Hotel Online  Special Report

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Belmonte Leads Session On Improving
Franchise Relationships At IH/M&R Show
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Randolph, N.J. � Nov. 2, 2004 �On Sunday, November 14, Steven J. Belmonte, Founder, President and C.E.O. of Hospitality Solutions LLC, will lead an educational session at the International Hotel/Motel & Restaurant Show in New York titled �Franchisor/Franchisee: The Ulimtate Love/Hate Relationship.�  The session (10:30 a.m. to 12 Noon in Room 1D03-04) will highlight new ways to get increased value out of a franchise agreement.

�This educational session focuses on �Fair Franchising,� a topic that is oftentimes controversial, but it makes for a lively, interactive discussion nonetheless,� Belmonte said.  �It is not designed as a �trashing session� to vent about unreasonable or unresponsive franchisors. Instead, it�s about owners learning how to get the very most�the highest return on investment�from the fees that franchisees are paying every month.�

Belmonte was selected to deliver this message because he knows first-hand both the franchisor and franchisee side of the hospitality business. Belmonte started working in hotels as a teenager and became a general manager at the age of 18. He then served as co-founder and C.E.O. of Equity Hotel Corp. in Chicago, operating approximately 35 hotels in 14 states. In 1991, he became President and C.E.O. of Ramada Franchise Systems and remained in that high-profile position until launching Hospitality Solutions LLC in November 2002. Through Hospitality Solutions LLC, Belmonte provides franchise-agreement formulations, termination-negotiation assistance, mediation, expert-witness and consulting services to all hoteliers needing assistance.

�I�ve said it for years, and so have countless others: �In business, you don�t get what you deserve � you get what you negotiate,�� Belmonte said. �Unfortunately, a lot of hoteliers lack the knowledge to negotiate the best deal or, should a problem arise, know where to turn if they need help settling a dispute.

�One of the most important messages that I�d like franchisees to take away from this session is that not all franchise companies are alike,� he said. �There should always be a way to structure a franchise agreement that is equitable for both entities. If implemented correctly, there are ways to maximize the benefits provided by the franchise company to help increase guest satisfaction and improve overall asset performance.�

Earlier this month, Belmonte and Hospitality Solutions LLC Vice President Wayne Miller were certified as trained �CPR Mediators� by the CPR Institute for Dispute Resolution in New York. The CPR Institute, recognized by the American Hotel & Lodging Assn. and other hospitality entities, is a nonprofit alliance of the largest global corporations, law firms, scholars and public institutions in the country. Its primary mission is to �increase the reliance on negotiation rather than litigation.�

�There is a sizeable wave of advocacy for mediation that is building within our industry,� Belmonte said. �Litigation is very expensive, arduous and time consuming, and it puts a lot of stress on all parties involved. Likewise, litigation doesn�t focus on settlement or resolution. It focuses on deciding which side is right or wrong. Therefore, any settlement is a byproduct of litigation. 

�With that in mind, franchisors and franchisees interested in a win-win resolution rather than a win-lose settlement should consider mediation and working out an equitable arrangement,� he said. �More often than not, the franchisors are as anxious to resolve matters with franchisees as the franchisees are to keeping their franchise.�

Those interested in attending the �Franchisor/Franchisee: The Ultimate Love/Hate Relationship� on November 14 at 10:30 a.m. can register online at www.ihmrs.com/register.

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About Hospitality Solutions LLC

Hospitality Solutions LLC, Randolph, N.J., provides franchise agreement formulations and termination negotiation assistance, mediation, consulting, litigation support and expert witness services to the hospitality and service industries. Company President and CEO Steven Belmonte, former President and CEO of Ramada Hotels, also served as Chairman of the American Hotel & Lodging Foundation, serves on the Board of Directors of Arlington Hospitality Inc., is a member of the Asian American Hotel Owners Assn. Industry Relations Committee, and serves as a partner with Belmonte/Lasky Asset Management Inc. For more information, call (973) 598-0839, email [email protected] or visit www.stevenbelmonte.com.


 
Contact:

Steve Belmonte
President/CEO
Hospitality Solutions LLC
Tel: (973) 598-0839
[email protected]
www.stevenbelmonte.com
 

Also See: Steve Belmonte Paves The Way For �Hotel Technologies� at IH/M&R Show / November 2004
Belmonte, Miller Earn Certification from Center for Public Resources Institute for Dispute Resolution / October 2004
Hospitality Solutions LLC Solves Dispute Between Big Chain and Small-Hotel Owner; Faced with Long, Costly Process of Possible Litigation, Florida Company Turns to Steve Belmonte to Hammer out a Happy Ending for all Parties / October 2004
Belmonte Taps Veteran Hospitality-Law Expert; James C. Brashares Brings 30-plus Years of  Negotiating Experience to the Table as Newest Member of Hospitality Solutions LLC / October 2004
In Addition To Keynote, Belmonte Hosting �Franchise Negotiations Workshop� At WSH&LA Convention / September 2004
Industry Veteran Steven J. Belmonte Joins Prestigious Round Table Group / July 2004
Arlington Hospitality Garners HVS �Top Board� Award; Arlington�s Herman, Belmonte Accept Lodging Leadership Award at 26th Annual NYU International Hospitality Industry Conference / July 2004
Steven J. Belmonte Named To AAHOA Industry Relations Committee / June 2004
Steven J. Belmonte, Founder to Keynote at the Washington State Hotel & Lodging Association�s Annual Convention / June 2004
Steven J. Belmonte To Keynote Best Value Inn Conference -- Again / June 2004
Belmonte�s Business Is Booming; Jeff Seymour Joins Growing Team / April 2004
Belmonte Appoints Lee Dushoff To Hospitality Solutions Team / February 2004
Belmonte To Bring Insight To Best Value Inn Members as Keynote at Conference / October 2003
Belmonte �Talks the Talk� in Role as Motivational Speaker / March 2003
Steve Belmonte Immersed in Sarbanes-Oxley as a New Member of the Board of Directors of Arlington Hospitality Inc. / May 2003
Belmonte�s Back In Business As Hospitalty Solutions LLC / Feb 2003


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