JHC Announces New Nikko Hotel in New Delhi; The Metropolitan/Hotel Nikko New Delhi Slated to Open in April 2000.

TOKYO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 21, 1999--

JAL Hotels Company Ltd. (JHC), parent of Nikko Hotels International, today announced its expansion into the South Asian hotel market with the addition of the newly constructed "Metropolitan/Hotel Nikko New Delhi" to its roster of luxury hotels. With a soft opening of the hotel slated for April 2000, the New Delhi hotel will bring to 46 the number of hotels in the Nikko Hotels International chain worldwide.

The Indian real estate investment company, Sunair Hotels Ltd. owns the 174-room hotel. Located on Bangra Sahib Road in Connaught, New Delhi's business district, the hotel will offer travelers convenient, luxurious and safe accommodations only 15 kilometers from the city's international airport. Designed by U.S.-based Bent & Severin Associates, its 10 floors comprise a total area of more the 230,000 square feet. It is located on a 1.8-acre site.

In addition to the creature comforts that Nikko Hotels patrons expect worldwide, such as pools, upscale shops and fitness centers, the hotel will offer Internet access in each of its guestrooms via interactive TV. For business travelers, the hotel will provide both large and small conference rooms and a state-of-the-art business center featuring the most advanced computer and communications technologies and link-ups.

The hotel will also cater to a variety of culinary tastes in luxurious settings. These include the "Patio," a restaurant serving worldwide cuisine 24-hours-a-day, "Taska," a sophisticated bar, and "Cafe Gardenia," a poolside restaurant and bar for casual eating and drinking. Since the hotel is a Nikko property, it will be home to a Japanese restaurant of exceptional quality.

The Metropolitan/Hotel Nikko New Delhi will be the first Indian hotel to be managed by a Japanese company. According to JHC President Shosuke Machida, "the hotel will combine the best of Japanese style management, as well as worldclass experience with the sophisticated global traveler, with the millennia-old traditions of Indian hospitality and warm welcome. We expect the hotel will be a model for future Indian-Japanese business ventures and will promote the entry of a broad array of foreign businesses into the Indian market."

Furthermore, according to Mr. Machida, "Like China, India is one of the world's largest markets, representing more than 900 million people. Unlike Japan, which is homogeneous, India is a nation of diversity with various ethnic groups and lifestyles. As more Westerners and Japanese discover this enormous market, they will need a place to stay that offers them the comforts of their home countries with an authentic and unique Indian experience."

The hotel's general manager will be Mr. Gerhard W. Schaller, who currently manages the Hotel Nikko Mexico. According to Mr. Schaller, "the Nikko experience is consistent around the world, whether in Latin America or South Asia. We look forward to introducing the Nikko level of quality service to India and to incorporating the tapestry of rich cultures that this unique country has to offer."

Nikko Hotels International is an international luxury hotel chain owned and operated by JAL Hotels Company, Ltd., a subsidiary of Japan Airlines, headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. Nikko Hotels International has 45 hotels worldwide, in Europe, North America and throughout the Asia/Pacific region. In addition to Nikko Hotels International, JAL Hotels Company, Ltd. also operates JAL City Hotels, a chain of mid-priced hotels for business travelers in Japan, as well as independent hotel properties. For background information about Nikko Hotels International or individual Nikko hotels, please visit the company's website at www.nikkohotels.com.