Global Hotel Alliance Welcomes Seventh Member, Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts

Hong Kong, China, February 06, 2007 --(PR.com)-- The six Global Hotel Alliance (GHA) partners Kempinski, Omni, Pan Pacific, Dusit, Landis and Marco Polo are delighted to welcome Leela Palaces, Hotels & Resorts as their seventh member.  GHA thus continues to grow its membership with small to mid-size, regional hotel brands, which are recognising GHA’s unique ability to support them to compete more effectively with the mega-chains, while retaining their brand independence. GHA’s CEO, Chris Hartley, is delighted with the addition of Leela  “India is one of the  largest and fastest emerging economies in the world today and will play a key role in the development of the global travel market in the years to come. Leela is poised to become the leading luxury hotel brand in within the next few years, with coverage of all the major business and resort locations in the country,  and thus Leela perfectly fits the role as GHA’s regional member for India.” Leela’s founder, The Hon’ble Chairman, Capt. C. P. Krishnan Nair, who named the hotel brand after his wife, Leela, feels that membership of GHA will assist to strengthen The Leela on the international stage. “With our landmark hotels in Bangalore and Mumbai and world class resorts in Goa and Kovalam Beach/ Kerala, Leela has already established its brand name in India. Now with our rapid growth across ’s cities and resorts coupled with our membership of GHA, I am confident that Leela will come to be acknowledged internationally as the brand, which truly reflects the essence of India.” As well as the hotels in Mumbai, Bangalore, Goa and Kovalam Beach (Kerala), the Leela currently has Deluxe Hotels under development in New Delhi, Udaipur, Chennai (Madras), Pune and Hyderabad. The hotels will all open in the next two to three years.   Meanwhile GHA completed its merger with the Asian Hotels Alliance in January and Dusit, Marco Polo and Landis are now fully integrated into GHA’s sales, marketing and distribution systems.   GHA will continue to expand during 2007 to add members which cover markets and destinations as yet represented by the alliance. It is expected that this will include, among others, new members from France, Spain, Italy, Scandinavia and Central & South America, as well as a replacement for Rydges in Australia. GHA now consists of 152 upscale and luxury hotels and resorts, spread over 39 different countries. Each brand is a key player in their main region of operation. Kempinski in Europe; Omni in North America; Pan Pacific in the Pacific Rim; The Leela Group in India,  Dusit in Thailand, Landis in Taiwan & China and  Marco Polo in China and Hong Kong.  GHA will continue to grow to include selected hotel brands in those regions not currently covered by the alliance. www.globalhotelalliance.com 

www.marcopolohotels.com   www.dusit.com  www.thelandis.com.tw   www.kempinski.com www.omnihotels.com  www.panpacific.com   www.theleela.com ###