"As part of our international growth plans, we recognize the importance of growing our North American distribution," says Omni Hotels' President Jim Caldwell. "Montreal is a magnificent, cosmopolitan city and the Mont-Royal is a fabulous hotel. We are thrilled to be able to introduce the Omni Hotels brand to Canada with such an exceptional product."

Caldwell says the acquisition of the Montreal hotel is in keeping with Omni Hotels' commitment to grow its luxury brand in key business and leisure travel markets.

"While we are aggressively seeking new opportunities, we do not view our business as a race -- unlike some of our competitors," says Caldwell. "We have made a commitment to our customers to provide a consistent, four-diamond product -- consistent in service and quality. Our growth will be selective, targeted, and in keeping with our long-term business plan."

$5.5 MILLION (U.S.) RENOVATION

In addition to the acquisition, Omni Hotels announced plans for a $5.5 million (U.S) renovation of the property scheduled to begin this summer. Renovations to public areas and banquet facilities are planned for this June, with guest room refurbishing scheduled to begin in the fall.

NEW GENERAL MANAGER - JOY PAPPAS

Joy Pappas joins Hotel Omni Montreal as the new General Manager. She is the first woman to join the select circle of four-star hotel general managers in Montreal. A graduate of Concordia University she has also completed a management program at Cornell University. Pappas brings to her position extensive experience in marketing and sales gained primarily at several hotels in New York City. Most recently she was executive assistant general manager at the Loews Hotel Vogue in Montreal.

FIVE-STAR, FOUR-DIAMOND HOTEL

Nestled in the heart of the city's downtown business and entertainment district at the corner of Peel and Sherbrooke Streets, the five-star, four-diamond rated Hotel Omni Montreal has an established reputation for being a "home away from home" for some of Canada's most sophisticated travelers including celebrities like Celine Dion, Madonna and Luciano Pavarotti.

This modern and classic hotel blends French culture and style with Canadian heritage and European-influenced service. One of Montreal's most renowned hotels, it features 300 luxuriously appointed guest rooms, suites and penthouses; a state-of-the-art fitness center; outdoor heated pool with adjoining whirlpool and terrace; award-winning cuisine (Opus II, Zen cuisine chinoise); multilingual concierge staff; more than 16,000 square feet of function space and some of the finest professional meeting services the city has to offer.

The hotel is the recipient of the 1998 Pinnacle Award from Successful Meetings Magazine and Gourmet Magazine has named it among the top five hotels in Eastern Canada for the last two years.

"The Hotel Omni Montreal will maintain the reputation of being comfort and service driven as customers have come to know it," says Caldwell. "Our Montreal guests will lack for nothing in the way of services and amenities."

Since undergoing new ownership and management in 1996, Omni Hotels has invested nearly three quarters of a billion dollars in new developments, property upgrades, the installation of state-of-the-art technology systems and a company-wide food and beverage overhaul -- all in keeping with Omni Hotels' plan to improve quality and service to become the consistent four-diamond hotel company of choice.

Headquartered in Irving, Texas, Omni Hotels is a privately owned chain of 43 first-class and luxury hotels and resorts located throughout the United States, Mexico, and now, Canada. Omni Hotels properties offer four-diamond services ranging from gourmet dining, fitness facilities, tennis, golf, wine tastings, tours of local attractions, music festivals and children's activities. Omni Hotels will continue an aggressive agenda for expansion in North America and internationally.