NEWPORT NEWS, Va., and MCLEAN, Va., Crestline Hotels & Resorts, Inc. today announced the appointment of Rick Thompson as Director of Sales & Marketing for the full-service, upscale 256 guest room Newport News Marriott at City Center. The Hotel and Conference Center is scheduled to open in the summer of 2006, and will be the focal point of the new City Center at Oyster Point. The property is a joint partnership between Armada Hoffler and the Economic Development Authority of the City of Newport News, VA, and is being managed by Crestline Hotels & Resorts.

Mr. Thompson returns to Crestline Hotels & Resorts with more than two decades of hospitality industry and business sales experience. He has been the Director of Sales and Marketing for the Marriott Bay Point Resort in Panama City Beach, FL, previously managed by Crestline. Prior to joining the Company, he held sales management positions with the Hilton Sandestin Beach & Golf Resort, FL and the Perdido Beach Resort, AL. Thompson's additional business sales experience includes positions with Lyons Safety, Thomson McKinnon-Securities and Dean Witter Reynolds.

"Rick's extensive sales background, coupled with his experience in managing large resort and conference facilities, is the perfect blend of business expertise to help successfully open the new Newport News Marriott at City Center," said Vicki Denfeld, SVP of Sales & Marketing, Crestline Hotels & Resorts. "This is a significant property for the City of Newport News and for Crestline. Rick brings both the personal and professional skills to help this hotel become a significant part of this growing community," added Denfeld.

Mr. Thompson is a graduate of Manatee Junior College in Bradenton, FL. He holds membership in the HSMAI and MPI. His past community involvement included serving on the Pensacola Chamber of Commerce Committee for its Annual Business Show, and he has been a member of the Panama City Beach Sports Marketing Committee. Mr. Thompson can be reached at [email protected] or via phone at 757-873-9299.

The Newport News Marriott at City Center

Scheduled to open in the summer of 2006, The Newport News Marriott at City Center is a new eleven-story, full-service, upscale hotel and conference facility with 256 guestrooms and 23,000 square feet of elegant and dramatic meeting and banquet space. The hotel features a 12,000 square foot ballroom, a 4,400 square foot junior ballroom, and a 6,500 square foot rotunda, which is a glass encased atrium, offering a unique setting for gatherings. In addition, the 10th floor features an executive Board Room with sweeping views of the fountains in City Center.

The guest rooms will be warm and welcoming and will feature contemporary amenities including high-speed Internet access, room service, robes, and granite baths with upgraded toiletries. The Presidential Suite is located on the 10th floor and offers breathtaking views of the city. For dining, the hotel will have both casual and sophisticated choices. Additional amenities include an indoor pool, a sauna and whirlpool, a fitness center, a business center, as well as garage parking.

The Newport News Marriott at City Center is the focal point of the City Center at Oyster Point, a high-density, new urbanist public-private partnership between the City of Newport News and Newport News Town Center, LLC, City Center's master developer. It is located at 740 Town Center Drive, Newport News, and is minutes from the Newport News/Williamsburg Airport and Interstate 64.

Crestline Hotels & Resorts, Inc. is one of the nation's largest independent hospitality management companies. Founded in 2000, the Company presently manages 37 hotels, resorts and conference and convention centers with more than 8,400 rooms in 12 states and the District of Columbia. Crestline Hotels & Resorts manages properties independently and under such well regarded brands as Marriott, Hilton, Renaissance, Sheraton, Crowne Plaza, Wyndham and Radisson. Additional information about the hotel management company is available at the company's web site: /.

Note: Certain matters discussed herein are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Certain, but not necessarily all, of such statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, such as "believes," "expects," "may," "will," "should," "estimates" or "anticipates" or the negative thereof or comparable terminology. All forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause the actual transactions, results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future transactions, results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These may include: (i) national and local economic and business conditions or governmental regulations that will affect demand, prices, wages or other costs for hotels; (ii) the level of rates and occupancy that can be achieved by such properties; (iii) the Company's ability to compete.

Gayle MacIntyre
+1-404-643-8222
Barcelo Crestline