JQH John Q. Hammons Hotels

Mr. John Q. Hammons Developing Embassy Suites Hotel and Convention Center in Concord, N.C. Hotel and Convention Center Complement Area's Rapid Growth SPRINGFIELD, Mo. and CONCORD, N.C., Sept. 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Mr. John Q. Hammons today announced his plans to develop a $40-million, 310-suite Embassy Suites Hotel and an adjoining 80,000 square foot convention center in Concord, N.C. The new hotel and convention center will be owned by Mr. Hammons and overlook the city-owned Rocky River Golf Club. The hotel, convention center and Rocky River Golf Club will be managed by Springfield, Mo.-based John Q. Hammons Hotels, Inc. (AMEX:JQH), the nation's leading independent builder, developer, owner and manager of upscale, full-service hotels, resorts and suites. Construction on the 10-story Embassy Suites Hotel Concord will begin in November 2004, and a grand opening is scheduled for Spring 2006. Strategically located east of I-85 and north of I-485, the hotel will be less than a mile from the popular Concord Mills mall, the 500,000-seat Lowe's Motor Speedway and Concord Regional Airport. Demand generators such as the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and the world headquarters of Philip Morris are also within three miles of the property. In addition, the hotel will be the fifth John Q. Hammons Hotel in North Carolina, and the convention center will be the first of its kind in Concord. "With the rapid commercial and industrial growth on the north side of Charlotte, Concord is becoming a premier destination for business and leisure travelers," said Mr. John Q. Hammons, founder, chairman and chief executive officer of John Q. Hammons Hotels, Inc. "The city is in great need of a convention center and additional full-service hotel, and I am confident that the Embassy Suites Hotel Concord's first-class accommodations, as well as the accompanying convention center's flexible meeting space, will meet those needs and exceed the expectations of all." The convention center's large square footage and the property's 2,500-person capacity ballroom make the Embassy Suites Hotel and convention center a convenient lodging and meeting option for both business and leisure travelers. The full-service meeting staff will help make the convention center an ideal facility for a variety of events from lavish weddings to business meetings and conferences. Guests can also look forward to reveling in the luxurious interior and relaxing under the glass atrium, a signature feature of every John Q. Hammons Hotel. Area Information Known as the heart of NASCAR country, Concord provides fun and excitement for thousands of racing enthusiasts and newcomers to the sport each year. Additionally, Concord Mills mall, the shopping entertainment destination of the Carolinas and second most popular visitor attraction in North Carolina, offers world-class shopping at over 200 stores. Visitors can tour underground tunnels, pan for gold and watch an ore-crushing stamp mill in action at Reed Gold Mine, where Conrad Reed made the first gold discovery in America in 1799. The city of Concord takes great pride in its historic downtown area with one- of-a-kind shopping, restaurants, coffee houses, historic sites, beautifully restored Victorian homes and seasonal historic home tours. Additionally, with a history that dates back over 200 years, the city boasts a unique atmosphere of both modernization and heritage. Other attractions include Bost Grist Mill, the historic downtown shopping district and Memorial Gardens, a three- acre 1804 garden restored to its full glory. Property Information Designed to be one of the most upscale hotels in the area, the Embassy Suites Hotel Concord will have a welcoming exterior and well-appointed interior. The hotel will feature a variety of amenities for both business and leisure travelers, including a private bedroom in every suite, living room with a sofa sleeper, wet bar, refrigerator, microwave and coffeemaker. In addition, each of the hotel's 310 suites will be equipped with hairdryer, iron, full-size ironing board, two dual-line telephones with voice mail, high- speed Internet access, two televisions, and a Sony Playstation. Travelers also will be able to enjoy a restaurant and lounge, as well as full cooked-to- order breakfast during their stay. Additionally, guests will be treated to a complimentary USA Today every weekday morning and will have access to laundry/valet service, sundeck, cardio fitness center, 24-hour gift shop, complimentary business center, and an oversized indoor pool and whirlpool. Company Information 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 Hotels, Renaissance, Marriott, Radisson, Residence Inn, Homewood Suites by Hilton, Holiday Inn and Courtyard by Marriott brands. With 58 hotels strategically located near demand generators, such as state capitals, universities, airports, corporate headquarters or office parks in secondary and tertiary markets, John Q. Hammons Hotels' properties are dominant in their markets. The company's focus is capitalizing on positive operating fundamentals in the upscale, full-service sector, converting existing hotels to franchise brands and selling mature assets, while reinvesting the proceeds and reducing debt. Over the course of his impressive career in the hotel business, Mr. Hammons has developed 150 hotels. For more information about John Q. Hammons Hotels, please visit the company's Web site at http://www.jqhhotels.com/ . DATASOURCE: John Q. Hammons Hotels, Inc. CONTACT: Scott Tarwater of John Q. Hammons Hotels, Inc., +1-417-873-3591, or ; or Melissa Conger, +1-972-628-7756, or , or Christina Teagarden, +1-972-628-7875, or , both of Publicis Dialog, for John Q. Hammons Hotels, Inc. Web site: http://www.jqhhotels.com/

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