PROTEA RATES 21ST AMONGST WORLDS LARGEST GROUPS - 01 July 2005

Protea Hotels has been ranked #21 in the worlds top 100 management companies - as listed by Lodging, the official magazine of the American Hotel and Lodging Association. This is 11 places higher than just a year ago, when Protea was rated 32nd. "This is a considerable shift, taking into account that we are competing on the international stadium," said Arthur Gillis, Group Managing Director of Protea Hotels.

The rating is significant not only because Protea is within the top management companies in the world, but also considering it is the only company outside of North America and Europe to be regarded within the top 30. "Being Africa's largest hotel management company is very significant, as it ensures substantial spread on this continent," added Gillis.

The rating considers factors such as number of rooms and the number of properties marketed and managed, amongst other factors. At the time of the survey, Protea Hotels was marketing and managing over of 8 000 rooms and 105 properties, keeping company with the worlds biggest and best. The Group presently operates 130 hotels in 13 African countries, including South Africa, Réunion, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Mozambique, Malawi, Namibia, Zambia, Nigeria, Egypt and the Democratic Republic of Congo. In addition to this, Protea proudly displays its South African flag in the United Kingdom, with three hotels at present.