New Castle Opens Dual-branded Marriott in Downtown Syracuse, New York

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. August 01, 2013

SYRACUSE, NY - August 1, 2013 - Officials of New Castle Hotels and Resorts, a leading hotel owner, operator and developer, and RHS Holdings, LLC, a prominent, Syracuse-based real estate development firm, today unveiled the first new-build hotels in downtown Syracuse in more than five decades with the official ribbon cutting of the new Courtyard by Marriott/ Residence Inn Syracuse Downtown at Armory Square.

The combination hotel, a 78- room Residence Inn and 102-room Courtyard by Marriott constructed under one roof, is located in the heart of the city's historic Armory Square district and anchors the Connective Corridor that links downtown with Syracuse University.

The hotels also mark the return of Marriott brands to downtown Syracuse. The $30 million project is the largest, non-office building, new construction project in downtown Syracuse in more than 25 years.

"We are proud to be a part of the continued revitalization of Downtown Syracuse and Armory Square," said Richard Sykes, vice president of RHS Holdings, and partner in the hotel ownership group, The Inns at Armory Square, LLC. "We're thrilled to be part of the wave of economic development downtown with guests expected to bring in more than $18 million a year to the local economy."

"I am excited to welcome the Inns at Armory Square to Downtown Syracuse," said Syracuse Mayor Stephanie A. Miner. "This expansive new hotel is a welcome addition to the variety of offerings in this neighborhood. I'd like to commend Marriott and the developer, RHS Holdings, for their hard work, forward thinking, and commitment to revitalizing this neighborhood. On behalf of the City of Syracuse, I am proud to open this facility and bring these new visitors to downtown."

"Armory Square is one of the great urban redevelopment stories in the country, and the only thing it was missing was the right hotel products," said Gerry Chase, president and chief operating officer of New Castle Hotels and Resorts. "The sister hotel concept is popular in tight urban areas because it allows the hotels to offer more services and accommodate both extended stay and transient guests. This hotel will serve the needs of family and alumni visiting the university and extended stay guests like the performers playing at the nearby theater, visiting professors and professionals working with the surrounding offices. This combination of hotels and the power of the popular Marriott brands strikes just the right balance for this part of Syracuse."

Armory Square is a six- block planned city center boasting office and residential buildings and a thriving commercial/entertainment scene with more than two dozen bars and restaurants, the Museum of Science and Technology, the historic Landmark Theater and 20-plus stores, salons and boutiques. The university's College of Visual and Performing Arts also is located at Armory Square.

Courtyard by Marriott/Residence Inn Syracuse Downtown at Armory Square offers valet parking, complimentary WiFi throughout the hotel and features a shared lobby, pool and 1,400 square feet of meeting space. The Bistro, a casual dining concept featuring flexible seating, quick, freshly prepared breakfast, light bites and cocktails, is a signature feature of the Courtyard by Marriott brand, along with the popular Go Board, a 55-inch touch screen offering local news, weather, flight information and more. Guests of the Residence Inn will be treated to the brand's complimentary, daily breakfast and mid-week social gatherings, all designed to provide a sense of community for guests away from home.

About The Courtyard by Marriott

The open, bright and contemporary Courtyard hotel lobby welcomes guests with vivid contrasting colors, including blue, green, orange and red. The traditional front desk is replaced with separate welcome pedestals to create more personal and private interactions when guests check in and allow staff to show guests the lobby features and provide assistance. Flexible seating options range from a communal table in the middle of the action to more private media booths with high-definition televisions to a more intimate, semi-enclosed lounge area.

Dining also has been completely redesigned with The Bistro - Eat. Drink. Connect.®, offering casual, flexible seating; easier access to food and higher quality, healthier menu options for breakfast; and light evening fare, including snacks, cocktails, wine and beer, for guests to unwind. Coffee lovers also can enjoy freshly brewed Starbucks coffee. The Market , a 24/7 shop for snacks, beverages and sundries, always is open for late-night cravings or the toothpaste guests may have forgotten to pack.

