January 4, 2013 - Marriott International honored top select-service and extended-stay owner and franchise partners at a conference held recently at the JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa in Phoenix, Arizona. Approximately 600 executives from organizations that own, franchise or manage Courtyard, Fairfield Inn & Suites, Residence Inn, SpringHill Suites and/or TownePlace Suites hotels attended the three-day conference.

For years, Marriott has been presenting the Partnership Circle Award to companies that embody Marriott’s Spirit to Serve philosophy, fully embrace Marriott’s brand initiatives, focus on associates to create a well-managed and engaged workforce, invest in hotel product, and provide outstanding customer service as measured through Marriott’s guest satisfaction surveys. This year, eight companies were awarded for their hospitality excellence: Inland American Lodging Advisor, Inc.; Kratsa Properties; Shaner Hotel Group; Stonebridge Companies; Sunridge Hotel Group; Tharaldson Hospitality Management; The North Central Group; and True North Hotel Group, Inc.

Partnership Circle Award Winners. Pictured: back row, L to R: Jonathan Bogatay, The North Central Group; David Lenz, The North Central Group; David Cocco, Kratsa Properties; Bill Kratsa, Kratsa Properties; Aimee Fyke, Tharaldson Hospitality Management; Liam Brown, Marriott International; Bob McCarthy, Marriott International; Gary Tharaldson, Tharaldson Hospitality Management, Arne Sorenson, Marriott International; Dave Grissen, Marriott International; Craig Lambert, Inland American Lodging Advisor, Inc.; Keith Osborn, The North Central Group; Plato Ghinos, Shaner Hotel Group; Lance Shaner, Shaner Hotel Group – front row, L to R: Paul Welker, Sunridge Hotel Group; Brian Welker, Sunridge Hotel Group; Tommy Nigro, Stonebridge Companies; Navin Dimond, Stonebridge Companies; Marcel Verbaas, Inland American Lodging Advisor, Inc.; Brad Wiens, True North Hotel Group, Inc.; Lew Wiens, True North Hotel Group, Inc.; Dick Merkel, True North Hotel Group, Inc.

In 2010, Marriott introduced a new award – the Horizon Award – which, similar to the Partnership Circle Award, recognizes the best of the best in companies that partner with Marriott. While Horizon Award winners currently have smaller Marriott portfolios, they are poised to grow with Marriott’s brands and share all of the other attributes of Partnership Circle Award recipients. Five companies were the selected for this year’s Horizon Award: Insignia Hospitality Group; Maine Course Hospitality Group; Peachstate Hospitality, LLC; R.D. Olson Development; and Raymond Management Company.

Horizon Award Winners. Pictured: back row, L to R: Liam Brown, Marriott International; Bob McCarthy, Marriott International; Arne Sorenson, Marriott International; Dave Grissen, Marriott International – front row, L to R: Barry Perkel, Raymond Management Company; Jeff Kraemer, Raymond Management Company; Ankur Bhakta, Insignia Hospitality Group; Darpan Bhakta, Insignia Hospitality Group; Bob Olson, R.D. Olson Development; Sean Riley, Maine Course Hospitality Group; Kevin Kovall, Raymond Management Company. Not pictured: Peachstate Hospitality, LLC

“It is an honor to recognize these owners and franchisees for their commitment to quality, to their associates and to their guests,” said Liam Brown, President, U.S. & Canada Division for Select Service & Extended Stay Lodging and Owner & Franchise Services, Marriott International. “Our Partnership Circle and Horizon Award winners have not only demonstrated strong performance within their hotels, but also live Marriott’s Spirit to Serve philosophy within their respective communities. We truly have the best partners in the industry."