PROTEA'S YEAR OF RECOGNITION - 23 November 2005

This is the year of recognition for Protea Hotels and, aptly, it's their 21st birthday too! Executive Chairman Otto Stehlik's vision has come into its own as Protea takes its position as a leading force on the African Continent and the world. This is underpinned by Protea Hotels' most recent announcement of being awarded the prestigious Africa's Leading Hotel Brand at this year's World Travel Award 12th annual ceremony, held in London on 13th November. The voting campaign reached a total of 176,000 travel professionals worldwide, including 110,000 travel agents from over 200 countries around the world. "The magnitude of the award is astounding. We feel so incredibly honoured to have been nominated by the world's travel trade," said Otto Stehlik, Executive Chairman of Protea Hospitality Corporation.

Protea celebrates another milestone as it's ranked #21 in the world's top 100 hotel management companies - as listed by Lodging, the official magazine of the American Hotel and Lodging Association. The team of Directors that have pioneered the way over these years believe this recognition is an illustration of the growing demand from the business and leisure travel market for International standard hotel accommodation in Africa and indicative of what is yet to come.

And, within South Africa, Protea Hotels has once again been voted 'The Top Hotel Brand in South Africa', having scored the highest brand relationship score in the prestigious Markinor - Sunday Times Top Brands Survey 2005. This independent and unsolicited survey is recognized for its credibility above all else. Following on from the 2004 survey, Protea has once again reigned supreme proving that their customers are brand loyal.