TOP MANAGERS NAMED AT HILTON GARDEN INN DOWNTOWN JACKSON IN HISTORIC KING EDWARD HOTEL

NEW ORLEANS, LA (November 5, 2009) "Miro D. Lago has been appointed general manager of the Hilton Garden Inn Downtown Jackson in the historic King Edward Hotel," announced Gary Gutierrez, president of the Lodging Division of HRI Properties.

In addition, Carolyn J. Monfils has been named Director of Sales at the downtown Jackson hotel, scheduled to open mid December 2009.

Lago has worked in the hotel industry for 20 years, most recently as director of rooms at Hilton Pensacola Beach Gulf Front, where he assisted in the conversion of the property from a Hilton Garden Inn of 181 rooms to a full service resort of 275 rooms.

Prior to his experience in Florida, he served as manager of the Hilton Garden Inn French Quarter in New Orleans, another hotel owned and developed by HRI Properties.

He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in history from Louisiana Tech in 1987 and started his career in the hospitality industry at the Holiday Inn Metrodome hotel in Minneapolis. He has also served in managerial positions at the Delta Queen Steamboat Company, the historic Pontchartrain Hotel in New Orleans and the Hilton Riverside Hotel, the largest in New Orleans.

Monfils was recruited from California, where she most recently served as general manager of Homewood Suites by Hilton in Rancho Cucamonga. She has also worked as hotel manager and director of sales of Embassy Suites Hotel in Brea, CA and director of business travel at Ritz Carlton, Huntington Hotel in Pasadena, CA.

She attended Meridian College in Orange, NJ and Mount San Antonio College in Walnut, CA.

The historic King Edward building has been renovated into the 186-room Hilton Garden Inn Downtown Jackson, plus 64 apartments on the upper floors to create the first urban center residence in downtown Jackson. Parking for 187 vehicles is also included in the footprint of the project.

The hotel renovation created some 5,000 square foot of meeting space, including restoration of the original grand ballroom. In addition, the Hilton Garden Inn Downtown Jackson features a full-service restaurant and the King Edward Bar & Grill, expected to become Jackson's new downtown gathering place.

All of the grand, historic spaces of the hotel have been carefully restored to their original grandeur including the lobby, rotunda, pre-function spaces and the neo-classical exterior.

The 64 apartment units will feature HRI's upscale residential amenity package that includes granite counter-tops, hardwood floors, stainless steel appliances (microwave, range, dishwasher and refrigerator), ceiling fans, full-size washers and dryers in every unit and high speed Internet access.

Residents will enjoy access to hotel services. The common area amenities of the apartments will include a rooftop pool and terrace with a large recreation room for private functions, state of the art fitness center, on-site property management and secure parking in the adjacent garage. Residents will be able to park in designated spaces in the garage with direct access to the apartment elevator lobby. The units will enjoy expansive views of downtown Jackson with large windows and 10-foot ceilings.