ALEXA SIMPSON WRITING SAMPLES

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1. Press Release

2. Press Release Continued

3. Bio / Media Backgrounder

4. Media Backgrounder

5. Blurbs & Pitches

6. Blurbs & Pitches

7. Blurbs & Pitches

8. Blurbs & Pitches

9. Blurbs & Pitches

10. Press Hits

11. Press Hits

12. Tweets

13. Tweets

Media Contact: J Public Relations +1 (619) 255-7069 Chelsea Hellems / chelsea@jpublicrelations.com Lindsay Weightman / lweightman@jpublicrelations.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MATT ADAMS APPOINTED AS AREA VICE PRESIDENT AND GENERAL

MANAGER FOR MANCHESTER GRAND HYATT SAN DIEGO SAN DIEGO, Calif. (November 12, 2015) – Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego, the tallest urban waterfront hotel on the west coast, is pleased to announce the appointment of Matt Adams as area vice president and general manager. In his new role, Adams will oversee Grand Hyatt San Diego’s entire operation. Adams has fulfilled a variety of roles including general manager of Hyatt Regency Chicago, area vice president and general manager of Hyatt Regency San Francisco and Grand Hyatt New York, and vice president of operations for Hyatt, North America. Most recently he held the title of vice president, France for seven Hyatt properties. Adam’s love of travel and native Southern Californian mindset reflects the magnificent aesthetic that Grand Hyatt San Diego emanates.

“I consider Manchester Grand Hyatt to be one of the most notable hotels among all Hyatts,” said Adams. “I am very proud to be a part of the San Diego team and look forward to being back in my home state and making a lasting impact on this location.”

Adams manifests a distinguished career in hospitality management with Hyatt Hotels, highlighted through innovation, operation management, leadership, and problem resolution. He assisted in the development of the Onefinestay partnership, which seeks to understand and provide a new guest experience in an effort to stay competitive in the current market. Adams aided the design team on the re-branding of Hyatt Regency, where he helped identify and redefine signature brand experiences which were implemented globally. Additionally, he oversaw the $120 million dollar renovation and re-invention of the Grand Hyatt New York.

Starting his career in 1983 at Hyatt Regency Long Beach, Adams began as a housekeeping floor supervisor, which proved instrumental to expanding his hospitality knowledge. Adams introduced and revised a housekeeping strategy which deployed housekeeping staff in a unique model, saving Hyatt over $5 million in payroll annually.

-Coverage secured in Association News, Hospitality Net and Hotel Online

PRESS RELEASE

“It’s been a pleasure welcoming Matt back to the west coast and into our San Diego Hyatt family,” said Jordan Meisner, senior vice president of field operations, Americas. “His experience and in depth knowledge of the Grand Hyatt brand, remarkable professional successes, as well as his passion for travel and our destination brings so much value to our team.”

Adams earned his Bachelor of Science in Political Science and Economics in 1983 from California State University, Long Beach. He thrives in hobbies such as global innovation, arts, fashion, design, architecture, food and music. His main passion, however, remains travel. Having relocated over 10 times for different Hyatt locations, he is enthusiastic about his new home in San Diego.

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About Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego Located on the Gaslamp Quarter’s waterfront, Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego overlooks San Diego Bay with a vast majority of rooms offering spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean. This urban resort defines San Diego’s skyline and is comprised of two stylish towers, the 33-story Seaport Tower and the 40-story Harbor Tower, the latter of which is 497-feet tall, making it the tallest hotel on the west coast waterfront. Connecting the two towers is a four-story building that boasts a rooftop pool with a 25,000 square-foot deck. This stylish Hyatt includes 76 recently renovated one-and-two-bedroom suites, a Marilyn Monroe Spa, and an adults-only rooftop pool on the hotel’s 3rd floor, tennis courts, bay-view pool and deck, a fitness center and several award-winning restaurants and lounges –most overlooking the bay. Grand Hyatt also offers complementary Wi-Fi to all hotel guests. It is adjacent to Seaport Village, near Horton Plaza and convenient to San Diego International Airport, San Diego Zoo and Sea World. In 2012, the hotel began a multimillion-dollar renovation, and completed the transformation of the 1,628 guest rooms, the Executive Lounge in spring 2013 and the iconic Top of the Hyatt in fall 2015. The hotel recently completed 316,000 square feet of event venues renovations and will continue to proceed with additional updates including the redesign all food and beverage outlets and their grand lobby. The entire project is scheduled to be complete by 2018. For additional information, please visit the company’s website at manchestergrand.hyatt.com.

