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for the JW Marriott Grand Rapids |
| May 3, 2006 - Michael Lyman has been named Director of Sales
and Marketing of the new JW Marriott Grand Rapids hotel. Lyman will be
responsible for all aspects of sales and marketing of the new hotel, which
is currently under construction in downtown Grand Rapids and will welcome
its first guests in fall 2007. He will also hire, train and manage the
sales and catering team, and oversee both the hotel's public relations
and marketing efforts.
Lyman is a veteran in hospitality sales and marketing. He has held leadership positions at some of the top hotels and resorts on the east coast, including director of sales and marketing for The Algonquin Hotel, and director of sales and marketing for Metropolitan Hotel, both of New York City. He held similar positions in Washington, D.C., at Corporate Suites of Washington, and at Potomac Hotel Group. He also was director of sales for Berlitz International, the world's leader in language instruction. "Both Michael's national and international experience, coupled with his language skills, make him the ideal leader to assist in the new hotel," said George Aquino, general manager of the JW Marriott Grand Rapids. Lyman is a three-time recipient of the Adrian Bell Advertising Award. He holds membership in numerous hospitality industry organizations including Hotel Sales and Marketing Association International, Meeting Professionals International, Association of Corporate Travel Executives, and National Business Travel Association. Lyman earned a bachelor of arts degree in international relations in 1985 from Lake Forest College in Lake Forest, III. Also Robert M. Mitchell has been named director of engineering of the new JW Marriott Grand Rapids hotel. Mitchell will oversee all functions involving mechanical, electrical distribution systems, lighting, furniture, water features, landscaping, life safety systems, emergency power systems, and elevator operations. He'll also be responsible for maintenance contracts, and managing the engineering staff. Mitchell is a veteran engineer with more than 17 years of experience in engineering and renovations at some of America's leading hotels and resorts. He most recently held the position of director of engineering for the Seattle Marriott Waterfront, a 358- room, full service business hotel. He has held leadership engineering positions for other Marriott International, Inc. properties including San Diego Marriott Hotel & Marina, where he supervised the renovation of the North and South Towers. He also supervised engineering at Marriott's Mountain Resort at Vail, Colo., and at Maui Marriott Resort in Lahaina Maui, Hawaii. Mitchell also held engineering leadership assignments with numerous Hyatt Hotels & Resorts properties, opening such hotels as Hyatt on Sunset in Hollywood, Calif., Hyatt Regency La Jolla in San Diego and Hyatt Regency San Diego. In addition, he assisted engineering projects in opening the Hyatt Regency Alicante in Anaheim, Calif., Hyatt Westlake Plaza in Westlake Village, Calif., and Hyatt Regency Long Beach in Long Beach, Calif. Mitchell attended Lane Community College in Eugene, Ore., Long Beach City College in Long Beach, Calif., and Moorpark College in Moorpark, Calif. The 24-story, 340-room JW Marriott is the first such hotel in the Midwest. The hotel is centrally located near downtown's corporate, medical and entertainment districts, and it will be connected via the skywalk to the DeVos Place Convention Center and Van Andel Arena. Visit our website at www.jwgrandrapids.com |
| Contact:
JW Marriott
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| Also See: | Alticor Names George Aquino General Manager of the 340 room JW Marriott - Grand Rapids / October 2005 |