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LONDON, Aug. 7 /PRNewswire/ — HRH Prince Michael of Kent GCVO agreed to participate as conference patron due to his keen interest in Russia and its overall growth and development. Prince Michael will provide opening remarks at the Russia & CIS hotel Investment Conference (RHIC) welcome lunch on 21 October, present the Lifetime Achievement Award and attend the reception on 22 October.
“We are delighted Prince Michael is participating as conference patron. He is very keen to encourage the growth of tourism and hotel investment throughout Russia and the wider CIS countries as he has a strong emotional attachment to the country and, in his capacity as Patron of the Russo-British Chamber of Commerce, has an active interest in promoting bi-laterial trade between Russia and the United Kingdom,” said Jonathan Worsley, RHIC conference co-organiser. “RHIC participants will have a rare opportunity to personally meet a member of the British royal family and hear his remarks relating to investment in Russia.”
Related through both his grandparents to Tsar Nicholas II, Prince Michael has always had a love for Russia, which he first visited in 1992, following the collapse of communism. A qualified Russian interpreter, he has led numerous delegations of British businessmen to Russia in recent years. His Royal Highness is also closely involved in a number of charity, arts and humanitarian organizations in Russia, including The Children’s Fire and Burn Trust (which incorporates The Friends of Russian Children) and the St. Gregory’s Foundation. In particular, he is a committed Patron of his own Prince Michael of Kent Foundation, a Russian grant-making Foundation which concentrates on charities in the sectors of paediatric medicine, post-graduate business education, Russian heritage and culture.
“The Prince joins a list of speakers who represent influential leaders actively involved in the dynamic growth of the hotel investment industry in the region. His unique perspective is sure to be a highlight of the conference programme,” added Tony D’Avino, executive vice president of Questex Media Group, and RHIC conference co-organiser.
Prince and Princess Michael live at Kensington Palace in London. He is a cousin to both the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh. He has formally represented the Queen on several state occasions abroad, and undertakes numerous public engagements every year for well over one hundred charities and other non-commercial institutions of which he is either Patron or President. In addition, Prince Michael is chairman of his own private company, where he offers specialist consultancy advice to a number of commercial concerns operating in countries and in sectors which he himself has a close interest and wide experience.
The Russia & CIS hotel Investment Conference will run from October 21-22, 2008 at the Ritz-Carlton, Moscow, and is jointly organised by The Bench and Questex Media Group, Inc.
For more information and to register, please visit or contact:
44 (0)1483 835794
44 (0)1244 34195
Questex Media Group

ATLANTA, July 25 /PRNewswire/ — Privately held Noble Investment Group (”Noble”), a leading sponsor of private equity real estate funds and an integrated lodging and hospitality operating and development organization, today announced the appointment of the team of hospitality professionals that have been selected to oversee the day-to-day leadership of the New aloft Charlotte Uptown at the Epicenter, Charlotte, North Carolina. Opening November 1st, 2008, the aloft hotel is located in the heart of uptown Charlotte and is vertically integrated above retail and office into the new, $275-million mixed-use Epicenter complex.
“Uptown Charlotte is a dynamic and fast growing area in the southeastern United States, and our location amongst first class dining, office, sports and retail is both convenient and attractive to business and leisure travelers,” said Mit Shah, Noble’s senior managing principal and chief executive officer. “We have selected a dedicated team of service-focused Noble professionals to lead the hotel and drive our mission of becoming an intricate part of the Charlotte Uptown community.”
Rob Cote has been regional director of operations for a portfolio of Noble hotels for the past five years and has assumed the general manager leadership role for the aloft Charlotte Uptown. Rob’s career spans 32 years in the hospitality industry, including a distinguished career with Marriott International for 15 years with the brands Courtyard, Residence Inn, and Fairfield Inn, where he earned multiple performance awards. He began his career in Washington, D.C. at the JW Marriott and Crystal City Marriott and opened the Fairview Park Marriott as director of room operations. Rob has been in the Carolinas for 12 years and calls Mooresville, N.C. home.
Carolyn Cudd has been named director of sales and marketing for the aloft. For the past five years, Carolyn has excelled as an area director of sales for a portfolio of Noble hotels affiliated with Marriott. During her career, Carolyn has received 9 accolades in recognition of her superior sales and marketing leadership and execution. She is actively involved with Meeting Planners International, Charlotte’s hotel Tourism Authority and was previously president of the Forsyth County Tourism Alliance in Winston-Salem, N.C.
Gloria O’Hal has assumed the position of sales manager for the aloft. Gloria began her career with Noble in 2002 as a sales manager. Gloria has over 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry and is currently a member of Meeting Planner’s International, HSMAI and PWA.
“Today’s traveler is becoming increasingly web savvy, and the Charlotte aloft Uptown has developed a hotel specific pre-opening website and hotel blog to engage guests in the unique, aloft experience,” said Rob Cote. “Our hotel website will provide guests the ability to view 360 degree photo tours of the hotel, as well as submit a request for proposal for meeting and event bookings. Our hotel blog will enable guests to received additional information about the team, the hotel and the area, in a social network format.”
This urban-influenced, modern and vibrantly designed aloft hotel features loft-like guest rooms, a buzzing bar scene at w xyz bar in the open lobby, an urban-inspired 24/7 pantry re:fuel, and industrial elements throughout the hotel speak to the needs of today’s highly social, self-sufficient traveler. Guestrooms feature the ultra comfortable signature bed; an oversize spa shower; custom amenities by bliss(C) spa, and more. The plug ‘n play connectivity center charges all guest electronics and links to the 42″ plasma TV to maximize work and play. Guests stay connected with complimentary, hotel-wide wireless internet access. The hotel is within easy access of the Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte Arena, Wachovia Financial, Ernst & Young, Deloitte & Touche, Pricewaterhouse Coopers as well as retail outlets and restaurants.
Connect with the Charlotte Aloft online -
- Pre-opening Website
- hotel Blog
- Brand Website