About Host Hotels & Resorts®

Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc. is an S&P 500 and Fortune 500 company and is the largest lodging real estate investment trust and one of the largest owners of luxury and upper-upscale hotels. The Company currently owns 106 properties in the United States and 17 international properties totaling over 65,000 rooms, and also holds a non-controlling interest in a joint venture that owns 11 hotels in Europe with approximately 3,500 rooms. Guided by a disciplined approach to capital allocation and aggressive asset management, the Company partners with

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premium brands in the operation of properties in over 50 major markets worldwide. For additional information, please visit the Company’s website at www.hosthotels.com.

PRESS RELEASE

BIO

MEDIA BACKGROUNDERS

MEDIA BACKGROUNDERS

Manchester Grand Hyatt Individual Media Visit

Guest Profile: Name: Melinda Sheckells Company that media guest represents: Vegas Seven How guest(s) would prefer to be addressed: Melinda

About Melinda Sheckells: Melinda is a leading style maven, having covered fashion and design for a variety of publications in the past decade, including Vegas Magazine, 944 and Vegas/Rated. The LA native also covers Las Vegas for The Hollywood Reporter and makes regular appearances on television to discuss the latest trends as well as to analyze the fashions at major events, including the Oscars. About Vegas Seven: Vegas Seven touches on all categories of Las Vegas life—from fashion and food to health and sports to politics and education. And it does so with authority, using the most knowledgeable and skilled writers, editors, photographers and designers available. Circulation: 60,000 Website: 50,800 Contact Info: Email: Melinda@wendoh.com Twitter: @melindasvegas Cell Phone: (310) 570-7602

Dietary Info: Allergies/Preferences: N/A

Arrival & Departure: Dates of Stay: December 5-6 Grand Hyatt Stay: December 5 -6 Andaz San Diego Stay: December 5-6 Arrival time: N/A Transportation: N/A

Meals / Activities:

N/A

Other:Preferred room: King

Story Interest: Dining, beverage, spa and nightlife.

Objectives of trip:N/A

Emergency Contact: Bonnie Pratner- (702) 242-5708

BLURBS & PITCHES

Holiday Travel Pitching:

Hotel Abri | San Francisco, CALooking for a winter escape to the Bay Area? San Francisco’s Union Square is the heart of holiday celebrations and a vibrant winter wonderland every holiday season. Make the most of our prime location and get planning! After checking into your deluxe accommodation, grab your admission tickets to the Union Square Ice Rink, located just blocks away from the hotel. Skate rental vouchers are also included in the package. When you’re done skating, cozy up to a cup of hot chocolate with your Starbucks gift cards.Package includes:•Two admission tickets to the Union Square Ice Rink • Two skate rental vouchers�• Two $10 Star-bucks gift cards

National Cheese Day:

AVANT | San Diego, CA (Coverage secured in discoversd.com, see press hits)With a full charcuterie bar, offering a wonderfully curated case of meats and cheeses, AVANT invites cheese-lovers to swing by for delectable cheese board of their choosing. The selection changes daily as chef recommends seasonal options on a rotating basis. There may be anything from Toma Cheese, made from Italian cow's milk in the Aosta Valley and Piedmont regions of Northern Italy to a Beehive Cheese that melts like butter in your mouth, made from the creamiest milk in Utah. Other selections include TeaHive, a cheddar-style, aromatic cheese made with pas-teurized Jersey milk infused with a mixture of black tea and bergamot orange. Lastly, Humboldt Fog, a goat's milk cheese delivered by Cypress Grove Chevre, of Arcata, CA, in Humboldt County. AVANT staff is happy to help guests navigate the many options and prepare the perfect board or there’s always a board of chef’s-choice. Lively and sophisticated with a dash of daring, AVANT focuses on unpretentious, approachable cuisine with homegrown culinary touches paired with handcrafted classic cocktails, local craft beer, and limited production wines from around the world.

