BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Founded and incorporated in 1979 in Des Plaines, IL, HOSPITALITY CONSULTANTS, INC. by or through its subsidiaries, affiliates, and related partnerships, owns, operates, develops, finances, appraises and brokers hotels, motels, resorts and restaurants.

The firm, now headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida, was founded by Robert N. Goldstein, the President and Chief Executive Officer and Thomas M. Hennessy, Jr., Vice Chairman.

The firm has developed and/or managed more than 50 hotel/motels or resort properties throughout the U.S. ranging from a 35 unit resort hotel and marina in Key Largo, Florida to a 500+ room, 26 story SHERATON HOTEL in Ft. Myers, Florida. The firm has operated limited service motel properties to 4 & 5 star, full service properties. The firm operates primarily franchised hotels under the RAMADA, HOLIDAY INN, SHERATON, HILTON, DAYS INN, COMFORT INN, HOWARD JOHNSON and RADISSON chain affiliations, though it has operated nearly every major hotel franchise brand.

The principals of the firm have served as Court appointed Receivers, Custodians and Consultants, as well as Bankruptcy Trustees & Examiners for hotels, motels, resorts, restaurants and other real estate projects in various court related matters including foreclosure actions, bankruptcies, and other litigation. The firm also provides expert witness and litigation support services to the legal community, including eminent domain work for the Department of Transportation and specialized loan recovery work in Latin America for the Export-Import Bank of the United States.

HOSPITALITY CONSULTANTS REALTY SERVICES, INC., the real estate brokerage affiliate has represented the sale of more than $1 billion in hospitality related real estate and businesses and is one of the most active hotel and restaurant brokerage firms in the Southeast.

Other affiliates include HOSPITALITY TITLE SERVICES, LLC, a Stewart Title Guaranty Agency specializing in title insurance, escrow and closing services for commercial and residential transactions, NEXUS Recoveries, LLC, a legal collection firm providing specialized loan recovery and restructuring services, Atlanta, Georgia based BARBER & COMPANY, an MAI appraisal firm with a specialty in hospitality valuation and feasibility and PALM ESTATE HOMES, LLC, a Boca Raton based luxury home development firm.