About Noble Investment Group

Noble is a leading sponsor of private equity real estate funds and an integrated operating and development organization that specializes in making value-added investments in hotels and resorts throughout North America. An award winning operator of more than 8,000 hotel and resort guest rooms, convention and conference centers with approximately 1 million sq. ft. of meeting space, as well as championship golf, day and resort spas, upscale restaurants, and branded retail coffee stores, Noble and its predecessors have realized superior risk-adjusted returns while acquiring and developing over $2.5 billion in lodging and hospitality assets. Noble’s current discretionary private equity fund represents $310 million of equity commitments, which provides the organization the ability to invest more than $1 billion in lodging-related assets. For more information, visit .
Media Contacts:
Chris Daly
Daly Gray Public Relations
703.435.6293

Bonnie Herring
Noble Investment Group
404-262-9660

Noble Investment Group

ATLANTA, July 8 /PRNewswire/ — Privately held Noble Investment Group (”Noble”), a leading sponsor of private equity real estate funds and an integrated lodging and hospitality operating and development organization, today announced the acquisition of the Hyatt Regency Valencia located in a planned community within Los Angeles County, California that is ranked among the top 25 places to live in the U.S. by CNN/Money magazine. The 244-room first class Hyatt Regency Valencia is integrated into the approximately one million square foot mixed-use development, Valencia Town Center, which serves as the community focal point for business, shopping, dining and entertainment in the vibrant Santa Clarita Valley. The Hyatt Regency Valencia is home to the valley’s premier meetings and events venue, the Santa Clarita Conference Center, which features 16,000 square feet of exceptional meeting and event space including three outdoor garden areas overlooking the prestigious Valencia Country Club.
Noble will operate the hotel under a long-term license agreement with Hyatt Hotels Corporation. The investment marks the company’s twelfth acquisition in the Noble Hospitality Fund, LLC, the organization’s current, fully discretionary private equity real estate fund.
“Noble continues to execute our investment strategy to acquire and develop premium branded hotels in top markets throughout the United States where we can add value through a combination of our operating and development core competencies,” said Mit Shah, Noble’s senior managing principal and chief executive officer.
“The acquisition of this first-class hotel in the strong west coast market of Valencia is a great example of Noble’s investment strategy enabled by the strength of our organizational platform as we were able to secure the opportunity, perform real-time due diligence and close the transaction in a total of six weeks,” said Rodney Williams, Noble’s managing principal and chief investment officer. “Our team will now focus on increasing market share, revenue and profitability through the combination of the completion of the planned physical enhancements in conjunction with our process based, balanced scored operational framework.”
The Hyatt’s spacious guest rooms feature upscale amenities and finishes, including the new Grand Hyatt bed, i-home systems, high-speed internet access and majestic views of the surrounding Santa Susana and San Gabriel Mountains. A double-sided fireplace highlights the Hyatt’s outdoor heated swimming pool, whirlpool, and sundeck area, set in an alluring resort style courtyard overlooking a picturesque golf course backdrop. Located in Los Angeles County, the Hyatt Regency Valencia easily accessible to downtown Los Angeles, San Fernando Valley, and Ventura and is only a mile and a half from Six Flags Magic Mountain and Hurricane Harbor Water Park.
About Noble Investment Group
Noble is a leading sponsor of private equity real estate funds and an integrated operating and development organization that specializes in making value-added investments in hotels and resorts throughout North America. An award winning operator of more than 8,000 hotel and resort guest rooms, convention and conference centers with approximately 1 million sq. ft. of meeting space, as well as championship golf, day and resort spas, upscale restaurants, and branded retail coffee stores, Noble and its predecessors have realized superior risk-adjusted returns while acquiring and developing over $2.5 billion in lodging and hospitality assets. Noble’s current discretionary private equity fund represents $310 million of equity commitments, which provides the organization the ability to invest more than $1 billion in lodging-related assets. For more information, visit .
About Global Hyatt Corporation
Global Hyatt Corporation, one of the world’s premier hotel companies, offers today’s travelers more than 730 hotels and resorts (more than 140,000 rooms) in more than 45 countries. The company’s affiliates own, operate, manage and franchise Hyatt-branded hotels and resorts under Park Hyatt(TM), Grand Hyatt(TM), Hyatt Regency(TM), Hyatt Resorts(TM), Hyatt(R), Hyatt Place(TM) and Hyatt Summerfield Suites(R) brands, as well as the company’s newest global luxury brand, Andaz(TM), which recently opened its first property in London. Global Hyatt Corporation is also the owner of Hyatt Vacation Ownership, Inc. operator of Hyatt Vacation Club and fractional residential properties and U.S. Franchise Systems, Inc, which franchises Hawthorn Suites and Microtel Inns and Suites. From the U.S. and Canada, reservations for any Hyatt hotel worldwide may be obtained by calling 1-800-233-1234, or logging on to .
Media Contacts:
Chris Daly
Daly Gray Public Relations
703.435.6293

Bonnie Herring
Noble Investment Group
404-262-9660

Noble Investment Group

DALLAS, July 1 /PRNewswire/ — Viking Hospitality Fund has announced the development of a new 124-room Hampton Inn and Suites in Rochester, Minnesota. The property is the second for Viking Hospitality Fund, which was formed in September 2007 by Dallas-based Prism Hotels & Resorts, Des Moines, Iowa-based SeaCys Holdings, LLC, and Atlanta-based hotel Assets Group (”Hotel AG”) as a joint venture to build new select — and limited — service hotel properties nationwide under the Hilton and Marriott brands.
The hotel will be located on 2.3 acres on the southeast corner of 59th Street and Bandel Road NW, near the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. Once completed in mid-2009, it will be managed by Prism Hotels & Resorts. The new Hampton Inn & Suites will operate as a franchisee of Hampton Inns Franchise LLC, a member of the Hilton Hotels family of brands, and will appeal to business travelers and visitors of the nearby medical center.
“The Rochester Hampton Inn & Suites is the second hotel development we’ve closed on in the past month, which we are particularly excited about considering the challenging economic conditions our country is facing,” said Al Whitehouse, senior vice president of acquisitions at Prism Hotels & Resorts. “We have several more Hilton and Marriott brand hotels planned for 2008 and 2009, so the outlook is bright.”
Viking Hospitality Fund is actively seeking additional sites for development throughout the country and plan to construct as many as 30 new hotels nationwide over the next three years at a rate of 8-10 each year.
ABOUT VIKING HOSPITALITY FUND
Viking Hospitality Fund is a joint venture that builds new select and limited-service hotel properties across the United States under the Hilton and Marriott brands. Viking Hospitality Fund consists of hotel AG as the broker of the real estate transactions; SeaCys Holdings, LLC as the developer of the properties; and Prism Hotels & Resorts, which currently manages more than 5,000 rooms in the United States, as the manager of the properties once they’re completed.
Viking Hospitality Fund

