"By appointing area managing directors, we are empowering five associates to take ownership and make decisions concerning the multi-million dollar businesses they run everyday," said Mike Deitemeyer, chief operating officer for Omni Hotels. "Our new area managing directors will be instrumental in creating consistency as we remain relentlessly focused on the needs of our guests."

Promotions to area managing directors include the following Omni Hotels General Managers and Managing Directors:
                          
Peter Austin, general manager of the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington D.C., has been with Omni Hotels for more than 10 years. Prior to becoming the general manager at the Omni Shoreham Hotel, Austin served as the general manager of the Omni Jacksonville Hotel in Florida and Omni New Haven Hotel in Connecticut. Under his leadership at the Omni New Haven Hotel, the property achieved four-diamond status. In 1998, Austin received the General Manager of the Year Quality Excellence Award, and in 1999 he received the General Manager of the Year Associate Excellence Award.
                          
Steve Ferran, general manager of the Omni Royal Orleans, joined Omni Hotels in 1998. Ferran holds more than 18 years of experience in the hotel industry and was named General Manager  of the Year for the city of New Orleans in 2000. He is the past chairman of the board for the New Orleans Metropolitan Convention and Visitors Bureau as well as an active member of the Vieux Carre Alliance. Under his leadership, the hotel has received the Pinnacle Award from Meeting and Conventions Magazine every year since 1998.
                          
Offer Nissenbaum, general manager of the Omni Berkshire Place in New York, joined Omni Hotels in 1999. Prior to joining Omni Hotels, Nissenbaum was with The Plaza Hotel, part of the Fairmont hotel group. He holds more than 19 years of experience in the hotel industry and serves on the Board of Directors for the New York Hotel Association, the ITM Hospitality Fund, the Waterbor Burn and Cancer Foundation and is a member of SKAL Club.
                          
Troy Schroeder, managing director of the Omni Hotel at CNN Center in Atlanta, joined Omni Hotels in 1992. From 1995 to 2000 Schroeder served in a succession of general manager positions for the Omni Corpus Christi Hotel, the Omni Houston Hotel and the Omni Mandalay Hotel in Irving, Texas. Schroeder is active in his local community and created a model tutorial program that encouraged managers to read to students. He received the General Manager of the Year Award in 1998 and the Community Service Award in 2000. Schroeder holds more than 22 years of experience in the hotel industry.
                          
Mark Yardis, general manager of the Omni Richmond Hotel, joined Omni Hotels in 1987 and moved through a succession of positions in Omni Hotels in Charlotte, Charlottesville, Washington D.C and Houston. Yardis hold more than 25 years of experience in the hotel industry and won the Omni Hotels Mirror Image Contest and General Manager of the Year in 2000. Yardis is the vice president of the Richmond Hotel Association and is on the board of directors for the Richmond Convention and Visitors Bureau and Sports Backers.
                         
"Each of these individuals have achieved outstanding results throughout their tenure with Omni Hotels," said Todd Scartozzi, Omni Hotels senior vice president of operations. "They share a passion for customers and the ability to turn that passion into results on behalf of Omni Hotels."
                          
Omni Hotels, based near Dallas in Irving, Texas, offers luxury accommodations at more than 40 hotels and resorts located throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico.