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“Year of ‘Bests’” for Benchmark Hospitality International and Its Portfolio of Luxury Hotels & Resorts

The Woodlands (Houston), Texas, October 2009 … In spite of the economic and hospitality industry challenges of 2009, the year has been one of “Bests” for Benchmark Hospitality International.  The company and key hotels and resorts within its portfolio have been recognized regionally and nationally for excellence as employers, and as the deliverers of superior service to guests.  
 
“We are thrilled as a company to be recognized as the ‘best’ in so many areas this year,” said Burt Cabañas, chairman and CEO of Benchmark Hospitality International.  “This has been one of the more challenging periods in the history of our industry.  To be recognized as ‘the best’ in several regions of the country is an honor, and we applaud all of Benchmark’s employees who were instrumental in achieving these awards.”
 
Benchmark Hospitality, which is headquartered near Houston, entered 2009 by being named one of the “Best Companies to Work for in Texas,” from Texas Monthly magazine, the Texas Association of Business, and the Texas State Council of the Society for Human Resource Management.
 
This was followed in the summer with the company’s Colorado Springs-based property, Cheyenne Mountain Resort, being named one of the “Best Companies to Work for in Colorado” from ColoradoBiz magazine and the Colorado State Council of Society of Human Resource Management.  This was the second consecutive year that Cheyenne Mountain Resort was named to this prestigious statewide list.
 
When autumn arrived, Benchmark’s Chattanooga-based “urban resort,” The Chattanoogan, was named the “Best Hotel in Chattanooga” by readers of city’s newspaper, The Chattanooga Times Free Press.  
 
In addition, Benchmark Hospitality properties in California, Colorado, New Jersey, Tennessee and Virginia were named in 2009 as the “Best in their Region” by one of the nation’s leading trade magazine groups, Meetings Media.  Benchmark is recognized globally for the company’s expertise in delivering superior-quality, productive meetings supported by highly trained conference service teams.  Benchmark Hospitality properties recognized as the Best in their Region were:
 
-  Chaminade Resort & Spa, Santa Cruz, California, www.chaminade.com  
-  Cheyenne Mountain Resort, Colorado Springs, Colorado,www.cheyennemountain.com
-  The Heldrich Hotel and Conference Center, New Brunswick, New Jersey,www.theheldrich.com 
-  The Chattanoogan, Chattanooga, Tennessee, www.chattanooganhotel.com 
-  The Founders Inn Resort & Spa, Virginia Beach, Virginia, www.foundersinn.com 
 
Benchmark Hospitality International is a leader in the management and marketing of resorts, conference centers, hotels, and Personal Luxury Hotels™.  The privately held company, launched in 1980, is a founding member of the International Association of Conference Centers.  Benchmark Hospitality is a worldwide organization operating properties in major metropolitan and resort destinations.  Benchmark's international headquarters is located in The Woodlands, Texas, near Houston, with regional offices in New Jersey and Connecticut.  International offices are located in Tokyo, Japan, and Santiago, Chile. For the location of Benchmark’s properties and additional information, visit www.benchmarkhospitality.com.