NORWALK, Conn., Jan. 12, 2012 -- HEI Hotels & Resorts, a socially responsible investor and employer in the hospitality industry, today announced the appointment of five participants in the company's national Manager-In-Training (MIT) Program to the executive committees of their respective hotels. The appointments are an important milestone in the Program which creates opportunities for talented college graduates to "fast-track" into management positions across HEI's 41 hotels and resorts. The five are among 121 participants who completed advanced training and on-site assignments over the five-year history of the Program, and include (in alphabetical order):

• Alex Flack, Director of Revenue Management at Embassy Suites Hotel, Philadelphia;
• Sarah Fraser, Director of Revenue Management at Marriott Hunt Valley, Maryland;
• Jennifer Klimek, Director of Revenue Management at Hilton Long Beach, California;
• Jeremy McBride, Director of Hotel Sales at Le Meridien Cambridge, Massachusetts; and
• Marianna Munoz, Complex Director of Revenue Management at The Algonquin in New York City and Marriott Fullerton, California.

"The appointment of these talented managers is a distinguished honor within HEI – and the hotel industry, as a whole," said company CEO Gary Mendell. "We created the MIT Program in 2008 to cultivate and grow new talent within the organization and to solidify our position as a leader in guest satisfaction and services. We're excited about what these young men and women – and all HEI associates across the nation – will bring to our guests, colleagues and communities in future years."

HEI's MIT Program joins participants with mentors and additional training opportunities to allow recent college graduates to fast-track their leadership development, and includes assignments across HEI's 41 properties that best fit the individual and his or her unique career path.

"You've got to love what you do – being passionate about innovation will allow you to do satisfying work that challenges the mind," said MIT participant Jeremy McBride, who now serves as Director of Hotel Sales and is appointed to the executive committee at Le Meridien Cambridge in Massachusetts. "If you can adopt the right attitude early on, the possibilities are endless."

HEI's MIT Program includes concentrated studies in key aspects of hotel management before assignment to a property within the HEI network. The Program provides participants with an array of benefits, including competitive compensation, temporary housing during training, paid travel to hometowns to visit their family during the training period, and relocation assistance upon training completion.

"The program and its success are very hands-on and fast-paced, and the MITs are able to experience immediately what their future careers will entail," said Amy Konopasek, program mentor and Director of Human Resources at the San Diego Marriott La Jolla. "As much as the MITs grow and learn on their way to success in their career, I as the mentor am continuously learning from them also – and that is what makes the program a win/win for everyone, including the company."

In addition to opportunities for internal associates, HEI recruits college graduates from some of the most respected universities across the United States. MITs return to their campuses to help recruit and be an ambassador for the HEI brand for future classes.

"We value the partnership that Penn State has forged with HEI Hotels and Resorts during the past four years," said Rosemarie Hibbler, Coordinator of Career, Placement and Advising at Penn State University's School of Hospitality Management. "The students routinely ask when HEI will be coming to campus, and there is competition for the interview slots. HEI continues to choose some of our best and brightest students, and we hope they will continue to visit our campus for years to come."

About HEI Hotels & Resorts
HEI Hotels & Resorts, headquartered in Norwalk, Connecticut with 41 properties in 16 states, creates socially responsible investment and employment opportunities through real estate portfolios of upscale destination properties throughout the United States. HEI takes a holistic approach to creating value for its investors and employees by setting the highest standards across all aspects of hotel management and operation and focusing on the central principles of excellence and continuous improvement. HEI prides itself on some of the highest employee satisfaction scores in the hospitality industry, fuels local economic prosperity by investing in communities and is committed to environmental stewardship and sustainability.

For more information about HEI, visit the company's website, www.heihotels.com.