OCCIDENTAL HOTELS & RESORTS ANNOUNCES THE RE-OPENING AND UPGRADES OF FIVE OF ITS PROPERTIES IN MEXICO


Miami ­ December 23, 2005 ­ After extensive repairs and upgrades following hurricane Wilma, Occidental Hotels & Resorts, one of the largest all-inclusive resort chains in the Americas, has announced that its Mexican properties will reopen in the first quarter of 2006.


"We will enter 2006 on the right foot," said Jorn Kaee, senior vice president of sales and marketing, North America, Occidental Hotels & Resorts. "We have made a great deal of effort to bring the properties back to where they were prior to Hurricane Wilma and in the case of the Royal Hideaway Playacar, it will be even better."


Re-Opening on March 1, 2006:
The luxurious Royal Hideaway Playacar, a member of Leading Hotels of the World and winner of the AAA Four Diamond Award, actually benefited from its brush with hurricane Wilma. Its white sandy beach became larger as the ocean waters receded back, creating a bigger and wider area for guests to take in the sun. The intimate 200-room luxury all-inclusive resort will re-open with the following features:
 Complete beachfront restoration and remodeling, including:
o New cascading infinity pool
o Three Jacuzzi sundecks with shaded Palm line trees along the beach
 New Signature restaurant, Las Ventanas by Sergi Arola, a world renowned Michelin-rated chef from Spain who currently operates the La Broche restaurant at the Occidental Miguel Angel in Madrid. Chef Arola will design and select the menu creations, as well as manage the overall operation, including staff and service on a year-round basis.
 Spices restaurant, a brand new oceanfront seafood experience
 Beach Grill and Snack bar rebuilt with multilevel wooden decks:
o Beach level
o Lounge level, where there will be outdoor massage tables

o Restaurant level ­ outdoor dining and special events
 Complete renovation of all guest rooms and amenities required to meet the AAA's five-diamond award, a accolade the resort hopes to receive after AAA completes its inspection in 2006
 Expanded spa facilities
 New beach marina


Royal Hideaway Playacar has a loyal guest following and appeals to couples and vacationers seeking a pampering getaway. Ideally situated on 13 lush acres of Mexico's Riviera Maya, the resort is the definitive standard for all-inclusive luxury. Dedicated to the most discerning adult traveler, the resort welcomes its guests to experience only the finest in luxury accommodations, from a private villa concierge to a full service spa, six gourmet à-la-carte restaurants, lounges, water sports, land activities and explorations that will open up the Yucatan Peninsula to its guests. Surrounded by captivating architecture, an exciting array of activities and the highest standards of service ­ boasting an employee to guest ratio of 2:1 ­ Royal Hideaway Playacar is the pinnacle of luxury along the Mexican Caribbean.


Properties re-opening on January 31, 2006:
Occidental Grand Xcaret -- The captivating 796-room resort located on the pristine Mexican shoreline, will unveil its newly refurbished lobby, beach club, theater and river walk palapas. The ceramic tiles of the property's two swimming pools, one of them in the Royal Club, have also been refurbished. Occidental Grand Xcaret is adjacent to awe-inspiring eco-archaeological Xcaret Park, located just 45 minutes from Cancun International Airport in the Riviera Maya.


Occidental Grand Cozumel -- This beachfront resort has been completely restored to its original condition. It is located on the southwest part of Cozumel Island, on the beautiful San Francisco beach. There are 251 rooms distributed among 11 Colonial style buildings, with 24 charming rooms per building. Ideal for divers and those who enjoy aquatic sports, the resort is just a five-minute boat ride away from the legendary Palancar Reef. It is also a favorite for honeymoons and weddings.


Allegro Cozumel ­ The 296-room resort is situated on the southwest part of the island of Cozumel, overlooking the magnificent San Francisco Beach, only 20 minutes from the Cozumel Airport. As part of its rejuvenation, all rooms have been completely refurbished, in addition to the resort's palapa roofs and corridors between the villas. There is a newly renovated air conditioned buffet restaurant, a renovated Italian Trattoria à la carte restaurant and a theater for nightly entertainment. Enjoy endless sports and activities for the entire family, or walk to the onsite dive shop and snorkel or dive at the world famous Palancar reef, only minutes away by boat.


Allegro Playacar ­ The 300-room resort, sprawled over the famous beach of Playacar, renowned for its spectacular white sand and crystal blue waters, is re-opening with a restored beach area, a new beachfront infinity pool, a newly renovated air conditioned buffet restaurant, a newly renovated Italian Trattoria à la carte restaurant and a newly renovated theater for nightly entertainment. The resort is only 40 minutes south of the Cancun airport and minutes from the charming town of Playa del Carmen in the Riviera Maya. Family-friendly, the Allegro Playacar offers numerous activities for children aged four to twelve through its Kids Club. It's the ideal destination for a family vacation.

For more information or reservations, please contact 1-800-858-2258 or visit www.occidentalhotels.com

Occidental Hotels & Resorts
One of the world's leading hotel companies and one of the largest all-inclusive resort chains in the Americas, Occidental Hotels & Resorts has more than 20 properties in key destinations under the Allegro, Grand and Royal Hideaway brands, each perfectly suited to address the leisure travel needs of its market segment, from Allegro's fun-filled packages, to the luxurious Grands and Royal Hideaway. An even more exclusive component of all Occidental Grands, the "Royal Club" offers boutique-style services within the resort such as a private concierge, separate check-in and check-out services. For more information, please visit www.occidentalhotels.com.