major gateway cities and resort destinations, presenting guests with a collection of distinctive properties from which to choose. Most Renaissance Hotels, Resorts and Suites participate in Marriott International's award- winning frequent travel program, Marriott Rewards. For reservations at any Renaissance property, call 1-800-HOTELS-1, visit www.renaissancehotels.com, or contact a travel agent.

Marriott International, Inc. MAR is a leading worldwide hospitality company with over 2,300 operating units in the United States and 59 other countries and territories. Marriott Lodging operates and franchises hotels under the Marriott, JW Marriott, Renaissance, Residence Inn, Courtyard, TownePlace Suites, Fairfield Inn, SpringHill Suites and Ramada International brand names; develops and operates vacation ownership resorts under the Marriott, Ritz-Carlton and Horizons brands; operates Marriott Executive Apartments; provides furnished corporate housing through its ExecuStay by Marriott division; and operates conference centers. Other Marriott businesses include senior living communities and services, wholesale food distribution and The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C. The company is headquartered in Washington, D.C., and has approximately 154,000 employees. In fiscal year 2000, Marriott International reported systemwide sales of $19.8 billion. For more information or reservations, please visit Marriott International's web site at www.marriott.com.