Hyatt Hotels & Resorts Sponsors Jumpstart's Read for the Record(R) for Second Straight...

Hyatt Hotels & Resorts Sponsors Jumpstart's Read for the Record(R) for Second Straight Year

Support for early literacy initiative at more than 100 hotels
demonstrates corporate commitment to youth and education
CHICAGO--(Business Wire)--
For the second consecutive year, Hyatt Hotels & Resorts will serve
as a national corporate sponsor of Jumpstart's Read for the Record(R)
campaign, participating in a global effort to highlight the importance
of early childhood education by breaking the world record for the
largest shared reading experience.

Slated to take place on October 2, Jumpstart's Read for the Record
is an outreach program designed to encourage children and adults from
around the world to read the same book on the same day. Across the
United States, Canada and Mexico, associates at more than 100 hotels
will distribute customized bookmarks to all guests beginning on
September 8 through the day of the reading events taking place October
2. On that day, general managers and other local team members will
read this year's official campaign book, Corduroy, to groups of
children at schools and libraries in their local communities. The
company is also encouraging members of its Hyatt Gold Passport(R)
program to donate points towards a financial contribution to
Jumpstart. Participating Hyatt brands include Hyatt Regency(R), Grand
Hyatt(R), Park Hyatt(R), Hyatt Summerfield Suites(R) and Hyatt
Place(R).

As an active contributor to the local communities in which it
serves, Hyatt will donate custom, limited-edition copies of Corduroy,
written by Don Freeman, to local pre-school organizations and
libraries across the United States. Celebrating its 40th year in
print, this international classic shares a timeless message about love
and friendship.

"For the past 50 years, Hyatt has demonstrated its commitment to
social responsibility, youth and education," said Mark Hoplamazian,
Global Hyatt Corporation president and chief executive officer.
"Together, Hyatt and Jumpstart aim to educate the community about the
importance of literacy in the lives of young children and encourage
public involvement in literacy programs."

Participating Hyatt properties are partnering with local
organizations and schools to create interactive reading events that
include learning activities and games. In addition, Hyatt properties
in major cities such as Los Angeles, Chicago and Atlanta, along with
Jumpstart, will host special reading events at schools, local
organizations and libraries.

Last year, more than 258,000 people participated in the Read for
the Record event nationwide and more than $1 million was raised to
support Jumpstart's literacy-building efforts. As a national sponsor
in 2007, Hyatt helped Jumpstart obtain its goal of breaking the world
record for the largest shared reading experience by having more than
100 hotels in North America participate. Hyatt Gold Passport members
had the option to redeem 5,000 points in exchange for a $40 donation
to Jumpstart. Jumpstart received more than $12,000 from the generosity
of the Hyatt Gold Passport membership.

Jumpstart's longstanding relationships with its national
multi-year partners are a key component of its ongoing efforts to help
at-risk children develop their language, literacy, and social skills
in preparation for kindergarten. With support from Jumpstart's sponsor
and founding partner, Pearson, as well as American Eagle Outfitters,
Hanna Andersson, LeapFrog, Penguin Young Readers Group, Sodexo and XM
Satellite Radio, this year promises to be another record-breaking
event.

About Global Hyatt Corporation

Global Hyatt Corporation, headquartered in Chicago, is one of the
world's premier hotel companies. The hotels owned, operated, managed
or franchised by its subsidiaries provide authentic hospitality to
guests in 45 countries through a passionate commitment to personalized
service, cultural relevance, and the environment. Global Hyatt
subsidiaries own, operate, manage or franchise more than 365 hotels
and resorts worldwide under the Hyatt(R), Hyatt Regency(R), Hyatt
Resorts(TM), Grand Hyatt(R), Park Hyatt(R), Hyatt Place(R), Hyatt
Summerfield Suites(R) and Andaz(TM) brands with additional properties
under development on five continents. Global Hyatt Corporation is also
the owner of Hyatt Vacation Ownership, Inc., operator of Hyatt
Vacation Club(R). The success of Global Hyatt is driven by the
commitment and energy of the approximately 90,000 men and women around
the world who provide exceptional service to hotel guests. From the
U.S. and Canada, reservations for any Hyatt hotel worldwide may be
obtained by calling 1-800-233-1234 or visiting www.hyatt.com.

About Jumpstart

Jumpstart is a national early education organization that works
toward the day every child in America enters school prepared to
succeed. Through extraordinary attention in yearlong one-to-one
relationships, Jumpstart inspires children to learn, adults to teach,
families to get involved, and communities to progress together.
Headquartered in Boston, Jumpstart pairs 3,500 trained adults
one-to-one with preschool children in need of assistance. During the
2007-2008 program year, Jumpstart is serving 13,000 children across 20
states, in partnership with 300 early learning centers and nearly 70
universities and colleges throughout the country.

Jumpstart's national sponsors include American Eagle Outfitters,
AmeriCorps, Pearson, Sodexo and Starbucks. Jumpstart is the recipient
of the Fast Company/Monitor Social Capitalist Award (2004, 2005, 2006,
2007 and 2008) and the Committee to Encourage Corporate Philanthropy's
Directors Award. For more information, visit the Jumpstart Web site at
www.jstart.org.

Hyatt Hotels & Resorts
Lori Alexander
312-780-5709
lori.alexander@hyatt.com

Copyright Business Wire 2008