Hyatt Introduces Three Hyatt-Branded Hotels in Mecca

Hyatt Regency, Hyatt Place and Hyatt Summerfield Suites hotels mark entry into The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Chicago - Thursday, May 19th 2011 [ME NewsWire]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) announced today that a Hyatt affiliate has entered into an agreement with Jabal Omar Development Company to manage three Hyatt-branded hotels in Mecca (Makkah), the holy city of Islam, in The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Hyatt Regency Mecca, Hyatt Place Mecca and Hyatt Summerfield Suites Mecca will be part of a two phase master planned mixed use development with a built up area of more than two million square meters.

The three hotels will be the first Hyatt-branded hotels in Mecca. Hotel details include:

First Phase

Hyatt Regency Mecca, slated to open in 2013, will offer 628 guestrooms, in addition to meeting facilities, several dining venues, a Regency Club lounge, a spa and fitness center, and 24-hour in room dining.

Second Phase

Hyatt Place Mecca, slated to open in 2014, will offer 200 guestrooms, meeting facilities, several food and beverage outlets, men’s and women’s fitness centers, and a prayer room.
Hyatt Summerfield Suites Mecca, slated to open in 2014, will offer 200 guestrooms, meeting facilities, several food and beverage outlets, men’s and women’s fitness centers, and a prayer room.

Hyatt Place Mecca and Hyatt Summerfield Suites Mecca, mark the entry of Hyatt’s select service brands in the Middle East, each brand bringing to the upscale select-service hotel category the authentic hospitality for which Hyatt is known.

“Mecca draws millions of tourists every year, many from regions where the Hyatt brand is well known and recognized,” said Peter Norman, senior vice president, real estate and development for Hyatt International, Europe, Africa and Middle East. “Opening these three hotels will strengthen the Hyatt brand in Saudi Arabia and will further Hyatt’s goal of becoming the preferred brand in every segment we serve.”

The hotels will be located in close proximity to several religious sites, including the holiest shrine of Islam – Al-Masjid Al-Haram or the Sacred Mosque, Mount Arafat, Muzdalifah, and Mina. Pilgrims visit these sites each year for Hajj, the largest pilgrimage in the world, and during the month of Ramadan.

“We are thrilled to be involved in the introduction of the Hyatt Regency, Hyatt Place and Hyatt Summerfield Suites brands to The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” said Peter Fulton, managing director, Hyatt International, Southwest Asia. “These hotels will join Park Hyatt Jeddah – Marina, Club and Spa, and serve as a testament to the global appeal of the Hyatt brand, and the well established reputation Hyatt has as a preferred management company.”

Hyatt Regency is an upscale brand of full-service hotels specializing in large meetings and conventions, located in urban, suburban, airport, exhibition, convention centers and leisure destinations worldwide. Currently, there are more than 140 Hyatt Regency hotels in operation globally, with more than 25 hotels under development in the United States, India, China, Vietnam and Latin America.

Hyatt Place combines stylish design and practical amenities with forward-thinking technology and purposeful service. Hyatt Place hotels feature complimentary Wi-Fi access, complimentary continental breakfast, a StayFit@Hyatt fitness center, a coffee bar serving specialty coffees, and a Grab ’n Go case stocked with freshly made sandwiches and salads. Guest Kitchens offer made-to-order breakfast, lunch and dinner entrées around the clock. Specially trained hosts offer assistance with everything from directions to check-in to a freshly made meal. Currently, there are more than 160 Hyatt Place hotels in operation in the United States, with more than 30 hotels under development in the United States, The Netherlands, India, Panama, and Costa Rica.

Hyatt Summerfield Suites are upscale, all-suite, residential-style hotels offering travelers spacious, contemporary studio, one- and two-bedroom suites ideal for any length of stay. Guests will find an atmosphere that provides the sociability of a neighborhood with features such as a complimentary full breakfast buffet, evening socials, a guest market, laundry facilities and a business center. Currently, there are 35 Hyatt Summerfield Suites hotels in operation in the United States.

Across all Hyatt brands, more than 30 new properties opened in 2010, and 140 contracts were executed.

About Hyatt Hotels Corporation

Hyatt Hotels Corporation, headquartered in Chicago, is a leading global hospitality company with a proud heritage of making guests feel more than welcome. Thousands of members of the Hyatt family strive to make a difference in the lives of the guests they encounter every day by providing authentic hospitality. The Company’s subsidiaries manage, franchise, own and develop hotels and resorts under the Hyatt®,Park Hyatt®, Andaz®, Grand Hyatt®,Hyatt Regency®,Hyatt Place® andHyatt Summerfield Suites®brand names and have locations on six continents. Hyatt Residential Group, Inc., a Hyatt Hotels Corporation subsidiary, develops, operates, markets or licenses Hyatt ResidencesTM and Hyatt Vacation Club®, which is changing its name to Hyatt Residence ClubTM. As of March 31, 2011, the Company’s worldwide portfolio consisted of 451 properties in 43 countries. For more information, please visit www.hyatt.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 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

Hyatt Hotels Corporation

Laurie Cole

+1 (312) 780-5935

laurie.cole@hyatt.com



Hyatt Hotels & Resorts

Yasmin Poonegar

+971 50 1891 262

yasmin.poonegar@hyatt.com