BHG announces its debut in the state of Santa Catarina

SAO PAULO, Sept. 5, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- BHG S.A. – Brazil Hospitality Group (BM&FBovespa: BHGR3; OTC: BZHGY) hereby announces that it signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Ferplan Construtora e Incorporadora Ltda. to manage hotel located in Itajai (state of Santa Catarina).  The announcement marks the network's debut in the state and consolidates the company's presence in the south region of Brazil (5 hotels in the state of Parana and 1 in the state of Rio Grande do Sul).

The coming Tulip Inn Marina Plaza will be built in a 1400 m² land, with ocean view, only 500 meters far from Itajai's Events Center and Avenida Beira Rio, the city's gastronomy center. In addition, it will be located in front of the future Itajai Ship Complex. The project comprises approximately 200 rooms, conference rooms, restaurant, gym and complete leisure. 

Itajai is among the most important cities in the South, with the most productive ports in Brazil, the Port of Itajai, which is country's second one in container cargo handling, expected to increase operations in the coming years. Itajai has mooring pier for ocean liners for departure and arrival of passengers, which comprises an average of 4,000 departures in the city every week.

Large companies are also headquartered in the city, such as Brasil Foods, Cargill, WEG Logistica (affiliate of WEG S/A).

"We saw a huge demand repressed by lack of hotel structure. Itajai had become Santa Catarina's largest naval industry center and one of the largest centers in the south region of Brazil. The naval, fishing and oil industries provided and exceptional boost in city's growth. Also, nautical sports events have contributed to the development of tourism in the city, increasing attractiveness," says Eduardo Bartolomeo, CEO of BHG S.A.

Including the MOU, BHG has 48 hotels in operation, in addition to 22 projects under development in the country's main regions. Considering all hotels currently under development, BHG will reach a total of approximately 13,157 rooms under management by the end of 2016, distributed through 70 hotels.

Who we are:

BHG S.A. – Brazil Hospitality Group, the country's third largest hotel chain, is the first Brazilian company to operate in the real estate segment specializing in business tourism hotels, with owned and managed hotels in the 2-, 3-, 4- and 5-star categories.

The exclusive contract with the Golden Tulip Hospitality Group in South America allows it to use the Royal Tulip (5-star), Golden Tulip (4-star) and Tulip Inn (3-star) brands.  BHG also has the Soft Inn brand, used for limited-service 2-star hotels, which offer an attractive cost-benefit ratio for business tourism.

The Company has 48 hotels in operation, in addition to 22 projects under development in Brazil's main regions. Considering all hotels currently under development, BHG will reach a total of approximately 13,157 rooms under management by the end of 2016, distributed through 70 hotels.

BHG is a publicly-held company with shares traded on the Novo Mercado segment of the BM&FBovespa under the ticker BHGR3, and a Level I ADR program for trading its shares on the over-the-counter (OTC) market in New York, United States, under the ticker BZHGY.

Media Relations
BHG S.A. – Brazil Hospitality Group
Fernanda Pannunzio
fernanda.pannunzio@bhg.net 
+55 11.3577.2302 / 11.99668.7249
www.bhg.net

SOURCE BHG S.A. - Brazil Hospitality Group