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SHAWN GRACEY JOINS HOUSTON’S HOTEL ICON AS GENERAL MANAGER

HOUSTON, TX – November 6, 2008 – Shawn Gracey has been appointed general manager of Hotel ICON (www.hotelicon.com), an award-winning Destination Hotels & Resorts boutique property located in the heart of downtown Houston.  Since opening in 2004, the intimate, 135-room hotel, housed in the landmark Union National Bank building, has appeared on numerous “best of” lists.  Earlier this month, its newly launched restaurant and lounge, VOICE, was selected by Esquire magazine as one of the country’s top 20 new restaurants.

Gracey brings nearly two decades of hospitality experience to his new post.  Prior to joining Hotel ICON, he was the general manager and served on the pre-opening team of Shorebreak Hotel, a Joie de Vivre Hospitality property anchoring The Strand mixed-use development, which overlooks the Huntington Beach Pier and the Pacific Ocean in the Huntington Beach, CA.

Before that, Gracey was the general manager of the Graciela Burbank Hotel – since renamed Hotel Amarano – the only luxury boutique hotel in Burbank, CA.  In this role, Gracey developed the urban resort’s fine dining and spa wellness offerings, acting as the point person between developers, city officials, councilmen, designers and architects.  From 1998 until 2005, he was the general manager of the Four-Star, Four-Diamond Le Merigot, a JW Marriott Hotel & Spa property in Santa Monica, CA.  

Gracey holds a BS in Hotel & Restaurant Management from the University of Missouri – Columbia and participated in The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company’s corporate management training program.

John Spomer, Vice President and Managing Director said, “We’re thrilled to have a leader with the luxury experience that Shawn brings to the property.  Hotel ICON is unique in all of Houston, and with Shawn’s quality background, leadership and vision, it’s a perfect marriage.”  

About Destination Hotels & Resorts
Destination Hotels & Resorts is a privately held lodging management company headquartered in suburban Denver, Colo.  With more than 30 independent, luxury and upscale hotels, resorts and golf clubs, Destination is the fourth largest independent hospitality management company in the country.  The company’s portfolio features more than 7,000 guest rooms, 10 golf courses and 14 full-service spas. Destination Hotels & Resorts properties are located in key metropolitan and resort markets including Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, Houston, Denver, San Diego, Santa Fe, Aspen, Austin, Phoenix, Palm Springs, Maui and Lake Tahoe.  The company is a subsidiary of Los Angeles-based investment, development and management firm Lowe Enterprises.  For more information on the properties in the Destination Hotels & Resorts collection, please visit www.destinationhotels.com.

For more information about Hotel ICON, please call 713-224-ICON (4266) or log onto www.hotelicon.com.

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