On January 8, 2002 this distinctive 263-room hotel, which first opened its doors in 1963, became a Howard Johnson franchise, the only Howard Johnson franchise in the state of Minnesota. In addition to celebrating the new partnership with Howard Johnson, the Grand Opening will be an opportunity for guests to preview the beginning stages of a major renovation that began in January.

Mr. Rodney Wallace has been the sole owner of the Howard Johnson Thunderbird Hotel since its opening in 1963. The hotel is managed by Arrowhead Hospitality Group LLC. Mr. Kevin Sawatsky has served as the hotel's General Manager since 1999.

Mary Mahoney, President and CEO of Howard Johnson International, will be in attendance at the Grand Opening festivities, which will begin with a traditional ribbon cutting. A reception will follow. Tours of the hotel will be conducted and will include some of the recently remodeled guest rooms, including the hotel's newest themed offerings, Kid's Crayola rooms and Home Office rooms.

Howard Johnson International Inc. franchises over 500 hotels and inns worldwide, including properties in Argentina, Canada, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Mexico, Israel, Lebanon, Malta, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Venezuela, and soon in Jordan and the United Kingdom. Howard Johnson is a subsidiary of Cendant Corporation.