ORLANDO (May 14, 2009) – Rosen Hotels & Resorts announced today a $50-100 million expansion and renovation of six of its seven Orlando hotels within the next seven years.

The plan, unveiled by Harris Rosen, President & COO of Rosen Hotels & Resorts, will begin in February 2009 with the refurbishment of approximately 2,700 guest rooms at Rosen’s four leisure properties — Quality Inn International, Rodeway Inn International, Quality Inn Plaza and Comfort Inn Lake Buena Vista — for an estimated $40-50 million. The project is scheduled for completion by 2011.

Rosen also will add approximately 50,000 – 100,000 square feet of meeting space to the Rosen Centre, as well as parking garages and walkways connecting each hotel to the Orange County Convention Center. The additional meeting space is expected to be completed by 2012, bringing Rosen Centre’s meeting space from currently 106,000 square feet to approximately 160,000 square feet. Upon completion of those projects, Rosen may add 400-500 rooms to Rosen Plaza by 2016.

Of Rosen Hotels & Resorts’ seven Orlando properties, only the AAA Four-Diamond-rated Rosen Shingle Creek, which opened in Sept. 2006, will not undergo improvements or expansion as part of the plan.

Initiating a multi-million dollar expansion during a slow economy may surprise others in the industry, yet Rosen says low prices offered by contractors seeking work prompted him to put the expansion into play a little sooner than anticipated. “Meeting planners are always looking for the newest hotel and the newest ballroom in the most convenient, appealing location,” said Rosen. “To stay competitive in this business, you’ve got to have your eye on the future, regardless of current economic conditions. And, if we can help those in the building business to continue earning a living, we all come out ahead.”

Refurbishments at the four leisure properties not only will make the rooms more comfortable and up-to-date for guests, but also will make the hotels more eco-friendly. Upon completion of the redevelopment, Rosen will seek Green Lodging status for each of the hotels. All three convention properties — Rosen Plaza, Rosen Centre and Rosen Shingle Creek — have been designated Two Palm Green Lodges under the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)'s Florida Green Lodging Program, which was launched in March 2004 to establish environmental guidelines for hotels to conserve natural resources and prevent pollution.

Maitland, Florida based Helman Hurley Charvat Peacock/Architects, Inc. (HHCP) was the architect for Rosen’s last four hotel projects, including the award winning Rosen Shingle Creek Resort and is currently designing the expansion of the Rosen Plaza and Rosen Centre hotels. “It is a pleasure to work for an owner like Harris Rosen who has a strong core belief in the importance of a high quality guest experience, as well as a commitment to the conservation of resources at every level,” says Michael Chatham, AIA, president of HHCP.

Together, the three Rosen convention hotels offer the most rooms, most meeting space and closest proximity to the Orange County Convention Center of any Orlando convention hotels. Combined, they currently offer more than 3,600 rooms and more than 650,000 square feet of flexible meeting space and one of the nation’s largest column-free ballrooms. An award-winning championship 18-hole golf course and golf academy, world-class spa, nearly two dozen dining, entertainment and lounging options, state-of-the-art fitness centers, a variety of tennis and sport courts provide meetings attendees and leisure guests unparalleled convenience and amenities.

About Rosen Hotels & Resorts
Poised to celebrate its 35th anniversary next year, Rosen Hotels & Resorts has grown from 256 to more than 6,300 rooms, approximately six percent of the total guest rooms in Central Florida. Today, the Rosen family of hotels, which includes the award-winning convention properties Rosen Plaza, Rosen Centre and Rosen Shingle Creek, and four leisure properties in the Orlando tourist corridor, including the Quality Inn International, Quality Inn Plaza and Rodeway Inn International and Comfort Inn Lake Buena Vista, remain committed to providing outstanding value for all guests.  For more information about Rosen Hotels & Resorts, visit www.rosenhotels.com.

About HHCP An innovator in architecture and a major player in Central Florida's growth and development for more than three decades, HHCP has evolved into an international design leader with diverse projects in over 30 nations worldwide. Founded in 1975 by four partners, HHCP today has more than 91 talented, diverse team members located in Orlando, Florida, San Juan, Puerto Rico, and Beijing, China. The architectural design firm offers clients a unique depth of expertise through wide-ranging practice areas, including planning/mixed use, themed entertainment and hospitality, health facilities, residential communities and retirement resorts. For more information, visit www.HHCP.com.