Jun. 27, 2003 - The owner of the Crowne Plaza at Quaker Square, a hotel and meeting complex downtown, has dismissed its new management company after less than six months. 

Boykin Management Co. is a real estate operation with close ties to the publicly traded Boykin Lodging based in Cleveland. 

Boykin Management was hired Jan. 1 by Quaker Square Properties President Jay Nusbaum to oversee operations at the Crowne Plaza hotel at Quaker Square and was let go on June 17, according Boykin management. 

The hotel has about 170 employees, 20 of whom are represented by the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees International Union Local 10 in Macedonia. Most, if not all, employees, including union members, will keep their jobs, said union local President Ken Ilg. They'll simply no longer be employees of Boykin but of Quaker Square Properties. Robert Boykin, chairman of Boykin Management Co., said the initial contract between Quaker Square Properties and Boykin was somewhat loose, easily allowing either party out if it wishes. 

"After several months, Mr. Nusbaum decided he was the best person to run the hotel." Boykin said. 

The hotel's services and its name will not change because of Boykin's departure. Crowne Plaza has no relationship with Boykin, who was hired by Quaker Square Properties. 

Nusbaum, developer of the Quaker Square complex, is the owner of the property, including the hotel. He did not return phone calls and e-mails from the Akron Beacon Journal seeking comment. In 2001, he was awarded a franchise by Crowne Plaza, a division of British-based InterContinental Hotels, which also owns the Holiday Inn name. 

The switch came after Nusbaum's 20-year franchise contract with Hilton expired. Although Hilton offered to renew, Nusbaum and his staff wanted to explore their options. 

They settled on Crowne Plaza in part because of the support they were promised from InterContinental Hotels and Crowne Plaza executives, they said. 

Nusbaum and his staff oversaw operations of the hotel until bringing on Boykin in January. 

Boykin Management has ties to Boykin Lodging but is considered a separate company, said Richard Conti, president and chief operating officer of Boykin Lodging. 

Boykin Lodging is a real estate investment trust that trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol BOY. 

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(c) 2003, Akron Beacon Journal, Ohio. Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News. SXC, BOY,