HFF arranges $27M loan for Maryland warehouse facility

NEW YORK, NY – The New York office of HFF (Holliday Fenoglio Fowler, L.P.) has arranged a $27 million loan for 7605 Dorsey Run Road, a 612,900-square-foot warehouse facility in Jessup, Maryland.

HFF director Steven Klein (top left photo) worked on behalf of Exeter Property Group to secure the five-year, adjustable-rate loan.

Founded in 2006, Exeter Property Group is a real estate company specializing in investing in value-add industrial properties in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Mid-South and Southeastern United States.

New York Life Investment Management LLC, the real estate investment manager for New York Life Insurance Company, closed the loan.

Situated within the Dorsey Run Commerce Center, Dorsey Run Road has excellent access to Interstate 95, 295 and Route 1 and is in close proximity to the Baltimore-Washington International Airport and Fort Meade.

The Class A warehouse facility was completed in 2006 and is nearly one-third leased to Iron Mountain. 7605 Dorsey Run Road has 32’ clear ceiling heights and is cross-docked designed, with 122 loading docks and storage available for 111 trailers.

“7605 Dorsey Run Road is strategically positioned to benefit from two major events in the Baltimore-Washington Corridor. The Base Realignment and Closure Act (BRAC) will bring over 20,000 jobs to the areas surrounding Fort Meade,” said Klein.

“Additionally, the ongoing Route 1 Revitalization Effort will bring new road access, upgraded streetscapes, and an improved environment for local and regional businesses.

"This has already directly benefited the property through the Dorsey Run Road Extension, which now provides immediate access to Route 175. ”

Contacts:

Steven J. Klein, HFF Director, (212) 245-2425, sklein@hfflp.com

Myra F. Moren, HFF Director, Marketing, (713) 852-3500, mmoren@hfflp.com

Carlson opens 1,000th hotel worldwide in St. Martin

ST MARTIN, CARIBBEAN– Carlson Hotels Worldwide® today opened the 1,000th hotel in its worldwide portfolio, the Radisson St Martin Resort, Marina & Spa, (top right photo) dedicating the achievement of this growth landmark to a global initiative of environmental sustainability and responsible business.

At opening ceremonies, top company officials joined with representatives of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Plant for the Planet: Billion Tree Campaign (billiontreecampaign.com) and The Carbon Neutral Company (carbonneutral.com) to officially dedicate this $80 million resort.

The company is planting 1,000 trees worldwide and making a financial donation to the UNEP program plus partnering with The CarbonNeutral Company to offset carbon equivalent to 10,000 room nights.

A highlight of the opening was the planting of the first tree in the 1,000 tree initiative, an indigenous Flamboyant tree that was located near the resort’s signature ocean-front pool.

“We are extremely proud to open the Radisson St Martin Resort - the 1,000th property in the Carlson Hotels Worldwide portfolio---celebrating this growth milestone with a global initiative embracing responsible business and environmental sustainability,” said Jay Witzel, (top left photo) president and CEO of Carlson Hotels Worldwide. “The five brands of Carlson Hotels Worldwide now are serving guests in 74 countries,” he added.

These brands include: Regent Hotels & Resorts (regenthotels.com); Radisson Hotels & Resorts (radisson.com), Park Plaza® Hotels & Resorts (parkplaza.com), Country Inns & Suites By CarlsonSM (countryinns.com) and Park Inn® (parkinn.com).

The new 252-room Radisson St Martin Resort, nestled in the picturesque cove of Anse Marcel facing 1,600 feet of white-sand beachfront, is a flagship resort in the growing global portfolio of Radisson Hotels & Resorts.

The luxury ocean-front resort has undergone a total transformation and features 63 suites and 189 guestrooms; a signature beachfront restaurant with al fresco dining; casual, market-style eatery and lobby tapas bar. The resort also includes a stunning zero-entry infinity pool; full-service spa and fitness center; 7,500 square feet of meeting space and 150-slip marina.

The hotel is managed by Radisson Hotels & Resorts under Caribbean veteran Hotel Manager Jeff Lesker. For more information on this resort, visit www.radisson.com/stmartin.

