DALLAS - Dallas-based Internet Hospitality Group has joined Horwath Hospitality Investment Advisors (HHIA) to create Horwath's newest Real Estate Services office, according to Joel Hiser, CEO of HHIA. The principals of the new office, which is expected to grow substantially, include Managing Director, Patrick M. Bajdek, founder of InterNet Hospitality Group of Dallas, who has more than 32 years of lodging experience and founded Rain Tree Inns of America and Great West Hotels; Pete DeKalb, Managing Director, who has more than 20 years experience in lodging, including 13 years in hotel real estate transactions; and John R. Weeman, Jr., Managing Director, whose 30 years of lodging industry experience includes Laventhol & Horwath where he was a principal; extensive work with Hilton and in 1999, the founding of Weeman Partners in Development (WPID).

"In this new office, we plan to leverage the collective experience of our three principals as hotel specialists in the Dallas marketplace and expand our reach throughout Texas and surrounding states," Hiser said. "These members of our Dallas team together have more than 80 years of real estate investment and operations expertise. In one location, they can offer counsel in hotel real estate brokerage, financing, asset and development management and numerous other areas of the hospitality industry.

"Because of HHIA's broad reach, regional effectiveness and local market knowledge, our transaction volume in Texas is increasing steadily and we are working on significant investment deals in major, urban areas," said Pete DeKalb. "We anticipate that our office will have numerous brokerage transactions completed before the end of 2002."

In addition to organizations he founded, Patrick Bajdek has completed some 65 hotel advisory and asset management assignments and was executive vice president of Metro Hotels, the largest Hilton franchisee in the United States. He received an MBA from the University of Louisville.

Pete DeKalb's record of success includes more than 60 acquisitions and dispositions of properties. He was Director of Development for Embassy Suites Incorporated and Vice President of Real Estate & Development for Accor Economy Lodging. DeKalb received his B.A. and M.A. degrees from California State University.

Mr. Weeman spearheaded the development of Hilton Suites in the late 80s through 1999 and has managed the development of all Hilton brands in the Central Region of the United States. During the course of his career with Hilton, he was directly involved with the addition of more than 25,000 rooms to the Hilton System. He holds an MBA from Michigan State University. About HHIA Horwath Hospitality Investment Advisors is a hospitality real estate firm providing investment sales and capital transaction services, with offices in Atlanta, Dallas, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Palm Beach and San Francisco. Horwath Hospitality Investment Advisors is a member firm of Horwath International. The Horwath name has been synonymous with the highest quality financial services to the hospitality industry in North America since 1918. Horwath International is an independent network of companies with specialized disciplines to serve the needs of its diversified clientele. This international network is comprised of 110 member firms with 490 offices located in 460 cities throughout the world.

Horwath is the undisputed leader in real estate services for the hospitality industry, specializing in hotel investment sales, as well as loan and capital procurement. The organization's professional staff has unparalleled experience in identifying opportunities, assessing costs and benefits and designing action plans for hoteliers seeking to buy, sell or reposition lodging assets.

Steven Gaynes (MFC PR)
(212) 808-6562
Horwath Hospitality Investment Advisors