Tokyo, Japan, October 5, 2004 - JCB Co., Ltd., a leading international payment brand, and Le Meridien Hotels & Resorts are continuing their cooperative effort to promote tourist demand among JCB cardmembers in Japan with the fourth in a series of joint campaigns to encourage stays at Le Meridien Hotels & Resorts. The JCB Le Meridien Free Night Campaign runs from October 1, 2004 to March 31, 2005.

The international credit card brand and international hotel company are focusing on strategies to revitalize global tourism, which has suffered a number of setbacks in recent years. The current campaign is intended to build demand among JCB's more than 50 million cardmembers in Japan by added benefits for card use overseas at the upscale hotel chain.

Cardmembers making a reservation at any hotel in the Le Meridien Hotels & Resorts group and paying with the JCB card may be eligible for a free night or free room upgrade for their stay, or for a chance to win a free stay at a Le Meridien Hotel or free travel package.

JCB is promoting the campaign through multiple customer channels reaching Gold cardmembers and other cardmembers who frequently travel overseas. While promotion of the campaign is targeted to cardmembers residing in Japan, JCB cardmembers worldwide* are eligible for all prizes except the Kuala Lumpur travel package.

About the campaign
For cardmembers making reservations at a Le Meridien Hotel or Resort and paying with JCB:

• Free night's stay when reserving 3 or more nights at Le Meridien Hotels & Resorts in the Asia Pacific area (including Japan).
• Free room upgrade (depending on availability) when reserving 2 or more nights at Le Meridien Hotels & Resorts in Europe or America.

For cardmembers making reservations via JCB Travel Co. and paying with JCB:

• Chance to win one of three prizes of free 3-night stay for 2 at any Le Meridien Hotel or Resort in the Asia Pacific area.

For cardmembers using a JCB card issued in Japan for any purchase at a Le Meridien Hotel or Resort outside Japan:

• Chance to win one prize of free round-trip air ticket to Kuala Lumpur and 3 nights stay at the Le Meridien Kuala Lumpur for 2.
  

About Le Meridien Hotels & Resorts
Le Meridien is an award-winning hotel group with a portfolio of 130 luxury and upscale hotels (34,000 rooms) in 56 countries worldwide. The majority of its properties are located in the world's top cities and resorts throughout Europe, the Americas, Asia Pacific, Africa and the Middle East. A strategic alliance with JAL-owned Nikko Hotels provides access to an additional 44 properties around the world. For more information, please visit http://www.lemeridien.com.

About JCB Co., Ltd.
JCB is an international credit card brand and the largest card issuer and acquirer in Japan. JCB launched its card business in Japan in 1961 and began expanding overseas in 1981. Its merchant network includes 11.7 million merchants and spans 190 countries and territories. JCB cards are now issued in 18 countries and territories, with 51.6 million cardmembers. As part of its international growth strategy, JCB has formed alliances with more than 320 leading banks and financial institutions globally to increase merchant coverage and cardmember base. JCB's corporate philosophy of "Service from the heart", a commitment to responsive and high-quality service, continues to guide it as it creates the future together with its customers, merchants and partners. For further information, please visit the JCB Co. Ltd. home page at : www.jcb-global.com/english or www.jcbinternational.com.

* Some issuing companies are excluded.