WAUPACA, WI � (November 15, 2002) A local lodging property noted for its excellence in quality, and which has won local recognition, has received national honors for its performance.

The Baymont Inn & Suites-Waupaca, which was named the Waupaca Business of the Year 2001, has added to its honors in winning the Chairman's Award and the White Glove Award from Baymont Inns & Suites, a division of The Marcus Corporation, based in Milwaukee. The awards were presented in October during Baymont's annual franchisee conference. The hotel is at 110 Grand Seasons Drive.

Richard Batley, the hotel's general manager and a part owner, said winning the two awards is important for many reasons.

"Receiving recognition from our franchisor is very satisfying because company leadership puts a great deal of emphasis on the quality of all its properties," Batley said. "This is a hotel chain that has become a leader in the middle market segment of the lodging industry and to be named one of the best properties in a leading chain is an important accomplishment."

The top award given by Baymont nationally�the Chairman's Award�is presented to those inns that have been exceptional in four distinct categories: Guest Service; Quality Level; Baymont System Standards; and Market Competitiveness. In the chain, which has 183 hotels in 31 states, the Waupaca property was one of only four to be so honored. The White Glove Award is presented to Inns that achieve a score of 95% or higher in the cleanliness sections of the Brand Audit and pass all sections of the Brand Audit.

Batley owns the hotel along with James Klismet and Robert Steidel. It has 12 full-time and 60 part-time employees.

Batley said the Waupaca Baymont is the only one in Wisconsin to receive both awards.

"Credit for winning these awards goes to our people," Batley said. "We have a terrific staff that is proud of their hotel. We are proud to be affiliated with the well-respected Marcus Corporation. It has the same Midwest values we have here in Waupaca."

Community Commitment

Deb Johnson, the hotel's assistant general manager and director of sales, said the winning of the awards stems from the Waupaca Baymont's commitment to its community.

"Close community ties are very important, and we could not be successful without the support of local businesses and the community," Johnson said. "Local businesses rely on and trust us to take good care of their customers when they are visiting the Waupaca area. Waupaca is a very friendly community and a wonderful place to live and work.�

Batley said strong local performance by a member of a strong national chain is a commitment Baymont makes wherever its hotels are located.

"We are very pleased with the support we receive in our community and the fact that we are a strong link in a very strong chain," he said. "For a small community, we are very fortunate to have some very well-known corporate business partners. Waupaca's size allows us to get to know them both professionally and personally. It is a pleasure to do business in Waupaca."

Daniel Daniele, president of Baymont Franchises International, said the success of the Waupaca property is particularly pleasing to Baymont's leadership team.

"Having strong franchisees such as the ones we have in Waupaca is particularly important in our home state," Daniele said. "The success the Waupaca Baymont has achieved is because of a very real commitment it has to the comfort of its guests, the happiness of its employees and the strength of the entire chain."

The Waupaca Baymont's staff is very involved in the community. Johnson is a past president of the Waupaca Area Chamber of Commerce, and currently serves on its board of directors and is also one of its ambassadors. She is president of the Waupaca Breakfast Rotary Club. She is also chairman of the Waupaca Area Triathalon.

Sales manager Lori Kolodziej is the treasurer of the Waupaca Lioness Club. David Habighorst, the hotel's front-office manager, is a graduate of the Waupaca County Leadership Program, as are Johnson and Kolodziej. 

About Baymont Inn & Suites - Waupaca 
The Baymont Inn & Suites, Waupaca, features 88 beautifully appointed guestrooms, complete with in-room coffee, tea, hairdryer, iron and ironing boards, guest voice mail, data ports and electronic key locks. Whirlpool suites or executive suites with fireplace are available. All suites also include a microwave and refrigerator. A complimentary deluxe continental breakfast buffet is served in the Club Room each morning.  The property features a fitness center, indoor pool, whirlpool and sauna. Tanning and massage also are available. Meeting and banquet facilities can accommodate up to 200 persons for a variety of events. For more information, visit www.baymontinns.com.

About Baymont Inns & Suites
Baymont Inns & Suites continues to be the best brand in the mid-market segment. The Brand offers a 110-percent Satisfaction Guarantee, and has made a huge investment in its frequent-stay program�Guest Ovations�with more than 170,000 members and growing. Under the guarantee, a dissatisfied guest receives his or her night's stay free, plus a coupon for a 10-percent discount on the next Baymont stay. In addition, Baymont�s Guest Ovations Rooms offer upscale amenities not found in competitive midmarket hotels, such as plush pillow-top mattresses, Down Lite� pillows, fluffy towels, branded bath products, and free in-room bottled water. The rooms also feature an enhanced workstation with an executive-sized desk, comfortable ergonomic chair and task lamp with a data port. The bottom line: Baymont is a strong brand with a strong commitment to the success of its franchisees, offering rewarding, comfortable and pleasant stays for guests.

Headquartered in Milwaukee, Wis., Baymont Inns & Suites, a mid-priced lodging chain that operates or franchises 183 locations in 31 states nationwide, is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Marcus Corporation (NYSE: MCS). For more information on The Marcus Corporation, go to www.marcuscorp.com. For more information, visit www.baymontfranchises.com.