Ashford Hospitality Prime to Acquire 415-room Sofitel Chicago Water Tower for $153 million

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. February 11, 2014

DALLAS - February 11, 2014 - Ashford Hospitality Prime, Inc. (NYSE: AHP) ("Ashford Prime" or the "Company") today announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire the 415-room Sofitel Chicago Water Tower for a total consideration of $153 million in cash ($369,000 per key). The Company expects to close the acquisition in the next thirty days. Located in the desirable Gold Coast submarket of Chicago, Illinois, the 415-room, four-star hotel features over 10,000 square feet of meeting space. The property will continue to be managed by Sofitel (Accor SA). The Company intends to finance the property with approximately $80.0 million of non-recourse mortgage debt.

The purchase price of $153.0 million represents a trailing 12-month cap rate of 6.0% on net operating income and an EBITDA multiple of 14.1x. On a forward 12-month basis, the purchase price represents a cap rate of 6.8% on net operating income and an EBITDA multiple of 12.7x. In 2013, the Sofitel Chicago Water Tower achieved RevPAR of $182, with 82% occupancy and an Average Daily Rate of $222.

"We are very excited to acquire the Sofitel Chicago Water Tower as this high RevPAR asset is representative of how we envision building out Ashford Prime's portfolio. This property will increase Prime's overall average RevPAR and further diversify our portfolio by market, brand and manager," said Monty J. Bennett, Ashford Prime's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "Also, its prime location in a major U.S. gateway market fits perfectly with the investment strategy that Ashford Prime was specifically designed to capitalize on. We will look for similar characteristics in acquisition opportunities as we continue to expand the Ashford Prime portfolio."

Chicago is a major U.S. gateway market for both corporate and leisure travelers. The Chicago lodging market has experienced a substantial recovery in the past three years driven by outsized corporate and leisure demand growth with little corresponding supply growth, and continued gains in RevPAR and Average Daily Rate (ADR) are anticipated with occupancy now above prior 2008 peak levels. The nation's ongoing economic recovery continues to support increased business and leisure travel and Chicago is considered one of America's most dynamic cities, renowned for its iconic architecture, museums and a blend of urban sophistication and mid-western warmth.

The Sofitel Chicago Water Tower has 415 rooms, including 32 suites and one presidential suite, all featuring Sofitel's luxurious feathertop and duvet sleep system - SoBed. The hotel has more than 10,000 square feet of meeting space including a 4,592-square-foot ballroom, eight meeting rooms and a private dining room with open kitchen. Additionally, the hotel is home to one of Chicago's finest restaurants - Cafe des Architectes. Boasting classic French roots, Cafe des Architectes serves contemporary cuisine created with local ingredients, and offers outdoor terrace dining.

The Sofitel Chicago Water Tower provides upscale accommodations just minutes from the exclusive shopping of the Magnificent Mile, an array of downtown Chicago's world-famous galleries, museums, fashionable boutiques and the many restaurants of Rush Street. This luxurious, downtown Chicago hotel is an architectural icon, designed by French architect Jean-Paul Viguier with a unique knifelike edge on the southern end which extends 33 feet over the sidewalk. The hotel is a 32-floor prism of glass featuring stunning views of Lake Michigan and the Chicago skyline. Its spectacular design has garnered the honor of being on the American Institute of Architects list of America's Favorite Architecture.

About Ashford Hospitality Prime

Ashford Hospitality Prime is a real estate investment trust (REIT) focused on investing in high RevPAR full-service and urban select-service hotels and resorts located predominantly in domestic and international gateway markets.