BENCHMARK APPOINTS PAUL GIBSON DIRECTOR OF FOOD &
BEVERAGE AT EDITH MACY CONFERENCE CENTER

BRIARCLIFF MANOR, NEW YORK, August 2005 … Benchmark Hospitality International has announced the appointment of Paul Gibson as director of food &beverage for Edith Macy Conference Center. Dave Vogt, general manager for Benchmark at Edith Macy, made the announcement saying, "Paul brings extensive hospitality management experience to Edith Macy, with many years spent in food &beverage. He is a wonderful addition to the leadership of this important department and we welcome him."

Gibson brings over two decades of professional food &beverage experience to Edith Macy Conference Center. Previously he was food &beverage director at the Sovereign Hotel and Conference Center, located in West Springfield, Massachusetts, a position he held for six years. Prior to this, Gibson was director of food &beverage for the Sovereign Hotel of Albany, New York. He also previously served in the position of director of catering at the Albany Hilton Hotel.

A strong believer that one should give back to the community in which he lives, Mr. Gibson has an active history of involvement in local arts programs and of participation in social service organizations, such as homeless shelters and food banks.

Located in Briarcliff Manor, New York, just 45 minutes from Manhattan, Edith Macy Conference Center (www.edithmacy.com) is situated among 405 wooded acres on a mountainside overlooking the heart of Westchester County. The secluded setting boasts 14,000 square feet of flexible business meeting space in four separate conference facilities and meeting rooms, including the Edith Macy Conference Center and the John J. Creedon Education Center. For small, private gatherings to large conferences of up to 200, Edith Macy Conference Center provides a natural, quiet setting for successful meetings and corporate retreats. Edith Macy Conference Center is managed by Benchmark Hospitality International.

Benchmark Hospitality International, an independent hospitality management company based in The Woodlands (Houston), Texas, operates resorts, conference centers and hotels both domestically and internationally. For locations of Benchmark Hospitality properties and for additional information, visit Benchmark's Website at www.benchmarkhospitality.com.

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