Dallas, January 31, 2012 – Days ago, Prism Hotels & Resorts gathered together the general managers from its 40 hotel properties across the country — 53 managers from 16 states — for its annual leadership conference. This year’s conference, which was inspired by the bestselling Jim Collins book Good To Great, featured former Mexican Cabinet Minister and presidential advisor Dr. Juan Hernandez as its keynote motivational speaker.

After being enthusiastically introduced by Prism Hotels CEO Steve Van, Dr. Hernandez, who is a frequent fixture on CNN, Fox News and Univision and has been featured on the cover of Fortune Magazine as one of the “Smartest People We Know,” talked to the hotel management firm’s managers about his professional experiences and personal friendships with many of Latin America and the United States’ top political leaders and what traits made those men great leaders. He also spoke about the changing demographics of the Hispanic population in the United States and how businesses can and should embrace and capitalize on the rapidly growing demographic.

Dr. Hernandez has been named “Humanitarian of the Year” by Latin Trade Magazine and one of the “100 Most Influential Hispanics” by Hispanic Business Magazine. He has advised international corporations and presidential hopefuls including Felipe Calderon (Mexico) in 2006, John McCain (US) in 2008 and Juan Gutierrez (Guatemala) in 2011. Dr. Hernandez has written and edited eight books on politics and poetry.

After Dr. Hernandez’s motivational keynote speech, Prism Hotels’ top corporate executives led the 53 managers in attendance through various leadership workshops and roundtable discussions – all centered around themes from the book Good to Great and how they can apply those themes to create “the best performance and the best results” (a Prism company motto) for their hotel owners.

“These conferences are always so inspiring to me. We have great leaders at each of our properties and it’s very important that we publicly recognize them every chance we get,” said Prism Hotels CEO Steve Van, who was recently named one of Hotel Business magazine’s People of 2012. “The biggest takeaway from the conference was the idea from the book Good to Great to ‘get the right people on the bus.’ The entire conference seemed to echo that theme. From each of our properties’ front desks and housekeeping staffs to the back-of-the-house operations and maintenance, we can only be as successful as the great folks we have working for us.”

The conference was capped off with Prism’s annual gala and awards ceremony, where select manager were honored for exceptional performance in 2011.

About Prism Hotels & Resorts

Dallas-based Prism Hotels & Resorts is one of the fastest growing full-service hotel investment, management and development companies in the United States. The company currently manages more than 7,500 rooms for multiple owners including urban, suburban and resort destinations.  Prism is approved to manage all major brands as well as has extensive experience with independent destination hotels. For more information, please visit www.prismhotels.com.

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Full biographies on Dr. Hernandez can be found at http://www.juanhernandez.org/biography.

Media Contact: Cooper Smith Koch
cooper@coopersmithagency.com, (214) 329-9191

DALLAS, November 7, 2011 – Prism Hotels & Resorts has named Mark Van Amerongen senior vice president of operations and Allison Handy vice president of marketing for the hotel management firm. Both were promoted from within the organization: Van Amerongen from regional vice president of operations; Handy from corporate director of sales and marketing.

“By promoting Mark and Allison to these leadership positions within Prism, we continue to align our organization around a steadfast commitment to hotel performance results,” said Steve Van, chief executive officer of Prism Hotels & Resorts. “Both possess deep experience within the hospitality industry, on both the client side and within our management organization. Their direct experience with all of the core hotel brands enables Prism to focus so effectively on achieving positive results for our owners.”

In his new position, Van Amerongen will be responsible for the oversight of hotel operations and will be focused on delivering operational excellence to the company’s growing portfolio of hotels.

“Whether we’ve managed a hotel for five years or for five days, we must continue to move the needle forward and improve results for our owners. That will be my focus,” said Van Amerongen.

As vice president of marketing, Handy will be dedicated to growing Prism’s business and relationships in the western United States. She will be based in San Francisco.

Van Amerongen possesses more than 25 years experience in executive hospitality leadership, including overseeing 76 full-service West Coast hotels as Marriott’s regional operations director and serving as executive vice president of third-party hotel management firm Western International. He joined Prism Hotels in 2010.

Handy has spearheaded sales and marketing efforts for Prism, supporting a portfolio of full-service hotels throughout the United States since 2007. Prior to Prism, she spent nine years at Interstate Hotels & Resorts and MeriStar Hotels in various sales capacities. Her previous hospitality industry experience includes working with Hilton, IHG and Wyndham.