FOSTER CITY, Calif., and NEW YORK, June 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Rearden Commerce, Inc., and American Express today announced American Express Anywhere(SM), an innovative new mobile service that enables corporate customers to manage travel details and business through their BlackBerry(TM) smartphones.
With a single click of the American Express icon on their BlackBerry home screen, users can access their personalized travel itinerary, receive real-time travel alerts, scan destination weather information and even click-to-call their travel provider for further assistance. Future phases of American Express Anywhere will let users view their airport parking and car service reservations, share itinerary details with others, find restaurants nearby and place reservations, and much more.
“American Express is committed to simplifying life for our corporate cardmembers while they’re in the office and on the road,” said Gunther Bright, senior vice president, Global Client Group at American Express. “Anywhere is a perfect example of how we can deliver a suite of rich services by leveraging Rearden Commerce’s innovative technology platform.”
American Express is the only card company able to offer this benefit to Fortune 500 companies in the United States, as well as to its largest global commercial card clients.
American Express Anywhere will also be offered to American Express Business travel clients in other market segments as a mobile companion to its Intelligent Online Marketplace (AXIOM). AXIOM is a Web-based commerce network, powered by Rearden Commerce, for travel and related services. Business services inventory from more than 137,000 suppliers is brought together in a single online destination where employees can find, purchase and manage traditional travel reservations (flights, hotel stays and car rentals), as well as ancillary services.
“We’re proud to partner with American Express, the global commercial card and business travel leader, to extend the power of Rearden Commerce to its corporate customers,” said Patrick Grady, founder and CEO of Rearden Commerce. “Our technology platform offers tremendous benefits to both employees and corporations. We couldn’t be more pleased to be enabling American Express to provide its corporate customers with such a rewarding new benefit and American Express itself with a true industry differentiator.”
“American Express Anywhere gives our employees the information they need to stay productive and be efficient while on the road,” said Christopher Staal, vice president of Real Estate and Facilities — Americas for Thomson Reuters. “With AXIOM, American Express and Rearden Commerce have delivered a groundbreaking business solution, whose value is further magnified with the release of this mobile companion.”
Thomson Reuters is an American Express corporate services client and has been using AXIOM since 2007. They were among the first companies to pilot American Express Anywhere with employees.
“The AXIOM solution already extends far beyond simply booking airline tickets and hotel rooms to include airport parking, dining, event tickets, shipping, car service and conferencing. And now, we’re giving travelers their very own mobile assistant that puts valuable real-time information at their fingertips,” said Andrew McGraw, senior vice president and general manager, Worldwide Sales, American Express Business Travel. “American Express Anywhere will amplify the convenience and time savings for these travelers by giving them access to the AXIOM solution, anytime or anyplace.”
Rearden Commerce, Inc.
Rearden Commerce makes life simpler by delivering a web-based Personal Assistant that intuitively manages the everyday details of business and personal life. Just like a seasoned executive assistant, the Rearden Personal Assistant(TM) handles an impressive array of tasks and services, and delights users by considering their unique needs and personal preferences. The Rearden Personal Assistant is built on the Rearden Commerce(TM) Platform, which supports an ecosystem of more than 137,000 trusted merchants and third-party applications providers. Today, more than one million contracted users at organizations ranging from the Fortune 500 to small/medium enterprises, including ConAgra Foods, Glaxo Smith Kline and JDSU, rely on the recommendations and assistance of the Rearden Personal Assistant to save time and be more efficient, while saving their companies money. Rearden Commerce is headquartered in Foster City, CA. For more information, visit .
American Express
Through its Global Commercial Card group, American Express provides the Corporate Card, Corporate Purchasing Solutions, and other expense management services to mid-sized companies and large corporations worldwide. In the U.S., it is the leading issuer of commercial cards, serving more than 60% of the Fortune 500, as well as tens of thousands of mid-sized companies. American Express issues local-currency commercial cards in 40 countries, and International Dollar Corporate Cards in an additional 100 countries. For more information, please go to .
American Express Business travel (), a division of the American Express Company, is dedicated to helping its clients realize the greatest possible value from their investment in travel through increased cost savings, outstanding customer service and greater spend control. For small businesses, medium-sized enterprises and multinational corporations, American Express Business travel provides a combination of industry-leading booking technology, travel management consulting expertise, strategic sourcing and supplier negotiation support, and customer service available online and offline, around the world.
American Express Company () is a leading global payments, network and travel company founded in 1850.
All trademarks are property of their respective owners.
Rearden Commerce, Inc.; American Express