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                                                                 Exhibit 10.5(a)

December 31, 2004

Mr. Peter J. Sonnabend, Vice Chairman
Sonesta International Hotels Corporation
116 Huntington Avenue
Boston, MA 02116

Dear Peter:

We are pleased to advise you that Citizens Bank of Massachusetts has approved
for your use an unsecured demand line of credit at our Prime Rate in the
original available amount of $2,000,000. This line of credit will be guaranteed
by certain of the Company's principal domestic subsidiaries (as described in
Exhibit A).

Advances under the line would be made against a revolving note, with interest
payable monthly in arrears and principal payable on demand. ADVANCES WILL BE
MADE ONLY IN THE BANK'S SOLE DISCRETION. To enable the Bank to monitor the
Company's financial condition, you agree to submit to the Bank the following:

     (a)  fiscal year-end consolidated and consolidating financial statements
for Sonesta International Hotels Corporation audited by a CPA firm satisfactory
to the Bank with 120 days after each fiscal year-end,

     (b)  quarterly 10Q reports within 45 days after each quarter-end, and

     (c)  such other information as the Bank may request from time to time.

All expenses incurred in connection with this transaction, including but not
limited to legal and appraisal fees, shall be the direct responsibility of the
Borrower, whether or not this facility becomes active.

This commitment shall expire thirty days from the date of this letter, unless
the enclosed copy has been signed and delivered to the Bank on or before that
date.

                                                                              61
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Mr. Peter J. Sonnabend, Vice Chairman
Sonesta International Hotels Corporation
January 30, 2004
Page 62

Again, we are delighted to make this accommodation available to you, and are
pleased to have Sonesta as one of our customers. If you are in agreement with
these terms and conditions, please indicate your acceptance by signing on the
two lines designated below and returning an executed copy to my attention. Thank
you.

Sincerely,

/S/
Lisa R. Murray
Senior Vice President

ACCEPTED
SONESTA INTERNATIONAL HOTELS CORPORATION

By: /S/
   -------------------------
   Peter J. Sonnabend
   Vice Chairman

I hereby acknowledge and affirm guaranty of the above-described credit facility,
by the principal domestic subsidiaries of Sonesta International Hotels
Corporation as described in Exhibit A, in my capacity as authorized signer for
said subsidiaries.

By:  /S/
   ----------------------------------------
   Peter J. Sonnabend, as authorized signer
   for Sonesta subsidiaries.

                                                                              62
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Mr. Peter J. Sonnabend, Vice Chairman
Sonesta International Hotels Corporation
January 30, 2004
Page 63

                                    EXHIBIT A

                       PRINCIPAL DOMESTIC SUBSIDIARIES OF
                   SONESTA INTERNATIONAL HOTELS CORPORATION *

          Sonesta Hotels of Florida, Inc.   Guaranty Unlimited
          Sonesta Coconut Grove, Inc.       Guaranty Unlimited
          Brewster Wholesale Corporation    Guaranty Unlimited
          Florida Sonesta Corporation       Guaranty Unlimited
          Charterhouse of Cambridge Trust   Guaranty Unlimited
          Sonesta Beach Resort Limited
            Partnership                     Guaranty Unlimited
          Royal Sonesta, Inc.               Guaranty Limited to $1,000,000

          * Excluding Sonesta of Massachusetts, Inc. and Sonesta Louisiana Hotel
          Corp.

                                                                              63<Page>

                                                                 Exhibit 10.5(b)

                    SONESTA INTERNATIONAL HOTELS CORPORATION
                                (the "Borrower")

             Fifth Allonge to $2,000,000 Commercial Promissory Note
                      dated September 29, 2000 (the "Note")

                                            Boston, Massachusetts
                                            December 31, 2004

     1.   Change to Demand Facility.

     As used in the Note, references to "Maturity," "at Maturity" and "at the
Maturity of the Note" are hereby amended to read "ON DEMAND."

     THIS ALLONGE IS MADE AND DELIVERED by the Borrower and shall be a part of
the Note. The Note referred to above, as amended hereby, is hereby reaffirmed by
the Borrower.

                                            SONESTA INTERNATIONAL
                                            HOTELS CORPORATION

                                            By: /S/
                                                --------------------------------
                                                Peter J. Sonnabend
                                                Vice Chairman

                                                                              64<Page>

                                                                Exhibit 10.13(a)

December 29, 2003

Mamdouh Philippe, President
Mamdouh & Basem Philipco
Nefertari Street
Luxor, Egypt

     RE: LOAN AGREEMENT: U.S. $300,000.00
         --------------------------------

Dear Mr. Philippe:

This letter agreement shall be deemed a Loan Agreement under which Sonesta
International Hotels Limited ("Sonesta") will advance the sum of U.S.
$300,000.00 to Mamdouh & Basem Philipco, "Owner" of Sonesta St. George Hotel,
Luxor ("Hotel"), by assumption of obligations, dated as of January 8, 2004,
regarding that certain Management Agreement, dated May 11, 1995, originally
between Philippe Co. for Hotels, as Owner, and Sonesta, as Operator (the
"Management Agreement").

