�The customer base that we have created during the past three years has sufficient awareness to permit the hotel to be independent of a franchise, supported by an efficient reservation system, in this case SynXis,� Bustamante (bio) explained. �The use of the Internet and the accessibility of the Global Distribution Systems (GDS) through SynXis has allowed us to very successfully and efficiently streamline the sales operations under the new brand name.�

Bustamante acquired the hotel in October of 1999 to retire from Hilton International after 20 years with the company. He further invested over $3 million for a refurbishment program that included an upgrading of all 95 guestrooms, the swimming pool, elevators, guestroom windows, and the hotel�s own power generator and water reserve system.

The San Juan Beach Hotel is a boutique-style beachfront property located in the trendy Condado area of San Juan. All guest rooms overlook either the Atlantic Ocean or the Condado Lagoon and feature cable television, radio with CD player, iron and ironing board and hairdryer.

Other hotel facilities and services include the Aqua Restaurant, Aqua Bar and Lounge, 24-hour valet parking, room service, four meeting rooms, fax, photo copying and wireless fast speed Internet connection in its public areas.

For San Juan Beach Hotel reservations and information, call 1-800-468-2040, visit the website at: www.sanjuanbeachhotel.com or send an email to: info@sjubeach.com.

Public Relations Office
Contact: Ms. Lourdes Marín
San Juan Beach Hotel
Telephone: 787-723-8000
Email: lm4@sjubeach.com

Biography � Raúl Bustamante

Born in Colombia, Mr. Bustamante arrived in San Juan in 1989 to take charge of the Caribe Hilton International. In 1993 he was appointed Divisional Director of Hilton International Puerto Rico, responsible of all operations of the company in Puerto Rico. During his tenure at the Caribe Hilton, Mr. Bustamante was responsible for several rehabilitations of this property in excess of $100,000,000. During his twenty year career with Hilton International he also looked for projects in the Caribbean, in St. Lucia, The Bahamas, the Dominican Republic and the Cayman Islands.

Mr. Bustamante is past-President and past-Chairman of the Puerto Rico Hotel & Tourism Association, and at present he is Chairman of the Puerto Rico Convention Bureau, Vice president of the board of directors of the Puerto Rico Tourism Company, and board member of the Puerto Rico Hotel & Tourism Association.

An active member in the community, Mr. Bustamante is also President of the Tourism Committee of the Puerto Rico Chamber of Commerce, a position that he has held in several opportunities, and is also a member of the board of directors of the Workers Investment Act (WIA) for the city of San Juan. He is also a member of the board of directors of the San Juan's Board of Economic Development, and the board of directors for the development of Condado, among others.

Mr. Bustamante's writings have been published in several newspapers and magazines on the subject of Tourism, and he has lectured in schools, universities and the private sector on subjects of crisis management, change management, and leadership subjects. He has earned certificates of professional development by the Wharton School, Harvard University and the London School of Business, and has attended seminars at Columbia University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

In 1999, Mr. Bustamante formed his own companies, Phoenix Hotel Management Corporation and RB Management and Consulting, for the purpose of acquiring the beachfront 96-room Ramada San Juan Hotel in Condado, where he conducted a rehabilitation for more than two million dollars.

He retired from Hilton International in August of 2002.