Holiday Spa Treatments:

L'Apothecary Spa at L'Auberge de Sedona | Sedona, AZL’Apothecary Spa at L’Auberge de Sedona is a newly designed spa and lobby for guests and Arizona visitors to draw upon the destination’s rich bounty of healing botanicals and fragrant herbs and flowers to create their own custom body care products. This holiday season, L’Apothecary guests are encouraged to enjoy the new Winter Refresh Blend. A revitalizing body scrub or bath soak designed to help renew winter worn skin, includes green tea to fight inflammation reducing redness and puffiness, allowing radiance of your skin to shine. Holy basil and lavender also help to deliver your body to a place of calm and relaxation, allowing your outer distractions to dissolve. A final addition of cacao full of antioxidants supports cell growth and skin regeneration, creating a full blend for the mind, skin and spirit.

BLURBS & PITCHES

The Spa at Casa Madrona | Sausalito, CALocated in the beautiful seaside community of Sausalito, The Spa at Casa Madrona is celebrating the holidays with a Brown Sugar Cookie Polish. Available from now to January, the polish is a delicious blend of brown sugar scrub, vanilla and cinnamon allows guests the chance to experi-ence a cookie indulgence that won’t go to your waistline.

Holiday Drinks:

Manchester Grand Hyatt | San Diego, CA (Coverage secured in sandiegouniontribune.com, see press hits)If there is a sighting of Santa on his sleigh, you are sure to see it here- at the top of the Hyatt. Raise your glass and toast to the holiday season with a spectacular view of the San Diego Bay. Floor to ceiling windows create dramatic panoramic views of the downtown San Diego skyline and the ocean below. Sip and savor the delicious holiday 'Silk Stockings' cocktail from 40 stories high. This rich, festive cocktail is infused with white crème de cacao, Del Maguey Vida mezcal, heavy cream and a dash of cherry syrup. Garnished with ground cinnamon, there is no better way to top off a crisp holiday evening.

Rancho Bernardo Inn | San Diego, CA (Coverage secured in sandiegouniontribune.com, see press hits)Located in North County San Diego, Rancho Bernardo Inn is full of holiday cheer! Celebrate the holidays with the flavors of Christmas, by sipping the sweet, silky Gingerbread Martini at the prop-erty's signature restaurant, AVANT. The creamy festive cocktail includes vanilla vodka, Kahlua, Bailey's and house made ginger sauce, topped with gingerbread cookie crumbles on the rim.

New Year’s Eve:

Toll House Hotel | Los Gatos, CAEscape the New Year’s chaos and getaway to the intimate small town Toll House Hotel in Los Gatos to ring in 2016. Start the night off dining at VERGE restaurant with a prix-fixe dinner menu for 2 while enjoying live entertainment. Toast to the New Year with a bottle of house white, red or California Champagne. Cheers to 2016!Available exclusively on December 31, 2015, this New Year's package includes: One-night stay; dinner for two at VERGE Restaurant; complimentary bottle of house white, red or California Cham-pagne; morning revitalization kit. Package starts at $299

Surf & Sand Resort | Laguna Beach, CARing in the New Year with Stay & Splashes NYE package that includes luxurious accommodations on California's Laguna Beach shoreline where the waves of the Pacific meet 500 feet of pristine sand. Enjoy dinner for two at Splashes Restaurant, which combines signature coastal flare with creative Mediterranean-inspired dishes. With the sea just 25 feet below, you can toast to the New Year while watching the waves role in. Available exclusively on December 31, 2015, this New Year's package includes: One-night stay, dinner for two at Splashes Restaurant and a 'Rehydrate & Recover' kit. Package starts at $940

