Country Inns & Suites Had Quality Year Despite Slow Economy
	MINNEAPOLIS -- (January 29, 2002) � Country Inns & Suites By Carlson, a highly successful international mid-tier lodging chain with over 315 locations, had a good year in 2002 despite the economic slow down. It opened 25 new properties worldwide and signed 28 license agreements.
With the construction of its 210-room premier hotel at Newark International Airport, the brand is looking ahead to seek development in strategic markets such as San Diego, Los Angeles, Seattle, New Orleans and Washington D.C. "Carlson has committed $18 million for development of company-owned Country Inns & Suites and we are very focused on establishing hotels in these markets based on visibility and viability," said Nancy Johnson, executive vice president, Country Inns & Suites By Carlson. "Our Newark property is scheduled to open in May and that hotel will not only provide high visibility for our brand, but establish us as a major player at airport locations." In 2002, the brand expanded internationally, opening properties for the first time in France and Mexico. In France, Country Inns & Suites By Carlson opened its largest property in Europe to date, a 180-room hotel at Paris' Charles de Gaulle airport. It also opened its first hotel in Mexico in San Luis Potosi, part of a plan to open five hotels in Mexico over the next five years. More expansion into Central and Latin America is planned, as Country Inns & Suites plans to open its first property in San Jose, Costa Rica during the first quarter. In the United States, Country Inns & Suites expanded further west, opening properties for the first time in Billings, Mont. and Portland, Ore. The company also earned national acclaim for customer satisfaction, validating the brand's reputation for providing a satisfying hotel experience. In the J.D. Power and Associates 2002 North American Hotel Guest Satisfaction Study, Country Inns & Suites By Carlson received the highest ranking for guest satisfaction in its category of Mid-Price Hotel Chains with Limited Service "With the downturn in the economy over the past year, we knew we had to focus even more on taking care of our customers and surpass our level of service to guests," said Nancy Johnson, executive vice president, Country Inns & Suites By Carlson. "Our highest ranking in J.D. Power's guest satisfaction survey confirmed that we are reaching our goals and bringing back customers. That is so important in today's economic and global climate." For the 11th year in a row, Country Inns & Suites has earned a 98 percent guest return rate, one of the highest in the industry. As a way to thank guests for their loyalty to the brand, Country Inns & Suites recently launched an in-house library program at its North American hotels called Book It And Return which lends free books to guests based on the assurance they will return the book on their next visit. For every book returned to a Country Inns & Suites hotel, the company will make a $5.00 donation to ProLiteracy Worldwide, the world's largest nonprofit educational literacy organization. Country Inns & Suites locations feature traditional architecture and sophisticated residential interior design with hardwood flooring and decorative ceiling borders. Each hotel welcomes guests with traditional furnishings that blend rich woods and elegant floral-patterned fabrics. The rooms offer many amenities often found at higher-priced hotels such as complimentary breakfast, in-room coffee maker, in-room iron and ironing board, and weekday morning newspaper. Country Inns & Suites is known for its consistently high quality accommodations and personal, warm hospitality.