A key component of the Courtyard lobby is the newly enhanced GoBoard® 4.0, which presents local information, maps, weather and headline news on a 55-inch, LCD touch screen. Designed with today's busy traveler in mind, the award-winning GoBoard® features mobile integration, enabling guests to send directions from the GoBoard® directly to their smart phones. Guests also can touch the screen for immediate access to detailed flight information for local airports, popular entertainment and local event information, as well as walking directions.

Throughout the hotel, guests can connect to complimentary WiFi, and there are ample electrical outlets in the lobby to power digital devices. The business library features several computer terminals, along with a printer and separate computer stations dedicated solely to printing airline boarding passes and checking flight statuses.

Courtyard by Marriott offers a refreshing environment that helps guests stay connected, productive and balanced. Intuitive services and design accommodate guests' needs for choice and control. With more than 900 locations in 38 countries and territories, Courtyard hotels participate in the award-winning Marriott Rewards® frequent travel program that allows members to earn hotel points or airline miles for every dollar spent during each stay. For more information or reservations, contact the Courtyard Syracuse Downtown at Armory Square directly at 315-422-4854, call the Courtyard toll-free number at 800-321-2211, or visit www.courtyard.com.

About The Residence Inn by Marriott

Residence Inn properties are designed as all-suite hotels that offer studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom suites. Guests looking for a revitalizing sleep experience will enjoy the hotel's plush mattresses and crisp linens, while guests focused on being productive will value their suite's large, well-lit work desk, ergonomic chair and complimentary high-speed Internet access. Designed for stays of five nights or more, each suite also has a fully-equipped kitchen with a coffeemaker, microwave oven and residential-sized appliances.

The Residence Inn's complimentary breakfast has a variety of great options, including specially made featured items. Guests can start their day off right with healthy food choices and, with a convenient to-go offering, can make sure they do not miss the most important meal of the day.

Extending the feeling of comfortable living on the road, the hotel offers guests inviting and functional public spaces to relax or collaborate. Road warriors and families alike enjoy the hotel's grocery delivery service, complimentary WiFi, 24-hour onsite food and beverage market, dry cleaning services, and onsite guest laundry room. The hotel's weeknight evening gatherings offer a casual, relaxing environment where guests can be as social as they want, while enjoying light fare.

With more than 600 properties in the United States, Canada, Europe, the Middle East and Central America, Residence Inn by Marriott is a leader in the extended-stay lodging segment. Designed for long stays, the brand offers spacious suites with separate living and sleeping areas. Fully functional kitchens, grocery delivery, 24-hour markets and complimentary breakfast help guests maintain a healthy balance while on the road. Complimentary Wi-Fi allows guests to stay connected to the home and office, while health and fitness options and inviting lobby spaces provide comfortable places to work and relax.

Residence Inn participates in the company's award-winning Marriott Rewards® frequent travel program that allows members to earn hotel points or airline miles for every dollar spent during each stay. For more information or reservations, contact the Residence Inn Syracuse Downtown at Armory Square directly at 315-422-4864, call the Residence Inn toll-free number at 800-331-3131 or visit www.residenceinn.com.

About RHS Holdings, LLC

RHS Holdings, LLC is a real estate development and property management firm located in Syracuse, NY. Restoration and renovation of urban historic manufacturing facilities into mixed use commercial and residential projects has been the company's major focus, along with various hospitality and resort operations in Central NY. For more information, please contact [email protected].

About New Castle Hotels & Resorts

The Courtyard by Marriott/Residence Inn Syracuse Downtown at Armory Square is operated by Shelton Conn. based New Castle Hotels & Resorts, an award-winning independent third-party hotel manager, owner and developer with 30 hotels and resorts and nearly 5,000 rooms under contract or in development. New Castle's growing portfolio of hotels spans 10 states and three Canadian provinces and includes several of Canada's historic landmark resorts. The privately-held company was established by CEO, David Buffam in 1980 and consistently ranks among the top hotel management and development companies in North America. New Castle is a preferred operator for diverse brands within the Marriott, Hilton and Starwood families. For additional information, please go to www.newcastlehotels.com.