Carlson Hotels Worldwide - Asia Pacific announced a major strategic alliance with the Lotus Hotel Investment Fund, a new US$1 billion private equity fund which is being set up to target hotel development opportunities in high-growth markets across the region including China, India, Thailand and Vietnam.

The alliance, which was announced jointly by Martin Rinck, President and Managing Director of Carlson Hotels Worldwide - Asia Pacific and Arun Amarsi, CEO of London-based Lotus Hotel Investment Fund, will take advantage of
surging demand for world-class hotels in the major business and leisure markets across Asia. The alliance will focus primarily on strategic development opportunities in China and India, along with other key growth markets in the region.

Martin Rinck said: This is a great opportunity to combine the power of Carlson`s world-class hotel brands with the proven expertise of the Lotus management team to maximize the huge potential we see in these markets.

He added: Over the last five years, Carlson Hotels Worldwide has built a fantastic foundation in Asia and with this new alliance, we are poised to accelerate rapidly into the future.

Martin Rinck commenced his new position at Carlson Hotels Worldwide - Asia Pacific in Singapore on 1st October after joining from The Rezidor Hotel Group in Europe, where he led business development for four years. During this
period, the company doubled the size of its hotel portfolio to more than 300 properties open or under development. In addition, Martin played an instrumental role in taking the company public in November 2006 on the OMX stock exchange. The Rezidor Hotel Group manages Carlson Hotel brands in Europe, Middle East and Africa, including Regent Hotels & Resorts, Radisson Hotels & Resorts, Country Inns & Suites By Carlson and Park Inn.

Arun Amarsi, CEO of Lotus Hotel Investment Fund, commented: We are in the process of launching this new fund and are delighted to have Carlson Hotels Worldwide as one of our brand partners. This is a true meeting of
minds, because we share the same business philosophy and desire to seize the exciting opportunities which we see in markets such as China and India, in particular.

Mr. Amarsi has significant experience in the hospitality sector gained from his previous role as CEO and Managing Director of the Singapore-based investment company BIL International Ltd. Lotus Hotels Investment Fund will be a specialist provider of capital focused on both new hotel developments and refurbishment / re-branding opportunities to provide significant financial returns for its investors.