US Franchise Systems, Inc. (USFS), parent company of the franchisor of Hawthorn Suites, announced that Hawthorn Hotels & Suites Brand Management, Regional Licensor for the Middle East, North Africa and Turkey, is bringing the Hawthorn Suites brand to Turkey. The first property -- the Hawthorn Karaca Resort -- is owned by Seyfi Karaca, a leading Turkish businessman, and is scheduled to open in Bodrum, Turkey early next summer.

According to John Mavrak, Hawthorn Hotels & Suites Brand Management, Regional Licensor for the Middle East, North Africa and Turkey, additional properties are planned for the region.

We look forward to working with Mavrak and his team, said Mike Leven, president and CEO of USFS. The potential for Hawthorn`s development in this part of the world is exciting and will offer a new alternative for international leisure and business travelers.

Construction is underway on the new Bodrum property, located in southeastern Turkey on the Mediterranean/Aegean Coast, 50 minutes flight time from Istanbul. The Hawthorn Karaca Resort will be a full-service luxury property, offering 65 spacious rooms and one-bedroom suites on seven floors, all with views of the Aegean Sea.

The design team is the Metex Design Group of Assisi, Italy, which designed the Four Seasons Istanbul and Cairo, Grand Hyatt Istanbul and Ritz Carlton Istanbul; the development project manager is Towns-Wadey of Istanbul, Turkey.