Goodmorning, First of all I'd like to introduce myself. I'm the Public Relations Manager of SINA Hotels Group, one of Italy's leading group, with ten prestigious hotels in the country's main cities. Among its exclusive properties the Hotel Astor in Viareggio presents lots of news, following a lenghty and thorough refurbishment. Please find enclosed the press releases "A new look for summer 2006 for the Hotel Astor, Viareggio". Do not hesitate to contact me if you need more information or any pictures of the hotel. Best regards, Raffaella Manca Public Relations & Communication Manager SINA Hotels Group tel. +39 06 488933259 fax. +39 06 4874778 mobile +39 335 6639049 pr_communication@sinahotels.it **************************************************************************** PRESS RELEASE A NEW LOOK FOR SUMMER 2006 FOR THE HOTEL ASTOR, VIAREGGIO Viareggio, June 2006 - The Hotel Astor in Viareggio, owned by the SINA Hotels Group, opens the summer season with a new look and many new features, following a lengthy and thorough refurbishment. The entire building has undergone major renovation work and the Hotel Astor now boasts a more modern and dynamic appearance, featuring unique, specially designed terraces, where guests can relax and enjoy the amenities of the hotel, whilst taking in the unforgettable views along the coastline and the lively sea front. Hotel accommodation has also been expanded, with an extra floor, bringing the total number of rooms to 77. The new rooms embody an attractive and original ethnic style, featuring the warm tones of solid wood and rattan furniture, cleverly contrasting with the colours of the superb views over Versilia, the Tuscany and Liguria coastlines, the Garfagnana area and the Apuana Alps beyond. Plus the rooms are laid with parquet flooring instead of traditional carpeting, for a warm and welcoming atmosphere. The other rooms in the hotel have also been refurbished and now offer even higher standards of comfort. Many feature a balcony where guests can indulge in a cocktail or sip one of Tuscany's more well-known wines while they enjoy an excellent local dish, prepared by the hotel's chef, against the splendid backdrop of Viareggio. The rooms and suites on the fourth, fifth and sixth floors have been given names evoking the world and myths of the sea, reminiscent of the relaxing, refreshing and comfortable atmosphere guests can enjoy at the hotel. Plus the unforgettable view of the coastline, the spacious interiors with large glazed fronts and nearly all rooms with sea and beach views make the Hotel Astor, run by the SINA Hotels group, a unique and exclusive venue. The lifts to all nine floors have also been renovated, improving the services which have always been the hallmark of the hotel and its outstanding hospitality and utmost attention to detail to all client needs. The Hotel Astor also features havens of wellbeing, from the rooftop sun terrace with its private and relaxing atmosphere, to the SINA Wellness Centre with fitness zone and Technogym equipment, and zone with treatments for the body and soul. The Hotel Astor also prides itself on the fact that it is the only hotel in Viareggio to have an indoor heated swimming pool, which is an added bonus in the winter season. In addition, the rooftop sun terrace on the eighth floor has 280 m2 of sloping photovoltaic and solar panel roofing to meet 30% of the hotel's electricity requirements. This complies with estimates in the structural plan which includes the Hotel Astor among venues promoting the use of alternative energy sources. The SINA Hotels Group is one of Italy's leading hotel groups, with ten prestigious hotels in the country's main cities. The group owns the Grand Hotel Villa Medici in Florence, in grounds with swimming pool, the Bernini Bristol hotel in the very centre of Rome, the Palazzo Sant'Angelo overlooking the Canal Grande in Venice, the De la Ville hotel in Milan, frequented by the city's high fliers, the luxury Brufani Palace in the heart of medieval Perugia, The Gray, Milan's boutique hotel for the world of fashion and entertainment, the Palace Maria Luigia in the very centre of Parma with its famous gourmet restaurant, the seafront Hotel Astor at Viareggio and the Relais Villa Matilde, in an 18th century location close to Turin. In addition, the group has recently taken over the management of the Relais Borgo San Felice in the heart of Chianti, just 18 kilometres from Siena. For more information, please visit www.sinahotels.it Press office - SINA Hotels Group Raffaella Manca tel. +39 06 488933259 fax. +39 06 4874778 mobile +39 335 6639049 pr_communication@sinahotels.it