Partnering to increase visibility and value as well as to expand opportunities for consumers to stay in great historic lodgings, -  the National Trust for Historic Preservation and Preferred Hotel Group, Inc., have announced a long-term agreement to grow and enhance the Historic Hotels of America brand of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Preferred Hotel Group will license Historic Hotels of America from the National Trust for Historic Preservation, managing it as a separate business unit.

The partnership creates a strategic business relationship for Historic Hotels of America and adds a fifth brand and more than 200 new member hotels to Preferred's portfolio, which already represents more than 400 hotels and resorts in 65 countries around the world.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation is a non-profit membership organization providing leadership, education, advocacy and resources to people working together to save historic places in the United States.

"We're proud to be aligned with such an esteemed organization as the National Trust for Historic Preservation," commented John Ueberroth, Chairman & CEO of Preferred Hotel Group, a multi-brand corporation that delivers comprehensive sales, marketing, and distribution services to independent hotels and resorts worldwide.

 "Historic Hotels of America is a unique brand with great potential for growth, and we believe Preferred has the ideal infrastructure and resources to shepherd its expansion with the integrity it deserves."

"Our relationship with Preferred Hotel Group is good news for everyone involved," said Richard Moe, President of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. "Historic Hotels of America will benefit from the increased visibility and value of its association with Preferred. This will mean expanded opportunities for consumers to experience these great historic lodgings, which in turn should benefit Historic Hotels of America members and sustain their position as cultural landmarks and economic anchors in their communities."

In order to preserve the authenticity of the brand, Historic Hotels of America's standards will be maintained under clearly stated guidelines from the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Executive Director Thierry Roch will continue to oversee operations and ensure brand continuity.

Historic Hotels of America includes more than 200 of the most historic lodgings in the United States, not to mention some of the most prestigious – the Waldorf=Astoria (New York, N.Y.) and the Grand Hotel (Mackinac Island, Mich.) among them. Nineteen properties, including The Brown Palace Hotel & Spa in Denver, The Peabody Hotel in Memphis and The Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, W. Va., are already affiliated with a Preferred Hotel Group brand.

To qualify, each must be at least 50 years old and conform to specific historic building and service criteria set by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.