Hyatt Place Waikiki Beach Celebrates Opening of Diamond Head Tower

Tower Opening Marks Completion of Waikiki Beach’s Newest Hotel

CHICAGO--()--Kokua Hospitality, LLC and Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE:H) announced today the official grand opening of the Diamond Head Tower at Hyatt Place Waikiki Beach. Joining the Pali Tower, which opened in December 2011, the Diamond Head Tower opening marks the exciting completion of the Hyatt Place Waikiki Beach hotel project. Ideally situated in the heart of Honolulu’s bustling Waikiki Beach district at 175 Paoakalani Avenue, Hyatt Place Waikiki Beach, which is owned by Chartres Lodging, provides today’s multi-tasking traveler with a modern, well-designed, and contemporary environment featuring state-of-the-art technology, thoughtful amenities, and casual hospitality.

Recently acknowledged with the prestigious “Project of the Year” award at Hyatt’s select service brand Owner’s Conference, Hyatt Place Waikiki Beach is the quintessential destination for both domestic and international travelers. Just steps from the golden sands and clear, warm waters of Waikiki Beach, guests can enjoy breathtaking views of the picturesque locale and endless recreational activities, such as surfing and exploring the Diamond Head volcanic crater, shopping in Waikiki’s exclusive retail district, and dining at world-class restaurants. Hyatt Place Waikiki Beach is also a great option for families with its ideal location close to popular tourist attractions, including Kapiolani Park, the Honolulu Zoo, and the Waikiki Aquarium.

“We are incredibly excited to unveil the Diamond Head Tower and celebrate the official completion of Hyatt Place Waikiki Beach,” said Phil Tufano, Kokua Hospitality Partner and COO. “We’ve enjoyed much success in the Hawaiian market since our introduction in December 2011, and we look forward to welcoming guests to experience the incredible service and authentic hospitality that Hyatt Place Waikiki Beach offers.”

Hyatt Place Waikiki Beach is now the largest Hyatt Place hotel in the country, as well as the first conversion property in a resort locale for the brand, boasting a total of 426 guest rooms – 191 in the Pali Tower and 235 in the Diamond Head Tower. Beginning with the spacious open-air lobby steps from the ocean, guests are greeted with a variety of accommodation options and amenities. The rooftop pool deck, featuring the guest kitchen for the daily complimentary hot breakfast and a cozy fire pit, offers a chic backdrop for enjoying fun in the sun or having a relaxing evening. All rooms boast contemporary décor with stylish furnishings and feature balconies with ocean, mountain or city views. In addition, guest rooms include complimentary Wi-Fi access, a state-of-the-art media and work center with a 42” flat-panel high-definition television, a plush Hyatt Grand Bed™, and a Cozy Corner sofa-sleeper.

Among the practical amenities that Hyatt Place Waikiki Beach offers is the complimentary a.m. Kitchen Skillet™, which is offered daily and features tasty hot breakfast options, including signature breakfast sandwiches, waffles, French toast, steel cut oatmeal, and Asian specialties. Made-to-order entrees and appetizers from the Bakery Café, as well as select freshly made items including sandwiches, salads, tropical fruit, and rice, are available in the Grab ‘N Go case 24 hours a day. Starbucks® specialty coffees, wine, cocktails, and premium beers are also offered at the Gallery Bar. The hotel features a StayFit@Hyatt fitness center, which opens onto the pool deck, equipped with the latest cardio equipment and free weights, yoga and Pilates mats, and other wellness essentials. The hotel’s more than 4,000 square feet of meeting space accommodates conferences, corporate meetings, wedding receptions, family reunions, and more.

“In just a few short years, we’ve grown the Hyatt Place portfolio tremendously; we have more than 160 hotels and are excited to now have our first Hyatt Place property in a true resort destination,” said Gary Dollens, global head of franchise and select brands for Hyatt. “We’re thrilled to bring Hyatt Place to Waikiki and add to what is already a very strong Hyatt presence in Hawaii.”

“It has been such a great opportunity for Chartres and Kokua to work with Hyatt on the conversion, renovation and reopening of this fantastic property,” said Maki Bara, President of Chartres Lodging. “We are confident that Hyatt Place Waikiki Beach will see much success and will be an exciting new addition to the Waikiki landscape. “

For additional information about Hyatt Place Waikiki Beach, or to reserve accommodations, please visit http://waikiki.place.hyatt.com.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT WAGSTAFF WORLDWIDE AT (312) 943-6900

