Hyatt Hotels of California partners with California's first cultural tourism coalition; Hyatt welcomed as sole hotel chain active in cultural enhancement project

Business Wire, March 21, 1997

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 21, 1997--Lisa Haller, divisional director of sales and marketing of Hyatt Hotels Western Division, is pleased to announce the recent partnership between Hyatt Hotels of California and the newly formed California Cultural Tourism Coalition.

The Coalition, a private and public partnership, will promote 16-themed itineraries that focus on the cultural history and activities of three of the state's major cities -- San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego. Suggesting multi-day stays, the itineraries will range in subjects from contemporary museums, family cultural adventure, architecture, Jewish and Latino heritage to gay culture and jazz and blues.

"This is an opportunity we did not want to miss," noted Charles McElroy, vice president of Hyatt Hotels Corp. Western Division. "The promotion and recognition of California's cultural activities is long overdue and we are excited to be intimately involved in this venture," he continued.

Recently, the Coalition has been infused with a $150,000 grant from the National Endowment of the Arts and at the Far Western Cultural Tourism Leadership Forum to be held March 19-21, Hyatt Hotels of California will announce its sponsorship of this program. Hyatt, with 23 hotels across the golden state and a concentration nearby the three targeted cities, will be the partnership's only hotel sponsor.

Other partners in the California Coalition include: California Arts Council; California Division of Tourism; Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Diego Convention & Visitors Bureaus; San Diego Commission for Arts & Culture and the Los Angeles and San Francisco County Arts Commissions.

"After a year of negotiating and planning this Coalition, it is exciting to see our efforts come to fruition," said Bob Wentworth, director of sales at the Hyatt Regency Los Angeles, who also serves as a member of the Los Angeles Cultural Tourism Advisory Committee and, along with Haller, is on the steering committee for the California Cultural Tourism Initiative.

The Western Division, with properties near California's most popular destinations and business centers, offers travelers Hyatt Hotel's personalized service with state-of-the-art facilities and amenities. -0-

Note to Editors: Photos of Hyatt Hotels of California and a copy of the Initiative are available by calling Dawn Jackson at 415/403-4838.

CONTACT: Hyatt Hotels Corp.

Dawn Jackson, 415/403-4838