March 8, 2013 (College Station, Texas) – Sage Hospitality and the Hilton College Station Hotel and Conference Center are pleased to announce the recent appointment of James Franks  as the General Manager of the highly respected Brazos County hotel.

Franks was promoted from Hotel Manager after having been with the property for more than four years.  Before joining the Hilton College Station in 2008, he opened the Hotel ZaZa and The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel and Convention Center, both in Texas, in various senior leadership roles.  His more than 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry includes 12 years of service to hotels in Texas.

“James clearly lives and breathes the ‘Howdy!’ culture that the Hilton is known for,” says Jim Darter, Senior Vice President of the Full Service Division at Sage Hospitality.  “He is a tremendous leader and we are highly confident that he has the right skills and attitude to continue to drive excellent results with this hotel and the College Station community.”

Franks will be the first new general manager at the Hilton in 18 years following Barron Hobbs.  Hobbs is well-known in the Brazos County community for his outstanding community citizenship and his long standing leadership at the hotel as general manager.  He is now serving as General Manager Emeritus for the Hilton College Station.

“Barron has brought such amazing contributions to our local community,” said Franks.  “I look forward to continuing great charitable events he’s created that are hosted by the hotel, like the Great Christmas Tree Event, providing decorated trees to local area families who wouldn’t normally have one during the holidays.”

The Hilton College Station and Conference Center is located nearby to Texas A&M University and is the largest space for events in the Brazos Valley.  To learn more about the hotel or to book a room, meeting or event, visit www.collegestation.hilton.com

About the Hilton College Station Hotel and Conference Center
The Hilton College Station Hotel and Conference Center is located less than two miles from Texas A&M University on University Drive with easy access to Brazos Valley and Bryan.  Managed by Sage Hospitality, the hotel has 303 guest rooms and more than 27,000 sq. ft. of meeting space as well as a fitness center and 24-hour business center.  The Bell Ranch Restaurant within the hotel offers breakfast, lunch and dinner served with a side of southern hospitality.  The outdoor patio is perfect for outside functions and features a pool, waterfall and poolside whirlpool. To learn more about the Hilton College Station Hotel and Conference Center, visit www.collegestation.hilton.com.

About Sage Hospitality
Founded in 1984, Sage Hospitality has strategically grown into one of the largest privately held hotel management, investment and development companies in the nation operating a variety of large, full-service hotels and extended stay and select-service properties. Sage Hospitality's comprehensive management portfolio includes major international brands for Marriott, Starwood, Hilton and IHG as well as the independent boutique hotels. Sage Hospitality has further differentiated with the creation of the Sage Restaurant Group, which has created and is managing over nine unique restaurant concepts including the acclaimed Mercat a la Planxa restaurant in Chicago. For more information, please visit www.sagehospitality.com.