NORWALK, Conn., April 18, 2011—HEI Hotels & Resorts (HEI), the nation’s fastest growing private owner/operator of hotel real estate, today announced the promotion of four individuals to property-level managerial positions:

• Don Cook was promoted to general manager of the 222-room The Hotel Minneapolis – Autograph Collection.
• Frank Quallen was promoted to complex general manager over the Atlanta Marriott Northwest and Marriott Norcross.
• Rodney Gooden was named hotel manager of the Marriott Norcross, reporting to Frank Quallen.
• Evan Evans was named general manager of the 202-room Le Meridien Philadelphia.

“HEI has a long tradition of promoting from within, and these appointments recognize and reward the outstanding contributions of these individuals, as well as their commitment to excellence and proven leadership ability,” said Ted Darnall, chief operating officer.  “We’re confident that they will be able to create a great customer and associate experience at their new properties and positively impact hotel performance.”

Don Cook
A 15-year hotel industry veteran, Cook joined HEI in 2004 as director of food & beverage at the company’s Atlanta Marriott Northwest.  Within three years, he was promoted to general manager of the property.  He was later named general manager of the HEI-managed Embassy Suites Orlando Downtown, followed by his most recent assignment as general manager of the Marriott Norcross, near Atlanta, which achieved outstanding results in sales and revenue under his leadership.  Prior to joining HEI, Cook spent 10 years with Interstate Hotels & Resorts in both food & beverage and general management.  Cook has relocated to Minneapolis to assume his new position as general manager of The Hotel Minneapolis – Autograph Collection.


Frank Quallen
Quallen joined HEI in 2004 as the general manager of the Marriott Norcross, where, under his leadership, the hotel achieved RevPAR Index for three straight years.  Following the relocation of Don Cook to Minneapolis, Quallen was promoted to a newly created position, complex general manager, which adds oversight of the Atlanta Marriott Northwest to his general manager duties at the Marriott Norcross.  Prior to HEI and the Marriott Norcross, Quallen was the director of food & beverage for the Renaissance Waverly Hotel and the Renaissance Atlanta Hotel Downtown.

Rodney Gooden
Prior to his current promotion to hotel manager of the Marriott Norcross reporting to Frank Quallen, Gooden was the director of operations at the Atlanta Marriott Northwest.  He joined HEI in December 2006 as the operations manager at the 224-room Marriott Fullerton at California State University.  Prior to joining HEI, he was a general manager for DKN Hotels in Westwood, Calif.


Evan Evans
Evans moves up to general manager of the Le Meridien in Philadelphia, where he has served as hotel manager since April 2010.  He joined HEI in January 2008 as the director of operations of the Westin Philadelphia.  Previously, Evans was a regional manager for the Starr Restaurant Organization.


About HEI Hotels & Resorts
HEI Hotels & Resorts, headquartered in Norwalk, Conn., is a leading hospitality investment firm that acquires, develops, owns and operates full-service, upper upscale and luxury hotels and resorts throughout the United States under such well-known brand names as Marriott, Sheraton, Westin, Le Meridien, Embassy Suites, and Hilton.  For more information about HEI, visit the company’s website, www.heihotels.com.