Howard Johnson Brand Opens First Hotel in Alaska

PARSIPPANY, NJ - Howard Johnson International today announced the opening of the 246-room Howard Johnson Plaza Hotel, its first in Alaska.

Formerly a Holiday Inn, the hotel is located in downtown Anchorage and features six meeting rooms, indoor swimming pool, laundry, exercise room, complimentary shuttle services and a restaurant that serves American, continental and children's breakfast. Free hotels services include faxing and photocopying.

Howard Johnson President Ken Greene said the hotel's opening marks a "significant step" in the brand's strategy to grow in center-city markets.

"As an increasingly popular destination for leisure travelers, Alaska is a natural step in the brand's expansion plans," he said. "Penetrating markets like Anchorage is a major initiative designed to accelerate brand growth and distribution."

Local attractions include the Fifth Avenue Mall, Alaska Botanical Gardens, the Alaska Center for Performing Arts, the Anchorage Museum of History and Art and the University of Alaska Anchorage.

Howard Johnson International Inc. franchises 468 hotels in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Malta, Romania, Argentina, Columbia, Guatemala, Dominican Republic, Dutch Antilles, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela, Israel, Jordan, Oman, United Arab Emirates, China and India. For more information or to make a reservation at any Howard Johnson location, call toll-free in the United States (800) I-GO-HOJOâ or visit the Web site at www.howardjohnson.com. Howard Johnson is a subsidiary of Cendant Corporation (NYSE:CD).

Source: Howard Johnson International Inc.