The Sheraton Safari in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., won the Paul W. Whetsell �Exceeding Expectations� Award, recognizing the top performing hotel in the company�s portfolio of nearly 250 hotels.  Participants were ranked on a 1,000-point scale in more than 10 categories.  Each hotel was judged on guest satisfaction, financial results and other related areas.  Criteria ranged from quality perception and innovation to training and inter-hotel cooperation.   In addition to a trophy, the hotel received a cash award of $30,000, to be divided among its 220 employees.  Runners up for the first prize award were the Hilton Crystal City at National Airport, Arlington, Va., the Crowne Plaza San Jose, Calif., and the Courtyard by Marriott Meadowlands, Secaucus, N.J.
 

The recently renovated Sheraton Safari is one of the most unique hotels in the Sheraton system, featuring an African native art and wildlife theme throughout the property.  The lobby contains African artifacts and native decor, and the property features lush, jungle vegetation.  Even the outdoor swimming pool embodies the theme with a 79-foot python water slide. The hotel also offers a comprehensive fitness center, game room, three restaurants, 13,000 square feet of meeting space and business center.

Sheraton Safari Lake Buena Vista 12205 Apopka-Vineland Road  Orlando, FL 32836

�The Sheraton Safari Hotel completed a major renovation in 1998, one of the most difficult periods a hotel can go through, and also converted to the Sheraton brand,� said Paul W. Whetsell, MeriStar chairman and CEO.  �General Manager Jeff Brinda and his team not only took on the challenge, they outperformed the entire MeriStar portfolio.�

Located just minutes away from such local attractions as the Magic Kingdom Park, Disney-MGM Studios, Epcot and Disney�s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, the 489-room hotel includes 393 guestrooms, 90 safari suites and six deluxe executive suites. 

The company also named its top three general managers at the awards event.  

�Dedicated staff make the hotel experience memorable,� Whetsell commented.  �These three general managers have led their properties to exceptional service levels and profitability,� Whetsell said.

The General Manager of the Year Awards are based on a combination of weighted scores in a variety of categories, including financial performance, human resources and guest satisfaction. 

Gold Award winner John O�Sullivan, general manager of the Hilton Crystal City at
National Airport, began working for MeriStar in 1998.  Born in Ireland, he held a variety of operating positions at four- and five-star hotels prior to joining MeriStar, including the White Harte Hotel, the oldest inn in Britain; the five-star Shelbourne Hotel in Dublin, Ireland; and the Hotel Zurich in Switzerland.  He is an active member of the Washington and Arlington hotel associations.

An 18-year hospitality veteran, Silver Award winner Timothy Foley has been general manager of the Doral Forrestal Hotel & Conference Center, Princeton, N.J., since November 1998.  Previously, he was resort manager of the 500-room Registry Resort and Spa (formerly the Bonaventure) in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.  He also held the position of  F&B director at the Worthington in Fort Worth, Texas.

Debi Bishop, general manager of The Westin Atlanta Airport, received the General Manager Bronze Award.  Recently, she was named area director for MeriStar�s Atlanta region.  A 24-year hospitality veteran, she joined MeriStar in 1992.  She previously was general manager of the Doubletree Guest Suites Atlanta Galleria, and held similar positions with the Crowne Plaza Los Angeles Airport and the Holiday Inn Los Angeles Airport. 

MeriStar Hotels & Resorts operates 234 hospitality and leisure properties with more than 46,000 rooms and 12 golf courses in 34 states, the District of Columbia, Canada, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.