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with the Spirit of CARE Award:
Alfredo Caliva, Miguel Acevedo & Jim Ryan
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News for the Hospitality Executive |
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“It’s one thing to say you empower your employees, and it’s another to actually see the results of this management philosophy,” said Phil Tufano, a partner and executive vice president of operations for Kokua Hospitality. “This award-winning example of the Doubletree Chicago Magnificent Mile’s team initiative illustrates leadership and training that truly walks the walk,” he added. Kokua is affiliated with The Chartres Lodging Group, LLC, a leading hotel investment and asset management firm. This affiliation with one of the fastest-growing lodging investment concerns in the country, with a $5 billion, 15,600-room portfolio of luxury and upscale hotels, conference centers and resorts in the U.S. and Japan, enables Kokua to offer clients a unique investor's sensibility. This recognition comes on the heels of Hilton Hotels Corporation honoring The Chartres Lodging Group and Kokua Hospitality with Doubletree’s Developer of the Year Award in 2008 for their $21 million conversion of the hotel. In Chicago alone, Kokua was selected to manage the $40 million renovation and re-branding of three high-profile properties in the Magnificent Mile district, including the Doubletree Chicago Magnificent Mile. Birgit Radin, managing director for the 500-room upscale property, praises her employee’s outstanding contributions to guests and team members, “We are proud of their recognition as Spirit of CARE Award winners, the company’s most prestigious team member award.” Radin goes on to tell the story of Caliva, Acevedo and Ryan who demonstrated the true Spirit of CARE when they helped a family free their oversized van from a parking garage. The family did not realize the height of their minivan exceeded the low clearance warning until they tried to leave the garage. Unfortunately, the van got stuck but the quick-thinking team members proceeded to let enough air out of the tires to move the van out of the garage without causing further damage to the vehicle or the garage. Once out of the garage, the employees used the hotel’s air compressor to refill the tires. They provided a bag full of Doubletree’s Signature Chocolate Chip cookies for the kids, and the family was on their way. “Motivating a team and celebrating their exceptional service ultimately leads to happy, returning customers,” said Tufano. Tufano further explained that employees and management teams for each of the Kokua Hospitality properties are encouraged to support their community through a variety of volunteering and community outreach initiatives ranging from working with local school children to building homes for those in need through Habitat for Humanity. “Kokua is a Hawaiian word, that translates as "extending loving, sacrificial help to others for their benefit, not for personal gain..." which also references the core values of kindness, outreach, and knowledge, and the Doubletree team’s example of service helps illustrate the foundation upon which the company was founded. Doubletree Hotels, which has 50,000 employees and more than 230 hotels worldwide, recognizes less than 100 employees a year with this honor. As a recipient of the award, each associate received a cash prize of $350, two one-night stay certificates at any Doubletree brand property, a plaque, lapel pin, and other special recognition throughout his career with Hilton Worldwide. The Doubletree Chicago Magnificent Mile offers spacious guest rooms filled with contemporary style and homelike comforts including the ultra-comfortable Doubletree Sweet Dreams bedding. Reservations can be made online at www.doubletreemagmile.com or by calling 866-778-8536 in the U.S. and Canada. About Doubletree Chicago Magnificent Mile The Doubletree Hotel Chicago Magnificent Mile is operated by Chartres Lodging Group under a franchise license agreement with Hilton Hotels Corporation. The Doubletree is managed by Kokua Hospitality, LLC. The 500-room upscale hotel is located just steps from Michigan Avenue, Navy Pier, and Millennium Park– all ideal destinations for urban activities. Guest rooms are filled with contemporary style and up-to-the-minute amenities plus homelike comforts including the ultra-comfortable Doubletree Sweet Dreams bedding. The hotel also offers the MARKETHOUSE dining destination, Einstein Bagel Bros., a 24/7 fitness center, a sleek lobby bar serving signature cocktails and a specialty menu, and the seasonal, poolside H20. About Kokua Hospitality, LLC Kokua Hospitality, LLC is a hotel management firm founded by its parent, The Chartres Lodging Group, LLC, with the mandate to become the operator of choice for strategic institutional and select private lodging investors by producing superior results as turnaround specialists. Created by veteran lodging investment and management experts to appeal to an investor’s sensibility, Kokua Hospitality blends best-in-class operating practices with an owner’s DNA. The name (pronounced “ko-kooh-ah”) is Hawaiian for “to serve”. Kokua Hospitality manages a growing portfolio of hotels and resorts nationwide. For more information on Kokua Hospitality, please visit www.kokuahospitality.com and follow us on Twitter @kokuahotels and http://kokuahospitality.wordpress.com/. ; About The Chartres Lodging Group, LLC The Chartres Lodging Group, LLC, is an investment and advisory firm focused on the investment, asset management and renovation of high-quality lodging assets. Chartres Lodging Group’s principals have been responsible for more than $8 billion of lodging investments and have asset-managed more than 100 upscale and luxury hotels, resorts and conference centers. The firm is currently responsible for a $5 billion, 15,600-room portfolio of luxury and upscale hotels, conference centers and resorts located throughout the United States and Japan. Chartres’ principals and employees are direct investors in 65% of this portfolio. Chartres Lodging is headquartered in San Francisco, with offices in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Tokyo. For more information on The Chartres Lodging Group, please visit www.chartreslodging.com. |
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