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ST. PAUL, Minn. - December 9, 1998 - Tom Chase, general
manager, Marriott City Center, Minneapolis, was elected president of the
Minnesota Hotel & Lodging Association (MH&LA) for 1999 at its annual
meeting held yesterday, December 8, at the Radisson Hotel South & Plaza
Tower, Bloomington. Chase will assume the presidency on January 1 from
David Brott, Baymont Inns & Suites, Brooklyn Center.
Chase, general manager of the Marriott City Center in downtown Minneapolis for the past ten years, began his career in the lodging industry 28 years ago as a bellman for the Marriott in Bloomington. Chase then left the lodging industry for a time while he served in the Vietnam War, but upon his return, he began working for the Marriott in Portland, Ore. Chase also opened a property in South Bend, Ind. and before returning to Minnesota, spent seven years at the Marriott in Albuquerque, N.M. With Chase's many years of lodging experience, he shared his goals for the Association in 1999 at the annual meeting with the membership. "First, I want to focus on the technical advancement of our Association. By mid-January, we'll be rolling out our new Association web site. I am certain that it will become one of the most important tools we have to keep our members current, connected and cared for," said Chase. Chase also focused on the need to increase marketing dollars for the Minnesota Office of Tourism. According to Chase, "We haven't had a funding increase in Minnesota for over a decade-while states all around us are becoming better funded each year. Our Office of Tourism spends only $2 million a year in advertising, while Michigan spends $6.6 million." Finally, Chase encouraged hoteliers to get involved in grassroots efforts and the Association's annual Hospitality Day at the Capitol. "For the last five years, I've actually brought a busload of my line managers and executives to the Hospitality Day at the Capitol event every March. They get to hear about our issues and actually visit legisla-tors at the state Capitol. They leave with an excellent understanding of the political process and how they can make a difference," he stated. Chase has served on the Minnesota Hotel & Lodging Association Board
of Directors for eight years. He has also served on the Hospitality Minnesota
Board of Directors, Hospitality Legislative Committee, Hotel Nominating
Committee, Hotel Finance Committee and HOPAC - our Hospitality Political
Action Committee.
Other Officers Elected During the Annual Meeting Include:
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Also See: | Minnesota Hospitality Executives Claiming Most Successful Summer Ever / Sept 1998 |
Lampi and Hewes Elected to Top Posts at Hospitality Minnesota / June 1998 |