Extended Stay America, Inc. Opens Its 26th Florida-Based Property in Lake Mary

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 4, 2000--Extended Stay America, Inc. (NYSE:ESA) has opened a three-story Extended StayAmerica Efficiency Studios brand hotel at 1036 Greenwood Boulevard in Lake Mary, Fla. The 98-room hotel, located within miles of Sea World, Walt Disney World and Universal Studios, is the Company's eighth property in the Orlando area, its 26th hotel in the state and its 383rd property overall. According to Chief Executive Officer George D. Johnson, Jr., The extended-stay lodging market is the fastest growing segment of the hotel industry and is quickly catching the interest of business professionals, people relocating and those on extended work assignments. Weekly room rates for the new Extended StayAmerica hotel are available from $319 for a Queen room and $349 for a King room -- a fraction of the cost you'd pay elsewhere for similar features. Nightly rates are available from $64. Guest rooms at Extended StayAmerica properties include a queen-size bed, recliner, cable TV with remote, free voice mail, free local calls, and a computer data port. Each room also has a kitchen with a refrigerator, two-burner range, microwave, coffee maker, utensils and tableware. The property features a 24-hour, coin-operated, on-site laundry facility for guests and convenient vending machines. Guests are provided with weekly housekeeping service and twice-weekly towel service. Properties are generally staffed by five to six full-time and eight to ten part-time employees. Extended Stay America, Inc. owns and operates 25 other Florida-based extended-stay hotels under its StudioPLUS Deluxe Studios, Extended StayAmerica Efficiency Studios and Crossland Economy Studios brand names located in the Daytona Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Gainesville, Jacksonville, Maitland, Melbourne, Orlando, Pensacola, Tallahassee, Tampa and West Palm Beach areas. The Company also has two Extended StayAmerica brand hotels under construction in Miami, Fla. that are scheduled for late 2000 and early 2001 openings. The appeal of our hotels reaches beyond the business and corporate community. Besides being ideal for professionals on extended or temporary assignments such as consulting or training, our properties are perfect for people building homes, relocating or attending family functions, said Mike Wilson, Vice President - Marketing. Extended Stay America, Inc. was founded in January, 1995 by Mr. Johnson and H. Wayne Huizenga. Mr. Johnson was formerly President of the Consumer Products Division of Blockbuster Entertainment Corp., a division of Viacom, Inc. Mr. Huizenga, who is Chairman of the Board, also is Chairman and Co-Chief Executive Officer of AutoNation, Inc. and formerly was Vice Chairman of Viacom, Inc., and Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Blockbuster Entertainment Corp. The Company, which is the fastest-growing company owned and operated hotel chain in U.S. history, has recently been named one of America's 100 Fastest-Growing Companies by Fortune magazine for the second year in a row. Currently, Extended Stay America, Inc. operates 383 extended-stay lodging hotels in 38 states, which includes 92 StudioPLUS Deluxe Studios, 252 Extended StayAmerica Efficiency Studios and 39 Crossland Economy Studios facilities. For reservations, locations or additional information on Extended Stay America, Inc., please call 1-800-EXT-STAY or visit the Company's Web site at www.extstay.com.