MILWAUKEE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 29, 2006--The Marcus Corporation
(NYSE:
MCS -
News) today announced that its
Marcus Hotels and Resorts division has sold the remaining inventory in its
Marcus Vacation Club at Grand Geneva vacation ownership development in Lake
Geneva, Wis. to Orange Lake Resort & Country Club, of Orlando, Florida.
Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Orange
Lake is a premier Florida vacation destination that is the largest single-site
vacation ownership resort in the world, with more than 100,000 owners. Orange
Lake acquired the remaining 34 units of the 136-unit Marcus Vacation Club
property.
"With just one vacation ownership development in our portfolio, it makes
sense for us to affiliate with an industry leader that has extensive experience
in marketing and selling the vacation ownership product. It also makes sense for
us to continue to do what we do best - provide management and hospitality
services. This relationship successfully combines each of our strengths," said
Bill Otto, president of Marcus Hotels and Resorts.
Otto said Marcus Hotels and Resorts will continue to provide hospitality
management services for the property, including check-in, housekeeping and
maintenance. The Marcus Vacation Club is adjacent to the Grand Geneva Resort,
which the company owns and operates, and Timber Ridge Lodge and Waterpark, which
is managed by the division.
"One of the attractions of the Marcus Vacation Club is the many amenities
available to owners year-round. Vacation club owners have access to the many
features of the Grand Geneva, including a sophisticated spa, distinctive
restaurants and lounges, spectacular award-winning golf courses and downhill
skiing. These relationships provide built-in year-round occupancy for the
vacation club and a steady source of revenues for the resort," noted Otto.
Don Harrill, president and CEO of Orange Lake said, "We are excited to work
with Marcus Hotels and Resorts. The Marcus Vacation Club is a high-quality
product on its own that becomes even more marketable with the additional
amenities provided by the Grand Geneva complex. The beautiful location and
activities for all ages make this a perfect vacation destination. We are anxious
to begin marketing this unique property to our broad base of current and
potential owners."
"The vacation ownership industry is changing, as property owners consolidate
and form exchange clubs that enable timeshare owners to exchange units among
other club members, typically at a lower fee than through the large global
vacation exchange companies. The Marcus Vacation Club expands our base of owners
and adds a great new property to our portfolio," added Harrill.
Marcus Hotels and Resorts developed the Marcus Vacation Club concept and
began construction on the development in 1999. The first units opened in 2000.
Situated among beautiful rolling hills, the units are attractively designed and
furnished, with complete kitchens and relaxing patio areas. Many units also have
oversized spa tubs and fireplaces.
Otto said there will be a seamless transition for Marcus Vacation Club owners
to Orange Lake. The Marcus Vacation Club will continue to be affiliated with
Resort Condominiums International (RCI), a global vacation exchange provider.
About Marcus Hotels and Resorts
In addition to the Marcus Vacation Club, Marcus Hotels and Resorts owns or
operates a distinctive portfolio of 13 hotels and resorts, with an additional
two properties currently under development. The company owns and operates the
Four Points by Sheraton Chicago Downtown/Magnificent Mile, Chicago, Ill.; the
Grand Geneva Resort in Lake Geneva, Wis.; the Hilton Madison at Monona Terrace
in Madison, Wis.; the Hilton Milwaukee City Center in Milwaukee, Wis.; Hotel
Phillips in Kansas City, Mo.; the Pfister Hotel in Milwaukee, Wis.; the Westin
Columbus in Columbus, Ohio; and the Wyndham Milwaukee Center in Milwaukee, Wis.
The company also manages five properties for other owners: Beverly Garland's
Holiday Inn, North Hollywood, Calif.; the Crowne Plaza-Northstar, Minneapolis,
Minn.; Hilton Garden Inn - Northwest, Houston, Tex.; Hotel Mead, Wisconsin
Rapids, Wis.; and Timber Ridge Lodge and Water Park, Lake Geneva, Wis.
Properties under construction are the Platinum Hotel & Spa, a luxury
condominium hotel project in Las Vegas now scheduled to open in September 2006,
and the Hilton Skirvin, a public/private historic hotel renovation project in
Oklahoma City, Okla., scheduled to open in February 2007.
About The Marcus Corporation
Headquartered in Milwaukee, Wis., The Marcus Corporation is a leader in the
lodging and entertainment industries. The Marcus Corporation's movie theatre
division, Marcus TheatresĀ®, owns or manages 501 screens at 44 locations in
Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota and Ohio, and one family entertainment center in
Wisconsin. The company's lodging division, Marcus Hotels and Resorts, owns or
manages 13 hotels and resorts in Wisconsin, Illinois, Ohio, Missouri,
California, Minnesota, and Texas and one vacation club in Wisconsin. For more
information, visit the company's Web site at www.marcuscorp.com.
About Orange Lake Resort & Country Club
Orange Lake was founded in 1982 by Kemmons Wilson, the legendary business
entrepreneur who founded the successful Holiday Inn hotel chain. Orange Lake is
one of Walt Disney World'sĀ® closest neighbors, encompassing more than 1,250
acres of pristine surroundings and hosting 2,000 villas, suites and
accommodations that serve as the vacation "home-away-from-home" to more than
100,000 owners in all 50 U.S. states and 120 countries. The company has received
over 150 industry awards for excellence from the American Resort Development
Association.
Certain matters discussed in this press release are "forward-looking
statements" intended to qualify for the safe harbors from liability established
by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking
statements may generally be identified as such because the context of such
statements include words such as we "believe," "anticipate," "expect" or words
of similar import. Similarly, statements that describe our future plans,
objectives or goals are also forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking
statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties which could cause
results to differ materially from those expected, including, but not limited to,
the following: (1) the availability, in terms of both quantity and audience
appeal, of motion pictures for our theatre division, as well as the maintenance
of a suitable window between the date such motion pictures are released in
theatres and the date they are released to other distribution channels; (2) the
effects of increasing depreciation expenses and preopening and start-up costs
due to the capital intensive nature of our businesses; (3) the effects of
adverse economic conditions in our markets, particularly with respect to our
hotels and resorts division; (4) the effects of adverse weather conditions,
particularly during the winter in the Midwest and in our other markets; (5) the
effects on our occupancy and room rates from the relative industry supply of
available rooms at comparable lodging facilities in our markets; (6) the effects
of competitive conditions in our markets; (7) our ability to identify properties
to acquire, develop and/or manage and continuing availability of funds for such
development; and (8) the adverse impact on business and consumer spending on
travel, leisure and entertainment resulting from terrorist attacks in the United
States, the United States' responses thereto and subsequent hostilities.
Shareholders, potential investors and other readers are urged to consider these
factors carefully in evaluating the forward-looking statements and are cautioned
not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. The
forward-looking statements made herein are made only as of the date of this
press release and we undertake no obligation to publicly update such
forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.