GIFFTS Recognition Ceremony

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Brooke Ueberroth, Vice President, Communications, and Sarah Clark, Vice President of Corporate Communications presided over the second annual GIFFTS Recognition Ceremony, singling out member hotels and partners who have distinguished themselves through significant philanthropic, community and environmental work. Receiving the company's Pineapple Award for philanthropic endeavors were The Townsend Hotel, Royal Plaza on Scotts and Red Carnation Hotels. RockResorts, WaterColor Inn and Resort, and Bogotá Plaza Summit Hotel were recognized for their commitment to the environment, and community service awards went to the Montage Laguna Beach, Stein Eriksen Lodge, and Turtle Bay. The Hotel Derek was honored for their inspiration of "The Giving Room" with a Pineapple Award for Program of the Year. To further their support of a selected charity or program, the Ueberroth Family Foundation pledged a donation of $5,000 to each award winner.

The ceremony also recognized the 17 hotels that participated in GIFTTS' first-ever consumer program, "The Giving Room". The program, through which participants pledged to set aside 10% of the three-month revenue of one designated suite to the hotel's charity of choice, resulted in total contributions of almost $20,000 - donations were matched by the Ueberroth Family Foundation - to worthy organizations around the world such as UNICEF and International Oxfam.

Next year, Preferred Hotel Group will be holding their annual conference at the spectacular Secrets Maroma Beach, an exquisite new luxury resort opening in 2008 on the Riviera Maya in Mexico.

Since The Townsend opened in 1988, it has received numerous awards and accolades including Mobil Four Star and AAA Four Diamond designations as well as a perennial position on Conde Nast's "Top 100 Gold List," and Travel + Leisure's "World's Best Hotels." THE TOWNSEND HOTEL, a member of Preferred Hotels & Resorts, is located at 100 Townsend Street in downtown Birmingham, Mich. For more information, contact the hotel at 248-642-7900 or 800-548-4172. Additional information is also available at www.townsendhotel.com.

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