Soon it will be accomplished: on the 15th of May 2006, the new Maritim Hotel Dresden will open.

18 months of extensive building operations and alterations of the 90 years old listed Erlweinspeicher will come to a close. The 45th hotel of the Maritim Hotel Company, situated directly on the banks of the river Elbe in close vicinity to the old town centre, will then establish itself as prime address in the meeting and convention segment in Dresden and Saxony.

The completion of the building makes rapid progress. Maritims hotel project is on schedule. "Even better, at the moment we are three weeks in advance" the prospective General Manager of the hotel, Gerhard Riegger, proudly states.

"Only the furniture, most of which has been delivered, still has to be put into the rooms. The carpets are put down and the walls are decorated from floor six to nine." The kitchen, restaurant and wellness areas are also nearly finished.

During the last months Riegger has recruited a top team which works untiringly towards the opening. "130 employees, including up to 45 apprentices, will work here in the future", explains Riegger.

"From nearly 1,500 applications we chose the best skilled candidates. The majority of the team are locals and identify themselves with the hotel in a way I have never experienced before. I am happy to work with such a highly motivated team".

The affiliated International Congress Centre Dresden (ICD), which has been operated successfully by Maritim since its opening in May 2004, can accommodate up to 6,000 persons in 21 halls and rooms. It offers the most extensive conference facilities in the region. Maritim is highly pleased with the volume of business so far.

In 2005, the first complete business year, ICD Manager Riegger received 230,000 guests in the architecturally fascinating building. Today the ICD is the most outstanding location for congress tourism in the Saxonian capital. And in future one will not only find conference facilities for highest demands in Dresden but also an exclusive Maritim Hotel next door with 328 large and comfortable rooms.

"But we do not only focus on conference and convention guests", says Riegger. With its prime location directly on the banks of the river Elbe and on the edge of the old town, the hotel is also a perfect starting point for culture travellers. For that reason Rieggers team already arranged several exquisite weekend packages.

A highlight is the Semper Opera Ball, which was reborn very successfully in January 2006 after a break of 67 years. For the next opera ball on the 20th of January 2007 the Maritim Hotel Dresden has arranged an exclusive weekend special including a welcome cocktail and a splendid dinner on Friday. Breakfast, a light lunch, a champagne reception and a delicate "opera ball dinner" including beverages are on Saturdays programme.

Afterwards the guest is taken to the opera to enjoy this extraordinary event. The lavish ball night will be completed by a drink and a small delicacy at the Maritim hotel bar. As a special service for late risers the breakfast on Sunday will be available until two p.m.

The package including two nights in a double room can be booked for 1,744 Euro per person. Enquiries and reservations: Maritim Hotel & Internationales Congress Center Dresden, telephone +49 351 216 0, fax +49 351 216 1039, E-Mail info.dre@maritim.de.

The Maritim Hotel Dresden comprises 328 rooms including 40 suites of different categories. A restaurant, piano bar, wellness area with swimming pool, sauna and a fitness room are at the guests disposal. 118 underground car parking spaces are available, and another 263 parking spaces in the adjoining International Congress Centre Dresden. The heart of the hotel will be a light flooded atrium hall which is 38 meters high.

With 44 hotels, Maritim Hotelgesellschaft is ranked among the leading German hotel chains. Eight of the hotels are outside of Germany and are located in Bali, Belek/Turkey, Malta, Mauritius, Riga/Latvia, Tenerife and also in Djerba and Hammamet/Tunisia. As marketing and sales partner of Millennium & Copthorne Hotels plc Maritim is represented worldwide. The strong position of Maritim Hotelgesellschaft within the European first class hotel market is to be consolidated further by continual growth.

More information regarding Maritim Hotels can be found at http://www.maritim.com. For further requests please contact Angela Oelschlaegel, Director Public Relations, Maritim Hotelgesellschaft mbH, at aoelschlaegel.hv@maritim.de or telephone +49 5222 953 280.