Spate of Awards for Sofitel to Close Out 2008



In the last quarter of 2008, Sofitel Luxury Hotels were honored with numerous annual awards given by esteemed travel publications -- Travel + Leisure and Cond's233; Nast Traveler. Among the 13 worldwide Sofitel properties recognized, three North American Sofitels were honored; Sofitel Chicago Water Tower, Sofitel Washington, D.C. Lafayette Square and Sofitel Philadelphia.

In the December issue of Travel + Leisure, as part of its World'ss Best Awards, the Best Business Hotels were named, including Sofitel Chicago Water Tower, Sofitel Lafayette Square, and Sofitel Philadelphia. Earlier this season, Travel + Leisure announced its World'ss Best Awards naming Sofitel Lafayette Square no. 85 among the Top 100 Hotels (Continental US and Canada).

Other World'ss Best Award-winning properties include Sofitel Metropole ranking no. 42 on the Top 50 Hotels (Asia) list and Sofitel Melbourne coming in at no. 15 out of the Top 50 Hotels (Australia, New Zealand, South Pacific).

Cond's233; Nast Traveler announced its 2008 Readers's Choice Awards in its November issue, bestowing Sofitel with nine awards in six categories, including Sofitel Chicago Water Tower at no. 79 among the Top 100 U.S. Hotels.

Readers also ranked Sofitel Metropole Hanoi at no. 38 out of the Top 100 Asia Hotels; Sofitel Old Cataract and Sofitel Palais Jamai Fes took no. 17 and no. 19 on the Top 25 Africa Hotels list. Out of the Top 20 Australia / Pacific Hotels, Sofitel Melbourne ranked no. 9, followed by Sofitel Bora Bora Motu Private Island at no. 14. Among the Top 15 South America Hotels, Sofitel Cartagena Santa Clara ranked no. 7, followed by Sofitel Buenos Aires at no. 8. Lastly, Sofitel Krabi Phokeethra Golf and Spa Resort was named no. 21 amongst the Top 25 Asia Resorts.

Travel + Leisure'ss World'ss Best Awards and Cond's233; Nast Traveler Readers's Choice Awards are annual polls which calls upon subscribers to select their favorite hotels based on a questionnaires developed by the publications.

Sofitel North America

Created in France in 1964, Sofitel showcases luxurious accommodations worldwide, including 10 properties in North America. Sofitel hotels are ideally placed in business and leisure locations across North America, including Chicago Water Tower, Chicago O'sHare, Miami, Minneapolis, Montreal, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C. Lafayette Square.

Sofitel reinvents French elegance in its hotels throughout the world.

Sofitel is the only French luxury hotel brand with a presence on five continents, in more than 50 countries. Sofitel offers contemporary hotels and resorts adapted to today'ss more demanding and more versatile consumers who expect and appreciate beauty, quality and excellence. Whether situated in the heart of a major city like Paris, New York or Bangkok, or

nestled away in a country landscape in French Polynesia or Brazil, each Sofitel property offers a genuine experience of the French art de vivre.

www.sofitel.com

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Spate of Awards for Sofitel to Close Out 2008