AMOUNT OF LOAN: U.S. $300,000.00, to be advanced on or about January 8, 2004
(the "Loan").

PURPOSE: The Loan is intended to be used by Mamdouh & Basem Philipco
("Borrower") to assist in financing the reconfiguration and renovation of
portions of the lobby, including to relocate the business center from the lobby
to the lower level, and add a lobby food and beverage outlet.

REPAYMENT OF LOAN: The Loan shall be repaid to Sonesta International Hotels
Limited ("Lender"), in currency of the United States, in eight (8) monthly
installments, each of which shall be due and payable on the first day of each
calendar month. The first monthly payment shall be due and payable March 1,
2005. (The attached "Repayment Schedule" reflects the monthly repayment of the
Loan, together with interest at the Interest Rate.)

INTEREST RATE: The Loan shall be repaid, together with interest at the "Interest
Rate", which shall be equal to 4.25% per annum.

DEFAULT RATE/CHARGES: In the event that the Loan is not repaid in accordance
with this letter agreement, or if any portion of the Loan, or Loan interest,
remains unpaid as of November 1, 2004, interest shall accrue on the amount of
the Loan, and interest, then outstanding at the rate of eight percent (7%) per
annum. Borrower shall also be responsible for reimbursing Lender for any costs
Lender incurs in enforcing this letter agreement, including reasonable
attorney's fees.

AUTHORITY OF LENDER, AS OPERATOR, TO MAKE PAYMENTS: Borrower, as Owner of the
Hotel under the Management Agreement, hereby authorizes and instructs Lender, as
Operator of the Hotel under said Management Agreement, to repay the Loan, in
accordance with this letter agreement, from the income of the Hotel, and to
charge any such amounts used to repay the Loan, or to pay interest thereon, to
the Owner's account.

                                                                              65
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PREPAYMENT: Borrower may prepay the Loan, and interest thereon, at any time
without charge or penalty.

In Witness Whereof, the parties have set their hands and seals as of this
January 8th, 2004.

Borrower:                                   Lender:
Mamdouh & Basem Philipco                    Sonesta International Hotels Limited

By: /S/                                By:  /S/
    --------------------------              -------------------------
    Mamdouh Philippe Megalaa                Peter J. Sonnabend
     President                               Vice President

                                    GUARANTY
The undersigned, Mamdouh Philippe Megalaa, individually, agrees, jointly and
severally, to guaranty the obligations of the Borrower, Mamdouh & Basem
Philipco, under the above loan letter agreement. The Creditor shall have the
right to demand payment from me, on a several basis, without need for first
demanding payment from the Debtor.

By:    /S/
       -------------------------
       Mamdouh Philippe Megalaa

Date:  January 8th, 2004

                                                                              66<Page>

                                                                Exhibit 10.13(b)

                                 PROMISSORY NOTE

                                                               AMOUNT:
                                                          U.S. $ 300,000.00

Name of Debtor:      Mamdouh & Basem Philipco

Address of Debtor:   Nefertari Street
                     Luxor, Egypt

On or before October 1, 2004, we the Debtor shall pay to the order of the
Creditor, Sonesta International Hotels Limited, whose address is c/o Sonesta
International Hotels Corporation, 116 Huntington Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts,
U.S.A., by virtue of this promissory note, the sum stated above, which is Three
Hundred Thousand United States Dollars (U.S. $300,000.00), as we received such
value in cash. Payment shall be made at the address of the Creditor and any
dispute arising out of this promissory note shall be settled by the Cairo
courts.

In the event that we do not make full and timely payment, the full outstanding
amount shall automatically bear a delay interest of 7% (seven percent) annually,
accruing from the due date until the date of full payment, without need for any
notice, procedure, or protest.

The Creditor shall have the right to assign this promissory note at its
discretion, without need for our consent. Our liability for the amount set forth
in this promissory note shall be released only after the Creditor, or its
assignee, endorses this promissory note to the effect that it has received
payment in full and has delivered the original promissory note to us.

Made on January 8, 2004

Debtor:           Mamdouh & Basem Philipco

By:               /S/
                  -------------------------

Name:             Mamdouh Philippe Megalaa

Title:            President

I hereby jointly and severally guarantee the payment of the above-mentioned
amount. The Creditor shall have the right to demand payment from me, on a
several basis, without need for first demanding payment from the Debtor.

Made on January 8, 2004

Guarantor:        Mamdouh Philippe Megalaa

By:               /S/
                  ------------------------

                                                                              67

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