�The Hilton Garden Inn Houston NW/Chateau represents another step in our new growth strategy to quadruple the number of rooms we have under management to over 10,000 within the next four years,� said William J. Otto, president & CEO of Marcus Hotels and Resorts. �We currently are negotiating management contracts with a number of other owners, and will consider the acquisition of small to mid-sized management companies in an effort to expand our management portfolio in an aggressive yet controlled manner. Our goal is to be one of the nation�s top 10 management companies in term of rooms under contract, while still providing a high level of personal attention from senior management to each owner.�  Located on the southeast corner of

Bill Otto, President & CEO, Marcus Hotels and Resorts  Active in both the hospitality industry and community service, Otto has held numerous leadership positions, including: Wisconsin delegate to the 1995 White House Conference on Travel and Tourism; member of the Governors Council on Tourism, State of Wisconsin; past chairman of Wisconsin Innkeepers Association; chairman of the Greater Milwaukee Conventions and Visitors Bureau; president, Nashville Hotel  and Motel Association: board of directors, Tennessee Hotel and Motel Association; advisor to the Hospitality Program at Tennessee State University; and board member, University of Wisconsin-Stout.  A native of Milwaukee, he holds a B.S. in Hotel and Restaurant Management from the University of Wisconsin-Stout and has  earned the Certified Hotel Administrator designation from the American Hotel and Motel Administration.

�We looked at a number of management companies and were particularly impressed with Marcus� expertise in development and management and their track record for quickly ramping up properties to profitability,� said William Karrington, president of Forum Development, the project developer and owner. �We anticipate other opportunities to use their expertise as we continue our
expansion.� 

Karrington said Forum is aggressively seeking other development projects. �We have the capital and the appetite to build top-quality hotels in locations throughout the U.S. and believe now is a great time to develop with the current reduced competition for land and more reasonable construction costs.� 

Scheduled to open later this fall, the Hilton Garden Inn Houston NW/Chateau will feature approximately 5,000 square feet of meeting and ballroom space, a 24-hour complimentary business center, an on-site laundry facility, restaurant and lobby lounge, fitness center and swimming pool. Additionally, the hotel will feature a Pavilion Pantry� convenience mart adjacent to the front desk with
refreshments and sundries available for purchase. 

�Research shows that technologically-savvy travelers want a hotel in the northwest Houston region with a home-like atmosphere equipped with the latest business amenities and services,� said William Karrington. �The Hilton Garden Inn Houston NW/Chateau caters to those needs with an ergonomic chair, oversized desk, desk-level outlets, two-line phones, high-speed Internet access and adjustable lighting.� 

The Hilton Garden Inn Houston NW/Chateau hotel development will be the 11th property for Marcus Hotels, bringing the number of rooms currently managed or under development to more than 3,100. The hotels are found in five states and include branded and independent full service hotels and resorts in the luxury, upscale, and mid-market segments of the lodging industry. 

Marcus Hotels and Resorts is a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Marcus Corporation. Headquartered in Milwaukee, Wis., The Marcus Corporation is comprised of four divisions: limited-service lodging, hotels/resorts, movie theatres and restaurants. 

Certain matters discussed in this press release are �forward-looking statements� intended to qualify for the safe harbors from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.