According to Richard M. Sobelman, President of Palatine Hotel Corporation, which owns the
property � the milestone will be marked with the presentation of 100 Hawthorn trees to the City of Lafayette and Purdue University, along with the planting of a large tree in the hotel�s Hawthorn room.

The ceremony will feature remarks by Sobelman, Dr. Ray Kavanaugh, Dean of Purdue�s Hotel School; Dr. Carl Braunlich and Dr. Tom Pearson of the Hotel School; Belinda Kiger, Director of Community Parks & Urban Forestry for the City of Lafayette; Mike Leven, President & CEO of U.S. Franchise Systems, Atlanta-based franchisor of the Hawthorn brand, and Mike Cohen, Senior Vice President of The Bricton Group, which manages the property.  

�Hawthorn is right for the needs of today�s traveling public and will be a quality property
for this area,� said Sobelman, a longtime developer.  �We are excited to be the brand�s
100th hotel and our gift of trees symbolizes our eagerness to assist Purdue University, as
well as the City of Lafayette and such companies as Suburu-Isuzu, Eli Lilly, Wabash National and Caterpillar with their extended-stay housing needs.�

The 100th Hawthorn

The newest Hawthorn and Indiana�s third features three floors with 74 studio, one- and two-bedroom suites, several with fireplaces and/or Jacuzzi®, an indoor pool and hot tub.
Pets are allowed.  The hotel is within three miles of downtown Lafayette and four to five
miles from Purdue University, Destin Mackey Arena and Ross Ade Stadium, Tippecanoe
Battlefield, Clegg Botanical Gardens and Wolf Park.  Complimentary shuttle service is
available, as is grocery shopping.  Senior management includes Christine Siemers, General
Manager, and Kelly Forville and Peggy Zion, Sales Managers. 
 

About The Bricton Group Chicago-based Bricton Group also manages Hawthorn properties in Schaumburg, Ill. and Ann Arbor, Mich., plus Microtel Inn & Suites, Holiday Inn, Ramada Inn, Sleep Inn and Doubletree properties in Florida, Illinois, Indiana and Michigan.  Sobelman�s partners include Edward Doherty, President & CEO, Allan N. Niederman, Treasurer, and Helen Lindow. The Bricton Group operates a number of hotels  throughout the United States including: The 238-room Holiday Inn - Elmhurst located six miles south of Chicago's O'Hare Airport and features a 15,000-square-foot Holidome. The 333-room Holiday Inn City Centre in Peoria, Illinois; a convention hotel remodeled for $4.8 million containing a convention ballroom that seats 1,200 for dinner. The 200-room award-winning Quality Hotel Woodfield located in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. Strategically renovated through cash flow only, this property has evidenced a dramatic turnaround. The Bricton Group was recently named management company for the 222-room Holiday Inn - North Campus in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Previously owned by the Domino's Corporation and operated as a Best Western, this hotel is the premier lodging facility in Ann Arbor. Bricton was instrumental in facilitating the change of both ownership and franchise, and under the new managment contract, the property is positioned for financial success.

Commented Mike Leven, �We are proud that our 100th Hawthorn is being opened by Sobelman and his team, and that the brand continues to expand as a national player and develop in major markets across the country.�

Hawthorn Suites is targeted to business travelers attending training classes, handling
long-term projects or on other extended-stay travel, as well as to families relocating to a
new city.