BLURBS & PITCHES

The Rancho Bernardo Inn | San Diego, CAVisitors to the region can escape the downtown hustle and bustle to an elegant retreat in relaxing North County San Diego to experience the best of Rancho Bernardo Inn’s award winning accom-modations. The Rancho Bernardo Inn is offering a New Year's Eve Stay, Dine & Soirée Package. The special includes overnight accommodations, dinner at Veranda Fireside Lounge & Restaurant and dancing for two with a soirée and bubbly toast at the Bernardo Ballroom.Available exclusively on December 31, 2015, this New Year's package includes:One-night stay; dinner at Veranda Fireside Lounge & Restaurant Soirée at Bernardo Ballroom. Package starts at $338

"Movember" Pitch for Firehouse, The Patio on Lamont and The Manchester Grand Hyatt:

Hi XX,Hope you had a great weekend! "Movember" is officially upon us and with that comes glorious mustaches, mules, and other various libations. There's no better time to sport a 'stache than through the month of November to support men's health and to enjoy perks like 50% off cocktails, refreshing "Movember Mules" and channeling your inner Kip or Prince mustache doppelgänger.Below, I’ve included additional details on Movember happenings around San Diego. I’d love if could keep these in mind for any current or upcoming stories you may be working on surrounding the holiday. Let me know if you have any questions, or need any additional information or images. Thanks for your time!

All my best,XX

The Patio on Lamont | San Diego, CALocated in the seaside community of Pacific Beach, The Patio on Lamont is a neighborhood eatery offering local, seasonal and sustainably sourced cuisine, cool cocktails, worldly wine and craft beers. To celebrate “Movember,” The Patio on Lamont has created a full throttle cocktail menu dedicated to the month of the ‘staches. The menu features playful cocktails, including the Kip AKA The Lafawnduh cocktail with vodka, gin, tequila, rum, Triple Sec, lemon juice and a splash of Coke, the Healy AKA The White Lady with gin, orange liqueur, peach bitters, lemon, egg white and nutmeg. The list continues with The Prince AKA Game...Blouses, a hand crafted cocktail with vodka, pomegranate, muddled cucumber, mint, lime and bubbly, along with the Jules Winnfield AKA The “BMF" cocktail with rye, raw sugar and bitters. Finally, the White Goodman AKA Purple Cobra is refreshing combination of gin, Carpano Antica and Fernet Branca. Additionally, any guest sporting a mustache this November can enjoy 50% off any of the ‘stache themed cocktails.

Link to menu: https://www.dropbox.com/s/t7mzlye7l8w084a/Movember%20% 7C%20Pa-tio%20on%20Lamont.pdf?dl=0

BLURBS & PITCHES

The Manchester Grand Hyatt | San Diego, CALocated on the Gaslamp Quarter's waterfront, Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego overlooks San Diego Bay and has spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean.�Back by popular demand, Grand Hyatt’s “Movember Mules” are the perfect libations to celebrate the month of the ‘stache. Featuring a range of mules inspired by different areas of the expansive property, guests can enjoy a selection of Movember Mules including the Redfields Mule with Jim Beam Bourbon, lime juice, fresh straw-berries and Goslings Ginger Beer, the Grand Lobby Bar Mule with Skyy Vodka, fresh muddled strawberries, lime juice and a topping of ginger beer. Finally, guests can toast to the holiday and take in the beautiful sights with the Top of the Hyatt Mule, hand crafted with Highland Park 12-year Scotch, bitters, lemon juice and ginger beer.

FIREHOUSE American Eatery + Lounge | Pacific Beach, CAFIREHOUSE strives to maintain its place as a local legend in the San Diego area while adding an upscale flair to all food and beverages. Executive Chef Jason Maitland inspires creative and deli-cious meals. From the "Krispy Kreme Benny" to the Hawaiian Ahi Tostada, guests can expect mouth-watering dishes and refreshing cocktails. For "Movember" FIREHOUSE is featuring the Mustache Ride cocktail- A sage and peppercorn infused Old Fashioned to pay homage to Thanks-giving flavors. This holiday beverage is made with 2 ounces Jim Beam, 1/2 ounces sage pepper-corn simple syrup, a dash of Angostura bitters and orange bitters and served with an orange zest and sage leaf garnish.