About Prism Hotels & Resorts

Dallas-based Prism Hotels & Resorts is one of the fastest growing full-service hotel investment, management and development companies in the United States. The company currently manages more than 7,500 rooms for multiple owners including urban, suburban and resort destinations.  Prism is approved to manage all major brands as well as has extensive experience with independent destination hotels. For more information, please visit www.prismhotels.com.

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 Full biographies on Van Amerongen and Handy can be found at www.prismhotels.com.

Media Contact: Cooper Smith Koch
cooper@coopersmithagency.com, (214) 329-9191

DALLAS, November 3, 2011 – Last month, hotel industry leaders and heavy-hitters in hotel lending came together in Grapevine, Texas, for Prism Hotels & Resorts’ “Fishing for Solutions” conference, the only conference in the country that brings together these two groups to talk openly and candidly about distressed hotel loans. The high-powered, invitation-only meeting has taken place each fall for the past eleven years.

Two hot topics surfaced throughout this year’s conference: maturing debt on performing assets and property improvement plans (PIPs).

Many panelists and speakers, including Prism CEO Steve Van, expressed concern that many commercial mortgage-backed security (CMBS) loans coming due have already been extended and cannot be extended again due to limitations with the Pooling & Servicing Agreements (PSA) that govern the loans. According to many attendees, there’s no positive action that can be taken and pain will need to be shared by both the borrower and the lender to remedy the situation.

“Owners can no longer kick the can down the road in hopes for a better economy. The recession has outlasted the loan terms and we’re now left figuring out how to pay the piper,” said Van.

Additionally, much of the conversation centered on Property Improvement Programs (PIPs) and how some franchisors are having to push for PIPs to be completed by franchisees in order to maintain their brand standards and integrity.

“For the most part, the brands have been lenient on maintaining their brand standards since the economy started to slow down, but now many of the properties that already needed upgrades three years ago are in serious need of improvement,” said Van. “The brands are growing increasingly impatient with franchisees and are beginning to enforce PIPs, adding additional financial pressure for the property owner.”

While much of the conversation seemed to focus on the challenges facing the industry,  there was some optimism – specifically, the strong summer season with high occupancy rates that the industry just experienced, as well as the productivity benefits of low employee turnover due to the tight job market.

“For many, this conference is a must-attend event on their schedules, with some attendees having been with us for all eleven years,” said Van. “Each year there’s a new set of challenges and opportunities to be discussed and, regardless of whether it’s someone’s 11th conference or their very first, every attendee comes away with a fresh perspective on the industry.”

Jim Butler of the Hotel Law blog (www.hotellawblog.com) calls the conference “probably the best lender conference in the country…if you are a special servicer, you want to be at this meeting.”

A date has not yet been set for the fall 2012 conference. Interested parties can contact Prism Hotels at (214) 987-9300 for invitation consideration.

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Media Contact: Cooper Smith Koch
cooper@coopersmithagency.com, (214) 329-9191

Hotel management firm served as both turnaround operator and Chief Restructuring Officer for the 184-room, mixed-use hotel and entertainment complex’s Section 363 bankruptcy sale

DALLAS, August 1, 2011 – Se San Diego Hotel has sold for $49 million in a Section 363 bankruptcy sale. Prism Hotels & Resorts served as the property’s turnaround operator and court-appointed Chief Restructuring Officer to the Debtor-in-Possession, 5^th Avenue Partners, LLC. The property was purchased following an extensive marketing campaign by global commercial real estate firm CB Richard Ellis.

“The sale of the Se San Diego Hotel was particularly complex, involving an international bank and a non-local servicer – not to mention the still difficult economic climate facing the southern California real estate market. Through our involvement as both turnaround operator and court-appointed Chief Restructuring Officer during the bankruptcy sale, Prism Hotels & Resorts helped bring order and resolution to the courts quickly, maximizing the hotel’s value and ultimately resulting in a successful sale,” said Steve Van, chief executive officer of Prism Hotels & Resorts.

The Chief Restructuring Officer role was handled by PHC Dallas, LLC, an affiliate of Prism Hotels & Resorts.

The 23-story, 184-room Se San Diego Hotel, located at 1047 Fifth Avenue in downtown San Diego, includes 31,300 square feet of adjacent retail space currently under 15-year lease by House of Blues, as well as the popular Suite & Tender restaurant and Siren rooftop pool and lounge.

