Baymont Inns & Suites Retains Innlink for Reservation System Management; Baymont to Immediately Upgrade Service to Guests, Create Proprietary System.

Business Editors

MILWAUKEE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 20, 2001

Baymont Inns & Suites, a division of The Marcus Corporation (NYSE:MCS), today announced that it has signed a contract with InnLink Corp., one of the nation's leading reservation service providers, to manage the hotel brand's reservation system. Baymont will transfer its reservation operations to InnLink's new state-of-the-art facilities in suburban Nashville, Tenn., on approximately November 1, 2001, and cease operations at its reservation center in Milwaukee.

"We faced a number of unique issues related to our reservations operations, including the need to physically relocate our reservation center and to significantly update our operating systems," said Jim Abrahamson, President, Baymont Inns & Suites. "We looked at several options, including relocating the center in Milwaukee with new technology, but the long lead time and huge technology cost issues compelled us to look at other alternatives. The InnLink solution allowed us to immediately upgrade our existing system with a new technology platform that will enable us to significantly improve service to our guests at no additional cost to our company or our franchisees."

Abrahamson said that InnLink will provide Baymont with state-of-the-art software that allows agents to be more responsive to callers. "InnLink will provide Baymont-dedicated reservation agents who will have faster access to more information on a real-time basis to help them achieve higher conversion ratios and additional bookings. InnLink's seamless Type A Connectivity to all of the major Global Distribution Systems (GDS), including Sabre and Apollo, is expected to significantly enhance our electronic booking capabilities with, and bookings from, the travel agent community, as well as many of the additional Internet-based booking services. GDS reservations costs will be up to 50 percent lower that our current reservation system."

Immediately after the successful changeover to the new system, Baymont and InnLink will begin development of a proprietary two-way connectivity system that will seamlessly connect Baymont hotels with the reservation system. "InnLink's current technology will place our reservation operations on a par with our peer group," Abrahamson pointed out. "The two-way system, which we hope to implement within approximately 12 months, will move us to the cutting edge."

"Baymont Inns & Suites is an excellent addition to our growing client list that encompasses a number of other brands and individual hotels," said Mike Young, president, InnLink Corp. "InnLink has worked hard over the past year to upgrade systems and technologies to assist existing clients and attract others who want to enhance their reservation services. Our advanced systems were a great fit for Baymont and as soon as they come on line, together we'll start building the next generation reservation system for them."

In addition, InnLink will take over management of Baymont's recently introduced frequent guest program, Guest Ovations. "Response to Guest Ovations has been overwhelmingly positive. Guests frequently request information about their account while making reservations, and it just made sense for InnLink to manage that program, too."

Abrahamson said that the conversion to InnLink will be essentially "seamless" at the Baymont property level, noting that InnLink will provide 24/7 support to hotels should questions or problems arise. He noted that the new system is expected to be less expensive to operate on a per-reservation basis and that the significant upgrades will be added at no cost to franchisees.

"We currently are focused on helping our reservation employees find new jobs, either within our organization, at other companies in the Milwaukee area or at InnLink in Nashville, as well as managing a smooth transition to the new system," he said. "This is a major enhancement to our brand service delivery, and we will continue to look at other programs to enhance both our guests' experience and our franchisees' profitability."

Headquartered in Hendersonville, Tenn., InnLink Corporation is one of the nation's leading private label voice and electronic reservation services. For more than a decade, the company has provided services to a diverse group of hotel brands and independent hotels, ranging from budget to five-star properties. InnLink utilizes a combination of existing and proprietary software to service its client base, including WizCom gateway technology.

Baymont Inns & Suites is a division of the Milwaukee-based Marcus Corporation. The Marcus Corporation currently operates or franchises 188 Baymont Inns & Suites in 31 states and seven Woodfield Suites. The company's movie theatre division includes 473 movie screens in the Midwest and a family entertainment center in Wisconsin. Its Marcus Hotels and Resorts division owns or manages 11 hotels and resorts across the United States. For more information, visit the company's Web site at www.marcuscorp.com.

Certain matters discussed in this press release are "forward-looking statements" intended to qualify for the safe harbors from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements may generally be identified as such because the context of such statements will include words such as the Company "believes," "anticipates," "expects" or words of similar import. Similarly, statements that describe the Company's future plans, objectives or goals are also forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, the following: (i) the Company's ability to successfully define and build the Baymont brand within the "limited-service, mid-price without food and beverage" segment of the lodging industry; (ii) the availability, in terms of both quantity and audience appeal, of motion pictures for the Company's theatre division; (iii) the effects of increasing deprecation expenses and pre-opening and start-up costs due to the capital intensive nature of the Company's businesses; (iv) the effects of adverse economic conditions in the Company's markets, particularly with respect to the Company's limited-service lodging and hotels and resorts divisions; (v) the effects of adverse weather conditions, particularly during the winter in the Midwest and in the Company's other markets; (vi) the effects on the Company's occupancy and room rates from the relative industry supply of available rooms at comparable lodging facilities in the Company's markets; (vii) the effects of competitive conditions in the markets served by the Company; and (viii) the effects of increased energy costs. Shareholders, potential investors and other readers are urged to consider these factors carefully in evaluating the forward-looking statements and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements made herein are made only as of the date of this report and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update such forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.