RNS Number:5823J
Thistle Hotels PLC
02 April 2003


                         THISTLE HOTELS PLC ("THISTLE")
                          REGARDING PRESS SPECULATION


The Board of Thistle* notes the Financial Times article of this morning which
reported that Thistle was "claiming institutions were resisting any offer below
140p". Thistle confirms that, whilst this may represent the views of certain
institutions, Thistle has made no claim in this regard.

* The Board of Thistle for these purposes comprises all of the directors of
Thistle other than Tan Sri Quek Leng Chan and Mr Arun Amarsi, who in view of
their positions as Chairman and CEO, respectively, of BIL International Limited
("BIL") have not participated in the deliberations of the board in relation to
BIL's offer to acquire all of the shares in Thistle not already owned by BIL.


END


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