HI-USA Announces a New Hostel in Houston, Texas

From HI-USA:

[INDENT]HOUSTON, TEXAS: Hostelling International USA (HI-USA) is pleased to announce
it the opening of its newest facility, the HI-Houston at the Morty Rich
Hostel. This newly renovated 50-bed hostel will treat thousands of travelers
from across the US and around the world to Texas-sized hospitality and
camaraderie, all in a historic setting.

Located in the eclectic Montrose section of Houston at 501 Lovett Boulevard,
HI-Houston is the rebirth of a gracious historic inn on a tree-lined avenue.
Formerly operated as the Lovett Inn Bed and Breakfast, it was originally
built in 1917 as the home for former Houston Mayor, Joseph C. Hutcheson, Jr.,
who later became a long-serving federal judge.

The property consists of a main house and a two-story carriage house. Close
to public transportation, downtown and the museum district, it's walking
distance to a great choice of local restaurants, coffee houses, clubs and
some of Houston's best nightlife.

HI-USA undertook an extensive renovation and conversion of the building prior
to its opening. Utilizing the many magnificent qualities of the building, a
mix of shared and private room accommodations will be offered for as little
as $25. The hostel also provides guests with a self-catering kitchen, along
with dining and lounge areas. The spacious and beautiful grounds include a
swimming pool and patio area to add an extra measure of fun and relaxation
for guests.

The new hostel is named for Morty Rich, a native Houstonian, who died
prematurely in a private plane crash. An adventurer and avid hostel
supporter, Mr. Rich left a bequest to HI-USA to help fund the development of
a hostel in Houston, putting the city and the organization he loved front and
center. After graduating from Rice University, he lived and worked in the
Montrose neighborhood, not far from the proposed hostel location. The
student health center and several leadership scholarships at Rice are also
named for him.

The HI-Houston at the Morty Rich Hostel is the latest facility HI-USA has
renovated for U.S. and world travelers. In recognition of its previous
preservation efforts, HI-USA has received the prestigious National
Preservation Honor Award from the National Trust for Historic Preservation,
the California Preservation Foundation Award for "Excellence in Historic
Preservation Design", and a stewardship award from the Sacramento Old City
Association.

For more information about the HI-Houston at the Morty Rich Hostel, please
visit the hostel's web page through www.hiusa.org/houston.
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Hostelling International-USA (HI-USA), the operating name for American Youth
Hostels Inc., is a nonprofit 501 (c) 3 organization affiliated with the
International Youth Hostel Federation's global network of more than 4,000
hostels in over 80 countries. HI-USA hosts over 1 million travelers every
year in nearly 60 hostels throughout the United States. www.hiusa.org[/INDENT]