Winner of the prestigious 2001 Gold Key award recognizing the world's finest meeting properties is Chateau Elan Winery & Resort, the 3,500 acre resort destination located just north of Atlanta.

Chateau Elan was chosen by thousands of meeting professionals, corporate and association buyers subscribing to Meetings & Conventions magazine who based their selection on overall excellence in seven criteria: attitude of meeting staff at the resort, quality of meeting rooms, quality of guest services, quality of food & beverage and service, proficiency and ease of handling reservations, technical equipment, and support services, and range and quality of recreational amenities.

Doug Rollins, Vice President of Sales & Marketing for Chateau Elan Hotels & Resorts, a branded group of luxury U.S. and International properties said, ``The Gold Key award to Chateau Elan Winery & Resort is a prestigious honor to our national flagship property as well as reflective of our commitment to the highest standards of excellence in meeting facilities, rooms and amenities at all our branded group of properties worldwide.

This award also sets the bar of achievement for our newest international property, the $80 million St Andrews Bay golf resort, spa & state-of-the-art conference center which opened in June in St Andrews, Scotland,'' he added.

Chateau Elan, a Mobil Four-Star property for seven consecutive years, recently completed a $5 million comprehensive program designed to provide meeting planners, corporate and incentive groups with cutting edge high-speed internet access throughout its 25,000 square foot Conference Center, 19 meeting rooms and two ballrooms.

In addition to the meeting facilities, the rooms and suites at the Inn, the Spa and the resorts amenities, restaurants and services were all refreshed and enhanced.