Highland Hospitality Corp.

8405 Greensboro Dr.

Year founded: 2003

Industry: real estate

Post 200 Category: Top 125 Companies

Revenue: $133.01 Million

Net Income/Loss: $4.27 Million

Earnings per share: $0.10

Dividend: $0.36

Stockholder equity: $347.48 Million

Auditor: KPMG LLP

Stock: HIH

Assets: $724.64 Million

Market capitalization: $424.71 Million

52-week high: 12 9/1/2004

52-week low: 9.89 6/30/2004

President and CEO: James L. Francis

EVP and CFO: Douglas W. Vicari

Employees: 13

Local employees: 12

Description: Highland is a real estate investment trust that was formed in July 2003. It owns 19 hotels across the United States with a combined 5,474 rooms.

Developments: This new player on the block is expanding fast. Founded by top executives of McLean-based hotel management company Barcelo Crestline Corp., it went public in December 2003, raising $319 million, and bought its first three hotels. Bruce D. Wardinski, chief executive of Barcelo Crestline, is Highland's non-executive chairman and James L. Francis, former chief operating officer of Barcelo Crestline, is chief executive. Highland spent 2004 and the first part of 2005 spending the money it raised, aggressively expanding its portfolio and accumulating its current portfolio of 18 properties in just over a year. Its largest acquisitions included the Dallas/Fort Worth Airport Marriott, the Hyatt Regency Wind Watch Long Island, the Crowne Plaza Atlanta-Ravinia and the Hilton Parsippany. Locally, it acquired the Sheraton Annapolis in February.