About Hyatt Place

Launched in 2006, Hyatt Place brings to the upscale select-service hotel category the authentic hospitality for which Hyatt is known. Inspired by multitasking travelers’ 24/7 lifestyle, Hyatt Place combines stylish design and practical amenities with forward-thinking technology and purposeful service. Hyatt Place hotels feature complimentary Wi-Fi access and remote printing, a 24-hour StayFit@Hyatt fitness center, a coffee and wine bar serving specialty coffees and premium wine, beer and spirits, complimentary a.m. Kitchen SkilletTM , featuring freshly prepared breakfast sandwiches, and a Grab ’n Go case stocked with sandwiches and hand tossed salads. The Guest Kitchens offers lunch and dinner entrées around the clock 24/7. Specially trained Gallery Hosts offer assistance with everything from directions to check-in to a freshly made meal. Spacious guestrooms are designed to help guests perfectly blend their lifestyle of work and play, featuring the Hyatt Grand BedTM, Cozy Corner sofa sleeper, work center, 42 inch HDTV’s and the Hyatt Plug Panel media center.

Hyatt Place, a brand of Hyatt Hotels Corporation, offers more than 160 locations throughout the United States. For Hyatt Place information or to make a reservation, call 1-888-HYATT-HP (888-492-8847) or visit www.HyattPlace.com.

About Kokua Hospitality, LLC

Kokua Hospitality, LLC, is a hotel management firm founded by its parent, The Chartres Lodging Group, LLC, with the mandate to become the operator of choice for strategic institutional and select private lodging investors by producing superior results as turnaround specialists. Created by veteran lodging investment and management experts to appeal to an investor’s sensibility, Kokua Hospitality blends best-in-class operating practices with an owner’s DNA. Kokua Hospitality manages a growing portfolio of hotels and resorts nationwide. For more information on Kokua Hospitality, please visit http://www.kokuahospitality.com/ and follow us on Twitter @kokuahotels and http://kokuahospitality.wordpress.com/.

About Chartres Lodging Group, LLC

The Chartres Lodging Group, LLC, is an investment and advisory firm focused on the acquisition, asset management, renovation and development, and property management of lodging assets. Chartres Lodging's principals have been responsible for over $8 billion of lodging investments and have asset managed over 100 upscale and luxury hotels, resorts and conference centers. The firm is currently responsible for a $2.2 billion, 12,500-room portfolio of luxury and upscale hotels, conference centers and resorts in the United States and Japan. Chartres Lodging's principals and employees are direct investors in 90 percent of this portfolio. For more information on The Chartres Lodging Group, please visit www.chartreslodging.com .

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this press release, which are not historical facts, are “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements include statements about our plans, strategies, financial performance, prospects or future events and involve known and unknown risks that are difficult to predict. As a result, our actual results, performance or achievements may differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the use of words such as “may,” “could,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “seek,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” “continue,” “likely,” “will,” “would” and variations of these terms and similar expressions, or the negative of these terms or similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by us and our management, are inherently uncertain. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include, among others, the rate and pace of economic recovery following the recent economic downturn; levels of spending in business and leisure segments as well as consumer confidence; declines in occupancy and average daily rate; hostilities, including future terrorist attacks, or fear of hostilities that affect travel; travel-related accidents; changes in the tastes and preferences of our customers; relationships with associates and labor unions and changes in labor law; the financial condition of, and our relationships with, third-party property owners, franchisees and hospitality venture partners; risk associated with potential acquisitions and dispositions and the introduction of new brand concepts; changes in the competitive environment in our industry and the markets where we operate; outcomes of legal proceedings; changes in federal, state, local or foreign tax law; fluctuations in currency exchange rates; general volatility of the capital markets and our ability to access the capital markets. A more complete description of these risks and uncertainties can be found in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K. We caution you not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which are made as of the date of this press release. We undertake no obligation to update publicly any of these forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, new information or future events, changes in assumptions or changes in other factors affecting forward-looking statements, except to the extent required by applicable laws. If we update one or more forward-looking statements, no inference should be drawn that we will make additional updates with respect to those or other forward-looking statements.

Contacts

FOR: KOKUA HOSPITALITY, LLC
541 North Fairbanks Court
Chicago, IL 60611
312.644.4800
www.KokuaHospitality.com
or
WAGSTAFF WORLDWIDE, INC.
Kelsey O’Neill
312.943.6900
koneill@wagstaffworldwide.com

Release Summary

Kokua Hospitality, LLC and Hyatt Hotels Corporation announced today the official grand opening of the Diamond Head Tower at Hyatt Place Waikiki Beach.

Contacts

FOR: KOKUA HOSPITALITY, LLC
541 North Fairbanks Court
Chicago, IL 60611
312.644.4800
www.KokuaHospitality.com
or
WAGSTAFF WORLDWIDE, INC.
Kelsey O’Neill
312.943.6900
koneill@wagstaffworldwide.com