And Ollie Marions began work at the Pantlind Hotel in downtown Grand Rapids.

As a member of the hotel�s buildings and grounds department, Marions has seen and encountered much change throughout downtown during the 54 years in which he cleaned sidewalks and windows, and removed snow.  The Pantlind Hotel became the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel in 1981 and the hotel�s 29-story glass tower two years later altered the skyline.  Downtown was transformed from a quiet place into today�s bustling hub of economic and social activity.

Marions� window to downtown change as a member of the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel staff officially came to an end on July 12.  On Friday, Aug. 17, employees, family and friends will honor him with a retirement party from 3 until 5 p.m., inside the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Ballroom.

�Ollie Marions has been around so long, we�re not quite sure of his actual age,� says Larry White, assistant director of engineering at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel and Marions� supervisor.  �But whether Marions is 80 or 90, he has seen and done so much over the decades here at the hotel.

�I�m a 20-year veteran of the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, and to me Marions has shown more dedication and passion toward his job than anyone I�ve ever known.  He rarely missed work.  You don�t find such dedication in today�s workers.  It�s been an honor to supervise and work with him.�

�Ollie Marions is moving onto the next chapter of his life,� says Rick Winn, general manager of the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel.  �I�m sure his experiences could easily fill a book.  We�re thrilled to recognize his dedication to Amway Hotel Corp., and contribute a happy ending to his career.�
 

About Amway Hotel Corp.
Amway Hotel Corp. owns two hotel properties: the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, and the new JW Marriott Grand Rapids.  The corporation operates a third hotel property in downtown Grand Rapids, Mich., the Downtown Courtyard by Marriott.  Amway Hotel Corp. is a division of Alticor Corporate Enterprises, a subsidiary of Alticor Inc.

About the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel
The Amway Grand Plaza Hotel is located at the northwest corner of Pearl and Monroe Streets in downtown Grand Rapids.  Opened in 1981, the stately 682-room hotel � which includes an adjoining 29-floor glass tower built in 1983 � towers over the Grand River in the heart of the city.  The hotel, fine dining and retail complex is ranked as one of America�s premier lodgings.  It is a member of Preferred Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, and holds a Four-Diamond designation from AAA.  The Amway Grand�s signature dining room, The 1913 Room, is the first and only AAA Five-Diamond restaurant in Michigan.  The hotel�s Cygnus 27 restaurant, atop the tower with a spectacular view of the city, holds a AAA Four-Diamond rating.  The Amway Grand Plaza Hotel is owned and operated by Amway Hotel Corp., a subsidiary of Alticor Inc. 

About Alticor
Alticor (www.alticor.com) is the parent company of Amway Corp., Quixtar Inc., Access Business Group LLC, and Alticor Corporate Enterprises.  Headquartered in Ada, Michigan, USA, Alticor and its affiliates offer products, business opportunities, and manufacturing and logistics services in more than 80 countries and territories worldwide.  For further information, please contact Alticor�s media information line at 616.787.7565 or e-mail Alticor�s media relations staff at [email protected].

Mike Smith
Alticor Inc.
Corporate Communications
616-787-5474