AMLH American Leisure Holdings Inc (PK)

American Leisure Holdings, Inc. (OTCBB: AMLH), announced today that it has closed on $54,850,000 in senior debt to be used in the development of The Sonesta Orlando Resort at Tierra del Sol (the "Project"). KeyBank, N.A. is the lender of two credit facilities for the benefit of AMLH. The first is a land loan in the amount of $14,850,000, which is secured by Project land that is dedicated to specific phases of the development. The second is a $40,000,000 revolving construction loan that will fund the development and construction for Phase 1 of the Resort. Phase 1 consists of 114 town homes and 180 mid-rise condominiums in a luxury vacation home resort community. Both loans are part of a comprehensive finance plan for the development of the Project that also includes funding in the amount of $25,825,000 from the Westridge Community Development District ("CDD"), which bonds will be used to pay for infrastructure facilities for public purposes such as water supply and retention systems, roadways, green space and nature recreation areas. The Sonesta Orlando Resort is designed to be constructed in multiple phases, some of which will be built concurrently. Phase 1 is scheduled to include 294 vacation units and the first phase of one of Central Florida's largest swimming and recreation complexes. A combination pool and lazy river swimming feature, an outdoor sports bar and food service complex, restroom facilities, showers, water-slides, beach volleyball and extensive sundecks are all part of the Phase 1 planned amenities. (www.tierradelsolresort.com) Phase 2 is planned to start in 2006 during the construction of Phase I with full Project completion for all 972 resort units scheduled during 2007. Phase 2 is scheduled to include 678 vacation units and additional resort amenities. The planned amenities for Phase 2 include a 126,000 square foot clubhouse (84,000 square feet under air), miniature golf, a "flow rider" water attraction, a wave pool, a rapid river, and a children's multilevel interactive water park. The Clubhouse improvements in Phase 2 are expected to include a reception center, banquet and meeting rooms, casual and fine dining restaurants, a full service spa, shops, a sales center and an owners' club. The vacation units in Phase I are over 90% pre-sold. Total sales to date at the Resort now exceed $234 million. In addition to the KeyBank provided senior debt, the Project is also benefiting from $25,825,000 in bonds issued by the Westridge Community Development District, a special purpose taxing district formed for the purpose of financing the installation of vital public services such as water supply and retention, sanitary and storm water sewer systems, roadways and the landscaping attendant to those uses. The CDD supports these initiatives, through the provision of capital and maintenance, via a tax upon the property owners of the district that utilizes a low finance rate (5.8% per annum) and a long-term amortization of the capital costs (30 years). Consequently, the developers of the land in the CDD and the initial property owners are spared the cost of such capital improvements. The first phase of site work, at an estimated cost exceeding $19 million, will be funded by the CDD via the sale by the CDD of bonds issued on a non-recourse basis to the Company ("CDD Bonds"). The CDD was initially created by the Company in September 2003 and enabled by an order of a Florida State District Court. The CDD Bond issue was underwritten by KeyBanc Capital Markets Group in the amount of $25,825,000. The first issue of the CDD Bonds were successfully sold and closed simultaneous with the closing of the Key Bank senior debt facilities. The Sonesta Orlando Resort occupies 122 acres that front US Route 27 approximately four miles south of US Highway 192 and three miles north of the intersection of Interstate 4 and US Route 27, between Osceola and Polk Counties in Central Florida. The Project is in the epicenter of vacation home resorts that serve the Orlando theme park attractions. The Company also concluded the sale of land it had been holding for future development, realizing $7,600,000 from the sale. The Company has reinvested these funds into the project as part of its total equity commitment in the Project of over $60 million. Stanford Venture Capital Holdings, Inc., the Company's long time equity capital partner, provided convertible credit facilities that comprised $8,100,000 of the Company's equity commitment. The Orlando offices of Foley & Lardner, led by senior partner Terence Delahunty, represented Key Bank. The Miami offices of Shutts and Bowen, specifically Richard Morgan, Alfred Smith and Margaret Rolando, represented the Company. First American Title Insurance Company, led by James Dyer, provided the title insurance for the Project. Construction of the Project will be undertaken by the Orlando subsidiary of PCL Construction Enterprises, Inc., of Denver, Colorado. PCL Construction Services, Inc., led by Deron Brown, District Manager, has invested valuable time and energy and has made significant financial commitments toward the successful completion of the Project by way of a guaranteed maximum price contract for Phase 1 supported by way of a $4,000,000 construction deposit with KeyBank. Development of the Project is being undertaken by American Leisure Real Estate Group, Inc., led by Steven Parker, its President, as it continues the task it started in 2003 for the Company when it began the design and entitlement process. Malcolm Wright, AMLH President and CEO, said, "The Company, in closing