As the largest of the Starwood® Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. brands, Sheraton serves the needs of both business and leisure travellers in locations from Argentina to Zimbabwe. Offering the entire spectrum of comfort - from full-service hotels in major cities to luxurious resorts by the water - Sheraton can be found in the most sought-after cities and resort destinations around the world. Sheraton has more than 400 hotels and resorts in over 70 countries.

Sofitel is the prestige brand of Accor hotels, with more than 180 properties that bring a unique French "art de vivre" to prime locations around the world. With 158,000 people in 140 countries, Accor is the European leader and one of the world's largest groups in travel, tourism and corporate services.

Thistle Hotels is a full service hotel group that offers you 49 hotels of individual character and style situated in some of the best locations throughout the UK, including 20 properties in London.

Pan Pacific Hotels and Resorts currently encompasses 25 hotels (18 managed properties and 7 marketing affiliates) in 11 countries throughout Asia, the Pacific and North America. Pan Pacific Hotels and Resorts is represented worldwide by SRS-WORLDHOTELS and is a member of the Global Hotel Alliance.

The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C. of Chevy Chase, MD, (USA) currently operates 59 hotels in the Americas, Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Africa. Over 20 future projects are in development including hotels in Moscow and Beijing. The Ritz-Carlton is the only hotel company to have earned the prestigious Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, twice for outstanding customer service.

Hong Kong-based Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, Asia Pacific's leading luxury hotel group, currently manages 47 hotels under the five-star Shangri-La and four-star Traders brands, with a room inventory of over 21,000. The group has over 30 projects under development in Canada, mainland China, India, Malaysia, Maldives, Oman, Philippines, Qatar, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom.

There are 212 Hyatt hotels and resorts (over 90,000 rooms) in 43 countries around the world, operating under the Hyatt®, Hyatt Regency®, Grand Hyatt® and Park Hyatt® brands. Currently, there are 28 Hyatt hotels and resorts under development, including 10 new hotels in China. In January 2005, Global Hyatt Corporation also added an additional 143 U.S. properties to its growing portfolio with the acquisition of the upscale, limited service AmeriSuites hotel chain. These properties will be renovated and repositioned under the new Hyatt Place select service brand in 2006.

InterContinental Hotels Group PLC of the United Kingdom is the world's largest hotel group by number of rooms. InterContinental Hotels Group owns, manages, leases or franchises, through various subsidiaries, more than 3,500 hotels and 535,000 guest rooms in nearly 100 countries and territories around the world. The Group owns a portfolio of well recognised and respected hotel brands including InterContinental® Hotels & Resorts, Crowne Plaza® Hotels & Resorts and Holiday Inn® Hotels and Resorts and also manages the world's largest hotel loyalty programme, Priority Club® Rewards, with over 25 million members worldwide.

London-based Le Meridien is a global hotel group with a portfolio of more than 130 luxury and upscale hotels in 56 countries worldwide. The majority of its properties are located in the world's top cities and resorts throughout Europe, the Americas, Asia Pacific, Africa and the Middle East. In the 2005 Luxury Brand Status Index survey, Le Meridien was recognised as one of the top 15 luxury hotel brands.

The Boscolo Group has been active in the tourism industry for over twenty years, as hotel manager, tour operator and provider of hotel services. Established in Venice in 1978, over the years the Boscolo Group has grown to become a European-wide operator, without losing its Italian identity. Today Boscolo Hotels controls 18 four or five star hotels, 14 of which are owned.

Founded in 1960, Four Seasons has followed a targeted course of expansion, opening hotels in major city centers and desirable resort destinations around the world. Currently with 65 hotels in 29 countries, and more than 20 properties under development, Four Seasons will continue to lead luxury hospitality with innovative enhancements, making business travel easier and leisure travel more rewarding.

Hilton Hotels Corporation is recognized internationally as a preeminent hospitality company. The company develops, owns, manages or franchises more than 2,300 hotels, resorts and vacation ownership properties. Their portfolio includes many of the world's best known and most highly regarded hotel brands, including Hilton®, Conrad®, Doubletree®, Embassy Suites Hotels®, Hampton Inn®, Hampton Inn & Suites®, Hilton Garden Inn®, Hilton Grand Vacations Club® and Homewood Suites by Hilton®