Ardent to Manage Sheraton Atlantic Beach

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. October 14, 2008

SEEPTEMBER 5, 2007. Ardent Hotel Advisors, formerly Opus Hospitality Advisors, today announced that they have signed an agreement to manage the Sheraton Atlantic Beach Oceanfront Hotel in Atlantic Beach, North Carolina, marking the seventh contract for the newly formed management company. Ardent has appointed Tim Peters, a 25-year veteran of the hotel industry, to be the new general manager of the property. The Sheraton Atlantic Beach contract establishes an East Coast presence for the company, which recently relocated to a larger headquarters to accommodate its growth. In light of its evolution as a company, Ardent also has changed its name.

"We didn't intend to expand to the East Coast this quickly; however, the Sheraton Atlantic Beach was an ideal opportunity for us," said Si Sloman, Ardent principal and COO. "The property is located on a 20-mile pristine beach in a small, dynamic community on North Carolina's Crystal Coast that attracts both vacationers and business travelers alike. Our goal with this property is to become a focal point of the community, to make the hotel a social hub for residents, whether they're looking for a stunning setting for a wedding reception or a smart, welcoming place to meet for a wonderful meal at one of our two restaurants, Shades by the Sea or Molly's, which is actually right on the beach."

Located at 2717 Fort Macon Road, the Sheraton Atlantic Beach Oceanfront is the largest beach property in coastal North Carolina. The hotel features 200 guest rooms with the Sheraton Sweet Sleeper SM Bed, spectacular ocean views, indoor and outdoor pools, a fitness center and 9,000 square feet of flexible meeting space that can accommodate groups of up to 600 people. The property also offers fishing on its own 600-foot private fishing pier, boating, deep sea fishing, scuba diving, golfing and nature walks. The hotel is surrounded by historic sites and shopping areas and is a short drive from the newly renovated North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores.

Tim Peters, the newly appointed general manager, began his career as a front desk agent and worked his way up through the industry as a beverage manager, restaurant and banquet manager and director of food and beverage. He has been a general manager since 1989, operating properties in Massachusetts, North Carolina, and Tennessee. He was named General Manager of the Year in 1990 by Beacon Hospitality Group.

The signing of Ardent's seventh contract coincides with a name change for the company, formerly known as Opus Hospitality Advisors. According to the principals, the name Ardent Hotel Advisors better captures the identity and purpose of the company.

"When we first selected a name for our company, we chose OPUS for a number of reasons. We liked that it's a word with several meanings, but especially liked the idea that it signifies a crowning achievement of work," said Jim Evans, Ardent principal and CEO. "But it has proven to be such a popular name for so many different types of companies that we decided to switch to something else to avoid any possible confusion.

"Ardent is, in several respects, a name that more accurately captures what you might call the soul of our business. We began our company in large part because we both love what we do - and we firmly believe there is real satisfaction in working with like-minded people to create hotels that consistently provide exceptional experiences for our guests. The dictionary says that the word 'ardent' expresses passion, strong enthusiasm or devotion. We think that pretty much summarizes how we feel about our work. The name, Ardent Hotel Advisors, is simply a more accurate depiction of who we are and how we work, individually and as a team."

Ardent also has moved to a new headquarters, located at 14301 N. 87th Street, Suite 114, Scottsdale, Arizona 85260.

"As our portfolio grows, we have an obvious need to expand our team, as well," Evans said. "To accommodate this growth, it already has become necessary for us to move to a larger office to house the team of hospitality experts we have put together. We believe this growth is indicative of the quality operations Ardent provides and the need for superior management by all hotels, particularly in the current phase of the industry cycle."