Valentines Day Pitch:

Hi XX,

Hope you’re having a great start to the New Year! I wanted to reach out and share some details for top Bay Area dining and accommodations for this coming Valentine’s Day. VERGE Restaurant + Lounge, inside the Toll House Hotel, is offering an array of romantic specials for the weekend of February 12- February 14.

I’ve included additional features on each special below — l’d love if you could include these details in any Valentine’s Day dining and getaway stories or round-ups you may be working on. Let me know if you have any questions, or need any additional information.

All my best,

XX

BLURBS & PITCHESVERGE Restaurant + Lounge and Toll House Hotel | Los Gatos, CAInspired by its location on the verge of town, VERGE brings a new energy to the highly regarded Toll House Hotel and to the community of Los Gatos. Recently opened this past spring, VERGE is a lively social and culinary destination that offers an elevated, artisanal dining experience featuring California-fusion cuisine and a progressive cocktail program. In celebration of Valentine’s Day, Executive Chef Albert Nguyen-Phuoc has created a prix fixe Valentine’s Day dinner for two and a “Gal-entine’s” Mimosa Brunch sure to please all those starry-eyed lovebirds and friends celebrating the weekend of love. Guests can choose from a speciality prix-fixe Valentine’s Day dinner from February 12-14, a “Gal-entine’s” mimosa brunch, or create the ultimate romantic getaway with a a lavish overnight getaway that is sure to sweep your honey off their feet. Offering both the Romantic Getaway and Sweet Escape packages, guests can enjoy an array of luxurious accommodations, a romantic dinner for two and specialty amenities; all of which will help create the perfect getaway with your loved ones.

Tiburon Tavern and Lodge at Tiburon | Tiburon, CANestled on the tip of Tiburon, right outside of central San Francisco, the Tiburon Tavern features a menu full of elevated comfort foods inspired by Northern California’s freshest cuisine and coastal influences. The Tavern both tempts and excites guests with its farm-to-fork dining approach and chic gastropub vibe. This Valentine's Day, Executive Tim Humphrey expresses love and devotion with his hand-crafted prix-fixe menu by including a roasted Mary's organic chicken dish that was inspired by his mother.

Available February 13-14 from 5 - 9:30 p.m., guests can enjoy exceptional cuisine and live music by a local guitarist from 5:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. Starters include county line harvest mixed baby lettuces with toasted almonds, pepato cheese and white vinaigrette; fine herb crusted gulf prawns and roasted squab salad with gibier jus, parsnip puree, radish and mizuna; and potato and lobster chowder with smoked potato, butter poached lobster and fresh herbs. Guests may choose to pair any starter dish with spectacular wine options such as scharffenberger brut rose, marc bredif vouvray and fogline chardonnay. Entree choices include mixed mushroom bucantini with bucatini pasta, mixed mushrooms, black truffle butter, parmesan and fresh herbs; roasted Mary's organic chicken with farro salad, honey-lemon glazed baby carrots and rocket arugula; seared local catch of the day with basil risotto, swiss chard, tomato agrodolce and fresh herbs; and herb crusted NY strip loin with black truffle potato puree, roasted broccolini and sauce au poivre. Guests may pair these dishes with phillips hill pinot noir or mira cabernet sauvignon. The decadent meal is topped off with a choice of chocolate croissant bread pudding with white chocolate gelato; a selection of local cheese with marshall farms honeycomb, housemade pepper jelly and crostini; strawberries and cream tart with tahitian vanilla ice cream with micro basil; or bananas foster pot de creme with brown butter madeleines.

Valentine's Day Weekend dinner at Tiburon Tavern is $75 per person and includes a glass of spar-kling wine to start. Wine pairing throughout the meal is an additional $25. Reservations may be made by calling (415) 435-5996. Those looking to create the ultimate Valentine’s Day getaway can take advantage of the luxurious accommodations at the Lodge at Tiburon and reserve a guest room with their best available rate.

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