Crowne Plaza Golf Resort & Casino at the Royal Oasis Announces New Brand Positioning
	GRAND BAHAMA ISLAND, The Bahamas Oct. 21, 2003 With more than a year of success after its $42 million renovation program completion, the Royal Oasis Golf Resort & Casino announces that it has strengthened its brand position by converting the resort completely to a four-star Crowne Plaza experience.
The hotel will now be known as the Crowne Plaza Golf Resort & Casino at the Royal Oasis, offering 845 guestrooms at the Tower and Country Club -- familiar names to many in the industry and past guests. "Our customers are demanding better travel and vacation product options when visiting resorts, and are loyal to the four-star standards offered by the Crowne Plaza brand around the world," states Peter Walz of Driftwood Hospitality Management, LLC. "We were able to change the resort completely to a Crowne Plaza last summer by upgrading the room amenities and services. All the rooms were originally designed so this strategy could be implemented. Travel agents and tour operator have strongly supported this move and are excited about being able to offer guests the Crowne Plaza experience throughout the Royal Oasis." The guestrooms that were formally referred to as the Holiday Inn SunSpree, in the low-rise cabana and garden buildings, are now the Country Club. The location is adjacent to the resort's 3,000 square foot convention center; the golf pro shop with access to the two recently redesigned 18-hole Ruby and Emerald golf courses; a pool and hot tub; and the Calypso, John B and Rib Room restaurants. The Tower guestrooms feature spacious guestrooms and one- and two-bedroom suites, including the Presidential and two Royal Suites ideal for entertaining; dining at the Palm Grille and Paradiso; the Coconut sports bar; a pool and hot tub; tennis courts; and the Casino offering 20,000 square feet of Las Vegas-style action and dining at the Oasis Cafe. As part of the dramatic renovation last year, a unique park-like campus was developed that features the centrally located million-gallon beach lagoon with water park and slides, the Fat Cats Beach Club kids activity program, Odies kids-only restaurant, Splash Bar, and the Serenity Spa and fitness center. This central activity area ties both guestroom buildings together and provides easy access to all the resorts services and amenities. The resort rolled out a whole new identity with a name change and re-branding of both hotels on the property in May 2002, when the Tower was originally re-branded as a Crowne Plaza and the Country Club as a Holiday Inn SunSpree, creating the first dual branded project for the Six Continents hotel chain. Hotel rates for Winter 2004 season begin at $125/$135 from January 4 through February 11, and $155/$165 from February 12 through April 17, with air-inclusive travel packages available. The Crowne Plaza Golf Resort & Casino at the Royal Oasis will also offer new golf, spa and all-inclusive packages next year. Exciting optional activities such as scuba diving, snorkeling, deep sea fishing, parasailing, the popular Dolphin Close Encounter and island tours can be arranged at the hotel's tour desk. Grand Bahama Island is experiencing a rebirth with more than $600 million in new investment in tourist infrastructure expansion and hotel improvements and developments. With these investments and the island's numerous outdoor activities, such as world-class golf, swimming with the dolphins and snorkeling on the world's third largest reef, Grand Bahama Island is poised to become the hottest and most convenient tropical vacation destination.