these construction facilities, has reached a major milestone in the fulfillment of its mission to build the best vacation home ownership resort in the Orlando area designed for the Orlando family vacation. Our goal was to create a unique development that combines quality construction with spectacular resort amenities that reflect and add to the entertainment focus of the area, I believe we will do just that. Our entire emphasis is to provide both our vacation home owners and our future resort guests the opportunity to enjoy a world class resort operated by expert management with special advantages made available by our resort operator, Sonesta International Hotels Corporation. The Company will continue to concentrate on growing its vacation resort development projects for management and distribution through its travel companies, Hickory Travel Systems, Inc. of Saddle Brook, NJ, an international travel consortium and travel services provider, and, TraveLeaders of Coral Gables, Florida, a travel agency business". The Sonesta Orlando Resort at Tierra del Sol is Sonesta's first Orlando resort property. "We are pleased to see this project moving forward, for we know it will add another dimension to resorts in the Orlando area. The oversized guest accommodations combined with the extraordinary world-class amenities will certainly attract guests to the Resort. We are very excited about our participation", states Sonesta President Stephanie Sonnabend. Sonesta's other Florida properties are in the South Florida area, specifically Key Biscayne, Coconut Grove and Sunny Isles Beach. "We're happy to be the leader in the underwriting of the conventional construction loans and the bond financing", said Robert Carmichael, Senior Vice President and Team Sales Leader of KeyBank Real Estate Capital's Orlando Office. "American Leisure has created a unique model in the Orlando market, combining its development expertise, its marketing and its extensive travel agency network to drive the sale of units and the delivery of visitors to the Resort. We look forward to a successful venture." About American Leisure Holdings, Inc. American Leisure Holdings Inc. (OTCBB: AMLH) is an integrated travel services distribution and travel destination development company. The Travel Division is comprised of TraveLeaders, and Hickory Travel Systems, Inc., a travel distribution network whose members produce multi-billion dollar gross annual sales. The Company's plan is to expand its affiliated travel network within AMLH's business model for an integrated distribution channel. The Company is actively working to develop innovative travel and communication technology and systems to enhance its competitive position in the travel management and vacation home development arenas. The Company intends to take advantage of the natural synergy between travel distribution and the management and development of travel destinations. This synergy will enhance the performance of the AMLH Vacation Home Resort Development Division that develops high quality vacation home resort properties. About KeyBank Real Estate Capital KeyBank Real Estate Capital is the nation's third-largest commercial real estate capital provider with nearly $19 billion in annual financings. It provides construction and interim loans, mezzanine financing, private equity, commercial mortgages, investment banking and loan sales and syndications services nationwide for virtually all property types. Its 800 financing professionals serve a national client base through 36 locations in major U.S. markets. KeyBank Real Estate Capital is a business unit of KeyBank National Association, a subsidiary of Cleveland-based KeyCorp, one of the nation's largest bank-based financial services companies, with assets of approximately $91 billion. About Sonesta International Hotels Corporation Sonesta Hotels, Resorts & Nile Cruises, based in Boston, represents a collection of 25 upscale hotels and resorts and 3 Nile Cruise ships. Founded in the 1940's, Sonesta has a long-standing reputation in the hotel industry for offering properties that are designed to deliver uncompromising personal service, reflect the culture and history of their location and provide a memorable experience unique to each hotel. Sonesta's properties are located in Boston, New Orleans (2), Miami (3), Orlando (opening 2007), St. Maarten, Brazil, Peru (7), St. Lucia (opening in mid 2006), and Egypt (9). For more information about Sonesta Hotels, Resorts & Nile Cruises, call 1-800-SONESTA (800-766-3782), or visit Sonesta's website at http://www.sonesta.com. Forward Looking Statement: This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The statements regarding AMLH in this release that are not historical in nature, particularly those that utilize terminology such as "may," "will," "should," "likely," "expects," "anticipates," "estimates," "believes" or "plans," or comparable terminology, are forward-looking statements based on current expectations about future events, which AMLH has derived from the information currently available to it. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause AMLH's results to be materially different from results implied in such forward-looking statements. Important factors known to AMLH that could cause forward-looking statements to turn out to be incorrect are identified and discussed from time to time in AMLH's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements contained in this release speak only as of the date hereof, and AMLH undertakes no obligation to correct or update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.