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COMFORT SUITES CITY CENTRE TORONTO NAMED INTERNATIONAL HOTEL OF THE YEAR 2003

Toronto, ON, May 27, 2003 - The Comfort Suites City Centre Toronto, located at 200 Dundas Street East, has been named International Hotel of the Year by Choice Hotels International, Inc. The hotel was selected from over more than 1,100 Choice hotels throughout 38 countries worldwide.

Choice Hotels annually presents the International Hotel of the Year Award to hotels that demonstrate lodging excellence. The Comfort Suites City Centre was nominated and evaluated by peer hoteliers who evaluated the hotels on a variety of factors including guest service, hotel cleanliness and hotel décor during several unannounced inspections. Once it achieved the Hotel of the Year Award for Canada, it was eligible for the International Award.

The International Hotel of the Year Award was presented to owner Steve Gupta, President of Easton’s Group of Hotels, Robert Lamoureux, the hotel’s general manager and Peter Fink, the hotel’s director of sales and marketing, at Choice’s 49th annual convention, this month, at the Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center in Orlando, Fla.

“The Comfort Suites City Centre Toronto is a premier hotel that is so deserving of this prestigious award,” said Chuck Ledsinger, Choice Hotels International president and CEO. “The hotel team subscribes to an operating philosophy that calls for an impeccably maintained property and extraordinary customer service.”

“I am extremely pleased and honoured that the Comfort Suites City Centre Toronto has received the Hotel of the Year Award for Canada and the International Hotel of the Year Award,” said Gupta. “It has been my goal to achieve these awards for a long time and my team and I are ecstatic about the recognition...now every hotel I’ve built is an award-winning hotel.”

The Comfort Inn & Suites Peterborough has also been a Recipient of the Hotel of the Year Award in 1995, and a Finalist in 1996. The Comfort Inn Port Hope has been a Finalist for the Hotel of the Year Award in 1995, 1997 and 1998.

Choice's Gold Hospitality Award, which recognizes exceptional guest service, hotel cleanliness and maintenance, was awarded to the Comfort Suites City Centre in 2003. Recipients of the Choice Hotels International Gold Hospitality Award have been judged to exceed Choice's quality standards for professionalism, housekeeping and hospitality. To qualify, hotels must achieve two consecutive QAR (Quality Assurance Review) scores of at least 975 for cleanliness, 960 for maintenance and capital improvements, 1,000 for administration and a passing grade on the new pass-fail "brand identity".

This prestigious award has also been awarded to the Comfort Inn & Suites Peterborough and the Comfort Inn Port Hope.

The Sears Award is given to the Sears partner with the highest sales as well as the partner who has been the most supportive of the Sears Club program.

In 2003, the Comfort Suites City Centre was awarded the Sears Champion Award.

Entrepreneur of the Year Awards

Ernst & Young presents its annual Entrepreneur Of The Year^® award to the most successful and innovative entrepreneurial business leaders in more than 30 countries around the globe.

Steve Gupta, winner of the Ernst & Young 2005 Entrepreneur of the Year Award, Real Estate Category

Easton’s Group of Hotels Inc. is pleased to announce that Steve Gupta, President, CEO and Founder, was awarded the very prestigious 2005 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award for Hotels and Real Estate.

Steve received this fantastic recognition last night at the annual Gala Awards presentation at the Metro Convention Centre attended by over 1,200 people, many of whom are Ontario’s leading entrepreneurs.

The Entrepreneur of the Year Award recognizes the outstanding contribution of entrepreneurs to this country’s growth, and the hard work, the vision, and the efforts that are required to build a successful business. The award honours entrepreneurs who have demonstrated excellence and extraordinary success in areas such as innovation, risk taking, company development, financia performance, and personal committment to their business and communities. The awards promote the spirit and success of those brave individuals that put everything on the line to build something new. To be recognized, amongst the very best, is truly an honour.

In his acceptance speech Steve thanked all of those who have played instrumental roles in aiding his success. Thank you to all.

Steve Gupta, President & C.E.O of Easton's Group of Companies, has been nominated for the Entrepreneur of the Year Awards in 2002, 2003, 2004 & 2005.

He has been a Finalist for the Entrepreneur of the Year Awards in 2002, 2003, 2004 awards.