Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, which includes the exclusive Fairmont Heritage Place residence clubs, has announced its first entry into the Palm Springs, California market with Fairmont Aventerra, Palm Desert. Built adjacent to the site of the PGA Tour’s Bob Hope Chrysler Classic golf tournament, this renaissance community willinclude a luxury hotel, branded residences and private residence club homes.

PALM DESERT, CALIFORNIA–(Jan. 14, 2008) – Cementing its credentials as a world-class resort destination, Avanterra will be home to the luxurious new Fairmont Avanterra, Palm Desert when the internationally renowned hotelier comes to the Coachella Valley in 2011. The expansive hotel project, which includes Fairmont’s luxury branded residences and fractional private residence club homes, will be situated adjacent to the Classic Club golf course, site of the PGA Tour’s Bob Hope Chrysler Classic.

Representatives from Fairmont and Delfino Resorts made the announcement at a press conference held prior to start of the 2008 Bob Hope Chrysler Classic. The development consortium behind Avanterra, a $2.5 billion environmentally progressive, master-planned community, is best known for its signature Delfino resort communities along America’s Gulf Coast region.

The move marks Fairmont’s first entry into the Palm Springs market, and gives the region an iconic luxury brand favored by discerning business and leisure travelers across the globe. Initially, the hotel development will offer 300 rooms and 125 Fairmont Residences, Fairmont Gold concierge rooms and lounge, a variety of dining outlets, 26,000 square feet of indoor function space including a 7,000 square foot ballroom as well as outdoor event areas, and a 45,000 square foot Willow Stream Spa. In phase two Avanterra will also feature Fairmont Heritage Place, the company’s private residence club homes, as well as additional Fairmont Residences.

Chris Cahill, President and Chief Operating Officer of Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, said, “The environmentally progressive attributes that make Avanterra unique are a wonderful complement to our own philosophy of operational sustainability and responsible tourism within the hotel industry. This project further extends Fairmont’s strong presence in California and allows us to provide luxury-seeking travelers with enriching and memorable experiences reflective of this community.”

Owner Representative Francis A. Wong, Chairman and CEO of Genesis Hotel Development, who negotiated the deal for the development team, said, “Fairmont’s best-in-class service has re-defined the luxury hotel guest experience. Its projects have an unrivaled presence in every market the brand serves, and Avanterra Palm Desert will be no exception. We are delighted to welcome them to the Coachella Valley.”

It is expected that ground for the initial phase will be broken on the nearly $200 million project in 2009. When completed, the Fairmont Avanterra, Palm Desert will establish its presence alongside the Classic Club, opposite Avanterra’s pedestrian oriented village, which will include close to one million square feet of experiential retail space, integrated work lofts, LEED certified office buildings, condominiums, amphitheater, park space, planetarium, walking trails and more. Avanterra’s master plan is a veritable blueprint for the future of desert living, and of sustainable development across California and elsewhere.

About Fairmont Hotels & Resorts

A leader in the global hospitality industry, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts is an extraordinary collection of luxury hotels that truly reflect the essence of their destination. Featuring iconic landmarks like The Fairmont San Francisco, The Fairmont Banff Springs, and London’s Savoy, Fairmont hotels are more than a place to stay; they are one-of-a-kind properties where sophisticated travelers can discover storied life experiences. Situated in some of the most exclusive and pristine areas in the world, Fairmont locations provide access to activities that are culturally rich and authentically local. With an enduring connection to the land and communities where we do business, Fairmont is also committed to responsible tourism and is an industry leader in sustainable hotel management with its award-winning Green Partnership program. With over 50 distinctive hotels and more than 20 properties currently in development, Fairmont is committed to growing its portfolio of world-class hotels and plans to add properties in coveted international destinations like Cairo, Shanghai, Dubai, and Beijing over the next few years.

Fairmont is owned by Fairmont Raffles Hotels International, a leading global hotel company with over 80 hotels worldwide under the Raffles, Fairmont and Swissotel brands. The company also owns Fairmont and Raffles branded Residences, Estates and luxury private residence club properties. For more information or reservations, please call 1-800-441-1414 or visit http://www.fairmont.com/.

About Delfino/Avanterra

With signature properties in Gulf Shores, Alabama and Gulfport, Mississippi, the Delfino Resort brand symbolizes the very best in luxury resort communities. The real estate consortium behind Delfino is now building on that legacy with its latest project: Avanterra, a $2.5 billion, environmentally progressive community encompassing 400 acres near Cook Street and Interstate 10, in Riverside County. Scheduled to be built over a 6-8 year time frame, the community is avant-garde by desert standards in its singular ability to cater to all of life’s dimensions. This will be a place where people can live, work, play, and most importantly, linger. Avanterra will include nearly one million square feet of retail space, more than 1,900 residential condominiums, and an estimated 700,000 square foot office park featuring LEED-Certified (Silver or Gold-level) buildings. This lifestyle mix, which also includes a park, a planetarium, underground parking and plenty of open space, makes up ‘The Corrente’ – Avanterra’s version of a contemporary and cosmopolitan desert village – the vibrant counterpart to the adjacent Classic Club’s rolling, green and blue presence. The development team envisioned Avanterra Palm Desert to be a true renaissance community, offering a lifestyle that blends the values of the old, with the very best of the new. For more information on this exceptional project, please visit www.avanterra.com.