20TH IFP INDEPENDENT SPIRIT AWARDS SELECTS SHERATON DELFINA FOR SPECIAL ANNIVERSARY NOMINEE RECEPTION

Kor Hotel Group's Sheraton Delfina and Viceroy Santa Monica chosen as host hotels for 20th IFP Independent Spirit Awards --

Santa Monica, CA - Sheraton Delfina will premier its new stylish four-star hotel experience with some of the brightest stars in independent film this week with a grand celebration of the IFP Independent Spirit Awards' 20th anniversary and the completion of the hotel's $11 million reinvention.

Quentin Tarantino and Salma Hayek, Honorary Co-Chairs of the 20th IFP Independent Spirit Awards, are expected to attend the special nominee reception in Sheraton Delfina's penthouse ballroom, the only one of its kind in Santa Monica. Other VIP guests, including current nominees and previous IFP Spirit Award winners, will toast their talented indie film peers in the elegantly redesigned 4,500-square foot suite framed by sweeping ocean, mountain and city views of the Southern California coast.

Under the management of the Kor Hotel Group, the Sheraton Delfina hotel is repositioning from the three-star Four Points brand to a full-service, luxury four-star Sheraton hotel, formally joining Kor Hotel Group's distinctive portfolio of luxury boutique and flagged hotels. Sheraton Delfina's new urban chic design evokes the sophisticated yet relaxed beach attitude of the Santa Monica beach, just steps away. The hotel will officially reflag on March 1.

Both Sheraton Delfina and sister luxury boutique hotel Viceroy Santa Monica, its innovative design and dedicated personalized service favored by celebrities and other film industry trendsetters, are the official host hotels of the 2005 IFP Independent Spirit Awards show. The awards ceremony will take place on Saturday, February 26, 2005, in a tent on the Santa Monica beach across from the hotels. Celebrity presenters include: Javier Bardem, Selma Blair, Benjamin Bratt, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Salma Hayek, Val Kilmer, Laura Linney, Ewan McGregor, Megan Mullally, Robin Wright Penn, Quentin Tarantino, Marisa Tomei, Robin Williams and Elijah Wood. Samuel L. Jackson will be the Master of Ceremonies.