The new Staybridge Suites hotel in Aurora is owned and managed by Sun Development and Management Corporation and is operated under a license agreement with an affiliate of Six Continents Hotels, Inc.
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L to R: Bharat Patel, Chmn & CEO, Sun Development & Management Corporation (Owner); Dinesh Gandhi, Vice President, The Republic
National Bank of Chicago (Lender); Ted Anka, Director of Franchise
Sales, Six Continents; Peter Berntzen, Vice President, Duke
Construction; Sherman Jenkins, Executive Director, Aurora
Economic Development Commission.

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Patel said, �The $16 million, 107,000-sq. ft. suburban hotel will be located at the gateway to the prestigious Meridian Business Campus in the heart of the Aurora-Naperville Business Corridor, which is just 40 miles west of downtown Chicago.� Other key area attractions include the SciTech Sciences & Technology Interactive Center, the Paramount Arts center, Walter Payton's Roundhouse Complex & Museum, Splash Country & Phillips Aquatic Center as well as many popular local restaurants.

"The addition of this newest Aurora property will make for a total of four Staybridge Suites properties in the Chicago area," said Jim Anhut senior vice president and brand manager of Staybridge Suites Hotels. "Breaking ground on a third hotel in this area in just under three months is a testament to how positively consumers nationwide and proven developers, like Sun Development are responding to Staybridge Suites by Holiday Inn," said Anhut. "We are pleased with how rapidly the brand continues to grow with 50 hotels open and more than 35 in development," he added.

Sun Development�s new Staybridge Suites hotel will offer several unique amenities such as work areas wired for maximum productivity, a 24-hour store, complimentary guest laundry facilities, an indoor pool, a deluxe complimentary breakfast buffet and a 24-hour business services center.  �In addition,� Patel said, our guests will enjoy gathering in our Great Room for nightly "Sundowners��guest receptions featuring refreshments, light appetizers and conversation.� 

The Aurora hotel will be located at 4320 Meridian Parkway, Aurora, IL 60504 and is scheduled to open in the first quarter of 2004.

Staybridge Suites entered the extended-stay market in December 1998 when its flagship location in Alpharetta, Georgia, opened.  Currently, there are 50 Staybridge Suites hotels open and more than 35 under development.

Six ContinentsSM Hotels, the hotel business of Six Continents PLC of the United Kingdom [LON:SXC, NYSE:SXC (ADRs)], owns, operates or franchises more than 3,300 hotels and 516,000 guest rooms in nearly 100 countries and territories.