WestCoast Hospitality Corporation and Wright Hotels Form Strategic Alliance in Portland Hotel Development

SPOKANE, Wash., March 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- WestCoast Hospitality Corporation and Wright Hotels, Inc. today announced a strategic alliance in the pursuit of the development of a major convention hotel in Portland, Oregon. The plan includes the re-branding and expansion of the existing Holiday Inn Portland Convention Center, located across the street from the 500,000 square foot Oregon Convention Center and three blocks from Lloyd Center, the Rose Garden Arena and Memorial Coliseum. The Holiday Inn will be re-branded under the Red Lion flag and the alliance of WestCoast Hospitality and Wright Hotels will pursue a multi-phase expansion that could become a part of the much discussed Portland Convention Center headquarters hotel. The hotel will open as the Red Lion Hotel - Portland Convention Center in early summer of 2003, following a period of remodeling. "Wright Hotels is a premier hotel development company with a wonderful portfolio of projects and a strong history in the region," stated Don Barbieri, Chairman of the Board, WestCoast Hospitality Corporation. "WestCoast has developed and operated hotels for more than 25 years and after recently converting 22 hotels to our Red Lion brand we are very excited to bring our experience and brand to the Portland convention market with the strength of these two companies behind the project." WestCoast Hospitality Corporation owns, manages or franchises 47 hotels containing more than 7,500 rooms in the three Northwest states of Washington, Oregon and Idaho. WestCoast believes that their extensive system of hotels in the region and their cross marketing and sales efforts will add significant value to the success of this new alliance. WestCoast recently installed a new state-of-the-art central reservations system that will further aid the Red Lion Hotel in managing their inventory of rooms and presenting them in the extensive distribution system accessed through central reservations, including a multitude of internet sites, travel agencies and meeting planners. Stuart Rolfe, President of Wright Hotels, stated, "The strong presence of the Red Lion brand in the markets that we draw from was a very important factor in our decision to convert this hotel to a Red Lion. Red Lion's penetration in the Northwest will allow us to touch a large base of customers through their marketing and sales programs. Additionally, we're pleased to be working with a company that brings the attributes of considerable size, yet is still small enough that the attention of top management is there and available through our multi-phase development effort." Timing on the phases of expansion is still being discussed, with the first expansion likely adding 200 rooms to the existing facility. The project is the first venture between WestCoast and Wright Hotels. About Wright Hotels Wright Hotels, founded by Howard S. Wright, who passed away in 1996, has over 30 years experience in hotel development and management. The firm's principals have directed the development of many hotels, most notably in the northwest are the Seattle Sheraton and the Seattle Waterfront Marriott. The company has operated the Portland Holiday Inn since 1990 and has a long and favorable presence in the Portland market. About WestCoast Hospitality WestCoast Hospitality Corporation (NYSE: WEH - News), owns, manages and franchises hotels throughout the Western United States. WestCoast Hotels and Red Lion Hotels and Inns focus on serving business, convention and leisure travelers in first, second and third tier markets. WestCoast provides entertainment services through TicketsWest, including event ticketing for venues in the United States and Canada, and aggregates content for travel and entertainment that is sold in real-time at its www.ticketswest.com website. TicketsWest also includes WestCoast Entertainment, a Broadway and special event presenting company. G&B Real Estate Services is the real estate division of WestCoast Hospitality Corporation and owns and manages commercial and residential properties. For more information visit: www.westcoasthotels.com. CONTACT: Stephen Barbieri, VP, Chief Communications Office of WestCoast Hospitality Corporation, +1-509-323-7211, or InvestorRelations@WestCoastHotels.com.