LONDON, UK, October 8, 2008. The Rezidor Hotel Group announces the Park Inn Southend-on-Sea. The property featuring 137 rooms is scheduled to open in Q2 2009 and is the 40th Park Inn in the UK & Ireland.

'Park Inn is our fastest growing brand', comments Kurt Ritter, President & CEO of Rezidor. 'We launched the first hotel in early 2003. Today, our portfolio comprises over 100 Park Inns with more than 20.000 rooms in operation and under development across EMEA.'

The Park Inn Southend-on-Sea will be located along Southend's Western Esplanade, overlooking the mouth of the River Thames. The property - which showcases an impressive conversion of the 'The Palace'-building into a mixed use development - will be in the heart of the city's tourist area and easily accessible from other parts of town. Besides 137 rooms (the majority enjoying full sea view), the hotel will offer a bar, a restaurant, and conference facilities on 350 square meters. Guests will also have access to a spa & health club, and upmarket residential apartments will be located on the top floor of the building.

Southend-on-Sea is 40 miles away from central London. It is a popular leisure destination - featuring seven miles of award-winning beaches, the longest pleasure pier in the world, and a sealife centre. Museums, theatres, art galleries, restaurants and pubs complete the program. Southend is also known as the economic and financial hub for Essex and has a relatively large commercial base including a concentration of industrial parks along the A 127 highway.