ATLANTA, October 22, 2007 – IAHI, the Owners’ Association of IHG, announces the election of four new members to its Board of Directors: Bakulesh G. “Buggsi” Patel, Kevin Hilchey, Mark Zipperer, and Jose Paoli Montesinos. The announcement was made during the 2007 IHG Americas Investors & Leadership Conference, held October 22-24 in Dallas, Texas.

Bakulesh G. “Buggsi” Patel is the Owner of BHG Hotels, a Lake Oswego, Oregon-based hotel/motel management and consulting firm. Patel has ownership interest in 21 hotels in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Iowa, Ohio, Michigan, and California. Two additional properties are currently under development. Patel has been a member of the IAHI since 2004 and has been a member of the Holiday Inn Express Committee since 2005. Patel graduated from the inaugural class of IAHI’s unique Leadership Institute in 2004. Patel served as Chairman of the Asian American Hotel Owners’ Association in 2000 and has been a member of the Executive Committee since 1997. In addition, Patel is a perennial member and Director and past Executive Committee member of the American Hotel & Lodging Association. Patel also was elected President of the Oregon Lodging Association in 1997-1998, and elected to a second term in 1998-1999.

Kevin P. Hilchey is President and Founder of Longview, Texas-based Lodging Host Hotel Corporation, since 1984. He has been active in the IAHI by serving on the Holiday Inn Express Brand Committee from 2003 to the present, and the Southern Regional Committee from 2001-2003. Hilchey co-founded the East Texas Hotel and Motel Association in 1982 and served as its President. He also has served on the Board and as President of the Legal Defense Fund for the Texas Hotel and Motel Association (TH&LA).

Mark Zipperer is President, Chief Executive Officer, and Owner of Pride Hospitality, LLC in Germantown, Tennessee, which he founded in 1999. Zippperer currently serves as a member of the IAHI Technology Committee. He also held a position on the Holiday Inn Express Brand Committee from 2002-2006 and the Central Regional Committee from 2000-2002. In addition, he is an advisory board member of the Hotel and Restaurant Program at Gambling State University and an executive board member of the U.W. Stout Foundation.

Jose Paoli Montesinos, President of Grupo Hotelero Latino America since 1991, has been responsible for the operations of five Holiday Inn hotels and one Tulip Inn property. He has been a member of the IAHI Mexico Committee since 2004 and has served as its President as well. The hotel industry veteran has worked throughout Latin America for IHG for 37 years. The Mexico City native has participated in more than 25 hotel openings for IHG.

“These gentlemen bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to our Board and will advocate extensively for our members,” says Rick Takach, IAHI Chairman and President and Chief Executive Officer of Vesta Hospitality in Vancouver, Washington. “We welcome them and look forward to working together.”

Note to editors:IAHI members own and operate IHG brand hotels worldwide, including Crowne Plaza Hotels and Resorts, Hotel Indigo, Holiday Inn Hotels and Resorts, Holiday Inn SunSpree Resorts, Holiday Inn Select, Holiday Inn Express, Staybridge Suites and Candlewood Suites hotels. Established in 1955, the IAHI was the first association of owners in the hotel industry, and today comprises more than 2,700 members in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. The IAHI represents its membership in working together with IHG for the purpose of maintaining the highest professional hospitality standards for its brands. For the latest news from the IAHI, visit our online Newsroom at www.iahi.org.