Marriott’s Partnership Circle Award salutes franchise companies that perform in the top ten percent in excellence in the following categories: hospitality, development, guest satisfaction, associate satisfaction and quality assurance.

Lew Wiens, president and CEO of True North Hotel Group, accepted the award – the highest honor presented to Marriott franchisees – from J.W. (Bill) Marriott, Jr., chairman of Marriott International.  The three-day meeting was attended by more than 300 representatives from companies that own or franchise five Marriott brands: Residence Inn, Courtyard, Fairfield Inn and Fairfield Inn & Suites, SpringHill Suites and TownePlace Suites.
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TNHG president and CEO Lew Wiens (fifth from left), and Richard Merkel, vice president
of operations (third from left), received the award from (from left) Marriott’s Nick Kellock,
Steven Joyce, Bill Marriott, Bill Shaw and Liam Brown.
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While accepting Marriott’s award, Wiens credited former True North Hotel Group partner Mike Dubroff, whose 2002 stroke necessitated his retirement from the company. “Mike helped plant the seed of real growth and innovation for True North, and his legacy will always live on within our company,” said Wiens, who added that a meeting room at the new Residence Inn in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. is named in Dubroff’s honor.

True North Hotel Group’s principals have developed or owned 49 hotels since 1984.  The current portfolio includes 17 hotels in seven states, including 12 Marriott-branded hotels either open or under development.