About Prism Hotels & Resorts

Dallas-based Prism Hotels & Resorts is one of the fastest growing full-service hotel investment, management and development companies in the United States. The company currently manages more than 7,500 rooms for multiple owners including urban, suburban and resort destinations.  Prism is approved to manage all major brands as well as has extensive experience with independent destination hotels. For more information, please visit www.prismhotels.com.

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More information about the Se San Diego Hotel can be found at www.sesandiego.com.

Media Contact: Cooper Smith Koch
cooper@coopersmithagency.com, (214) 329-9191

DALLAS, June 6, 2011 – Prism Hotels & Resorts has been selected to manage the Sheraton Charleston Airport Hotel, located just outside the Charleston International Airport near the I-26/I-526 crossroads. The eight-story, 289-room hotel is the fourth Starwood property to join Prism’s portfolio in the past 18 months.

“We’re proud to take over management of this hotel, as well as to bring another Starwood property into Prism’s portfolio – the fourth in the last year and a half – further solidifying our partnership with their well-known, highly-regarded brand,” said Steve Van, chief executive officer of Prism Hotels & Resorts. “With its rich history, beautiful gardens and architecture, and delicious Lowcountry cuisine, Charleston is one of America’s most beloved cities. We’re happy to be here.”

The Sheraton Charleston Airport Hotel features a first-class meeting and banquet facility totaling more 10,000 square feet of flexible space and the area’s only indoor-outdoor pool. It is also one of the only Charleston-area hotels to offer free shuttle service to both the airport and to Charleston’s popular downtown historic district.

Charleston has been recognized by Condé Nast Traveler as a “Top 10″ domestic destination for nine consecutive years.

About Prism Hotels & Resorts

Dallas-based Prism Hotels & Resorts is one of the fastest growing full-service hotel investment, management and development companies in the United States. The company currently manages more than 7,500 rooms for multiple owners including urban, suburban and resort destinations.  Prism is approved to manage all major brands, as well as has extensive experience with independent destination hotels. For more information, please visit www.prismhotels.com.

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More information about the Sheraton Charleston Airport can be found at www.sheratoncharleston.com.

Media Contact: Cooper Smith Koch
cooper@coopersmithagency.com, (214) 329-9191

DALLAS, May 4, 2009 – Steve Van, CEO for Dallas-based Prism Hotels & Resorts and long-time lodging industry leader, has launched the “Hotel Default Blog” where he will discuss his views on the challenges facing hotel lenders and owners in today’s real estate downturn. Practical advice on topics such as foreclosures, hotel valuations, receiverships and maximizing net present value will be covered. The blog can be found online at http://hoteldefaultblog.wordpress.com.

“Lenders and owners have never faced tougher times. With this blog, I want to explore solutions to this crisis and create a dialog where we can collectively help find ways to survive now and thrive later,” said Van.

In his first post, “Hotel Lender’s Nightmare: I can’t make the hotel payroll and here are the keys,” Van forecasts almost all lenders and special servicers will get this dreaded call in the next 90 days.

“Because sales in many markets have fallen so dramatically, operating profit becomes negative and making payroll, the nuclear bomb problem in hotel operations, will require a capital infusion. Lenders can no longer count on borrowers to pay up. Most owners know they have no equity left. Payroll will become a lender problem and a nasty one with little warning. Get ready!” he warns

Van founded Prism Hotels & Resorts in 1983 and has positioned the company as the industry leader for managing distressed hotels for lenders and special servicers. Since 2002, Prism has managed more than 145 hotels for lenders and has served as receiver 64 times. Currently, Prism manages more than 7,000 hotel rooms under every major brand in 18 states and the Caribbean. In addition, Van has been honored as Hilton Doubletree Developer of the Year and serves on the Doubletree Owner’s Advisory Council.

About Prism Hotels & Resorts

Dallas-based Prism Hotels & Resorts is one of the fastest growing full-service hotel investment, management and development companies in the United States. The company currently manages more than 7,000 rooms for multiple owners in the 18 states and the Caribbean. For more information, please visit www.prismhotels.com.

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Media Contact: Diana DuBois
diana@coopersmithagency.com, (214) 329-9191

DALLAS, July 1, 2008

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.

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Media Contact: Claire Bloxom
claire@coopersmithagency.com, (214) 329-9191