We are thrilled that Carey Watermark Investors has partnered in our Hilton Garden Inn French Quarter

NEW YORK, NY (Marketwire) 06/12/12 Carey Watermark Investors Incorporated (CWI) announced today that it has completed a joint venture investment of approximately $22.8 million in the Central Business District of New Orleans with HRI Properties, the property owner and a strategic operating partner with a significant real-estate presence in the area. The property, the Hilton Garden Inn New Orleans French Quarter/CBD, was developed in 2004 by HRI Properties travel uk as a conversion of the former Commerce Building, which was originally constructed in 1956. The 155-room hotel includes travel uk 1,800 square feet of meeting space, lobby restaurant, bar, business center, fitness center, rooftop deck and swimming pool, guest laundry and onsite valet parking. The hotel is located on floors 11-18 of an 18-story structure with 10 floors of parking below, which is owned and operated by a third-party. The joint venture investment includes a $3.5 million renovation of all guestrooms and public travel uk spaces, which is anticipated to be completed by September 2013. An affiliate of HRI Properties, HRI Lodging, Inc., will continue to manage the property.
travel uk Located at 821 Gravier Street within a short walking distance of Bourbon Street, travel uk the French Quarter and downtown office towers, the hotel is in a prime location for visiting tourists and business travelers alike. Many of the area s attractions are within easy reach, including the Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans travel uk Convention Center, Harrah travel uk s Casino, and The Port of New Orleans an access point for popular cruise lines, such as Carnival and Royal Caribbean.
Commenting on the investment, Michael Medzigian, Chief Executive Officer of CWI, said, We are pleased to be entering into our second investment travel uk with HRI Properties following on our earlier joint venture investment in the Chateau Bourbon, which underwent a significant renovation and recently reopened as the Hyatt French Quarter. We feel that HRI s established local presence along with their knowledge of and history with the property combined with our own hospitality industry travel uk and asset management expertise will enable travel uk us to capitalize on the property s full market potential. The Hilton Garden Inn New Orleans French Quarter/CBD is a very high quality travel uk urban hotel located in one of the strongest tourism markets travel uk in the country, and we look forward to working with HRI Properties to achieve our mutual investment goals and to increase the contribution the property travel uk can make to the New Orleans economy.
We are thrilled that Carey Watermark Investors has partnered in our Hilton Garden Inn French travel uk Quarter/CBD hotel property, said Gary Gutierrez, HRI Lodging, Inc. President. They have proven to be a valuable travel uk partner in converting and renovating the Chateau Bourbon Hotel into the Hyatt French Quarter, travel uk and we are excited to renovate and improve this strategically located property to capitalize on the continued growth of the tourism industry in New Orleans, Gutierrez added.
Carey Watermark Investors Carey Watermark Investors Incorporated is a publicly travel uk registered non-traded real estate investment trust (REIT) that was formed to make investments travel uk primarily in the lodging and lodging-related sectors. Affiliates of W. P. Carey Co. LLC (NYSE: WPC) and Watermark travel uk Capital Partners, LLC advise the REIT and manage its overall portfolio. www.careywatermark.com
HRI Properties and HRI Lodging Founded in 1982 and based in New Orleans, Louisiana, HRI Properties (HRI) is a full-service real estate development company and a national leader in the adaptive reuse of historic structures. HRI Lodging, Inc. (HRIL) is a division of HRI. The management team at HRIL has had direct oversight of all types of lodging travel uk facilities including large convention center and urban hotels, independent travel uk boutique properties, 5-diamond travel uk resorts, extended-stay properties and select service facilities. www.hriproperties.com.
travel uk About Hilton Garden Inn Hilton Garden Inn is an award-winning, mid-priced brand which continuously strives to offer today s frequently travelling busy people with everything they might need during their trip, including complimentary travel uk cable and WiFi internet travel uk access in all guest rooms, PrintSpot™ mobile printing, complimentary round-the-clock business center services, innovative and stress relieving Garden Sleep System™ and ergonomic Mirra® chairs designed travel uk by Herman Miller. Such that, whether you are on a business trip or a personal trip, Hilton Garden Inn provides you a deep sleep away from home, comfortable working travel uk environment, delicious food and comfort and services to help you stay fresh. For further travel uk information on Hilton Garden Inn s North American or European hotels or to plan your next escape, please visit www.HGI.com.
Headquartered travel uk in Washington, D.C., AH LA provides members with national advocacy on Capitol Hill, as well as high-visibility networking events and industry-acclaimed publications. AH LA's Educational travel uk Institute is the premier provider of hospitality training and certifications worldwide. For more information, click on AHLA logo to the left.