“We are delighted that Carlson Hotels is celebrating the opening of its 1,000th global property by pledging 1,000 trees to the Billion Tree Campaign,” said Achim Steiner, (middle right photo) executive director United Nation’s Environment Porgramme. “In the face of alarming environmental data, the Billion Tree Campaign offers hope and a simple solution for climate change mitigation, while enhancing biodiversity.”

“Taking action on climate change involves making the issue accessible to everyone – as a company and also as an individual,” said Sue Welland, (bottom left photo) Founder and Executive Director, Marketing of The CarbonNeutral Company.

“We are pleased to team with Carlson Hotels in support of an initiative that emphasizes sustainability, personal responsibility and which provides customers with a simple yet effective solution.”

Taj Opens Fifth Hotel in Bangalore, India

BANGALORE, INDIA- - Taj Hotels Resorts & Palaces today announced the highly anticipated opening of its new premium city hotel in the IT nerve centre of Bangalore.

The hotel also bears a new name and identity: “Vivanta by Taj - Whitefield, Bangalore” (top right photo) and is slotted in the ‘upper upscale’ segment.

The stunningly designed hotel arrests attention, being located right at the entry-point of the ITPB (International Tech Park, Bangalore) at Whitefield in East Bangalore. (bottom left photo)

With this, the Taj now operates five hotels in the city.

Vivanta addresses the needs of a sophisticated and cosmopolitan customer group, with 199 stylish guest rooms, eclectic entertainment and dining options and a spectrum of facilities offered specifically based on a deep study of the new generation traveler’s lifestyle.

Vivanta is designed to deliver vibrant experiences; combining the charming hospitality that is the hallmark of the Taj, with a contemporary, vivacious twist!
The name Vivanta is drawn from vivacity, vividness & ‘bon vivant’: an appreciation of the good things in life. It speaks of style, refinement and living life to the full.

“We are delighted to open this new hotel in the vibrant, cosmopolitan city of Bangalore. Our growth plans envisage a critical role for this key metropolis and we look forward to making a strong impression with this unique offering” commented Raymond N Bickson, (middle right photo) Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, The Indian Hotels Company Limited.

Jamshed Daboo, (middle left photo) the Chief Operating Officer, Taj Premium Hotels explained “Our hotel in its physical form, the services we offer & the imagery that Vivanta creates are all in perfect sync with the ethos of Bangalore.

"Vivanta Whitefield Bangalore is high-spirited & stylish and will appeal to the agile ‘work-hard-play-hard’ hotel user. We have collaborated with this customer set and have devised a creative set of experiences which seek to surprise & delight our guests in small but meaningful ways”.

Vivanta by Taj – Whitefield, Bangalore is a hotel for the business nomad & offers a suite of conferencing & banquet facilities. Tango, the banquet hall is over 500 square meters of contemporary meeting space, tuned with digital audio systems & hi speed T-1 internet access. Agenda is the board room equipped for power meets.

For Further information please contact :

Gurprit Kaur Arora/Sagar ParidaVaishnavi Corporate Communications Pvt Ltd9980672672/9008744388

Walt Disney Co.'s Proposed $1B Global Notes Rated 'A'

NEW YORK, NY--Standard & Poor's Ratings Services today assigned its 'A' rating to the proposed $1.0 billion global notes due 2013 offered by The Walt Disney Co.

The long-term corporate credit rating on Disney is 'A' and the rating outlook is stable. The rating reflects Disney's premier creative franchises, extensive media distribution, conservative capital structure, and good discretionary cash flow.

(Magic Kingdom attraction, top right photo)

We currently believe that the company's management of operating costs and capital spending will help support its discretionary cash flow and credit metrics, despite recessionary pressures on revenue.

Media Contact:
Mimi Barker, New York, (1) 212.438.5054, mimi_barker@standardandpoors.com

Analyst Contacts:
Deborah Kinzer, New York (1) 212.438.5229
Heather M Goodchild, New York (1) 212.438.7835