| Randolph, N.J. � (July 20, 2004) � Steven J.
Belmonte, Founder, President and CEO of Hospitality Solutions LLC, and
former President and CEO of Ramada Franchise Systems, has been named a
Round Table Scholar by Round Table Group, Chicago. As an adjunct faculty
member, Belmonte will join Ph.D. professors and select business professionals
in providing expert witness services to attorneys, customized research
to investment managers, and corporate education through consulting and
motivational speaking engagements to RTG�s clients around the world.
Founded in 1994 by a group of business leaders, lawyers and professors, Round Table Group offers unequaled access to academic and industry experts; its network includes more than 10,000 specialists such as renowned professors, deans, and trustees of universities; fellows at prestigious think tanks; board members of top companies; and senior managers in industry. Round Table Group also serves as a global search firm that locates experts on any topic. �While most of our Round Table Scholars are professors at leading institutions, there are a few gifted practitioners like Steve Belmonte who have demonstrated significant expertise in their field,� said Russ W. Rosenzweig, RTG Chairman and CEO. �Our clients will greatly benefit from Steve�s more than 30 years of hospitality ownership, executive management, expert witness and motivational speaking experience.� Hotelier At Heart
Later Belmonte was named President and CEO of the Ramada hotel chain, a brand he doubled in size to encompass more than 1,000 hotels with nearly 135,000 hotel rooms throughout the United States. Today, under Hospitality Solutions LLC, Belmonte offers franchise-agreement formulations, termination-negotiation assistance, mediation, expert-witness and consulting services, asset management, renovations, financing assistance, executive retreats, sales-and-marketing training and special projects/new corporate initiatives. Belmonte is the Chairman of the Honorary Board of Childreach and recipient of its prestigious Humanitas Award. He has worked to build medical facilities, schools, youth centers and libraries in third world developing countries across the globe. He also serves on the Board of Directors of Arlington Hospitality Inc., and is past Chairman of the American Hotel Foundation and past vice chairman of the American Hotel & Lodging Education Foundation. �It�s a real honor to be named as a Scholar among the preeminent consortia of consulting professors in the world,� Belmonte said, �especially for a guy who received his credentials from the school of hard knocks. One of the most important lessons I learned throughout my career is that motivating your people is key to the success of any business, be it hotels, or real estate or making widgets. �In the public-speaking arena, if you�re looking for a high-priced, well-known lecturer on this trendy management technique or that new-wave motivational theory, I�m probably not your guy,� he said. �But if you�re looking for someone who�s seen it all and done it all, both as a small-businessman and the head of a huge franchise chain�and who�s passionate about how bottom-line success in business is based on treating customers and employees right�then I am your man. I look forward to bringing a fresh business perspective to RTG customers, as well as providing proven expert witness and franchise consulting services to every industry in need.� Belmonte is scheduled to deliver the keynote address at the Washington State Hotel & Lodging Association�s Annual Convention in October. In keeping with the convention�s theme, �Training for Peak Performance,� Belmonte�s address will focus on the importance of leadership�both in creating a service culture in a hotel or hotel company, and in developing leadership skills through motivation rather than through organizational control. In December, he will deliver the annual Best Value Inn National Educational Conference & Trade Show keynote for the second consecutive year. To be held at the Monte Carlo Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, Belmonte will provide members with insight on the benefits of bringing family values to hospitality. Most recently, Belmonte delivered the keynote address at the Suburban Franchise Systems annual conference in Atlanta. His message: �Success through service and strength through quality and consistency.� About Hospitality Solutions LLC Hospitality Solutions LLC, Randolph, N.J., provides franchise agreement formulations and termination negotiation assistance, mediation, consulting, litigation support and expert witness services to the hospitality and service industries. Company President and CEO Steven Belmonte, former President and CEO of Ramada Hotels, also served as Chairman of the American Hotel & Lodging Assn.�s Educational Foundation, serves on the Board of Directors of Arlington Hospitality Inc. and serves as a partner with Belmonte/Lasky Asset Management Inc. For more information, call (973) 598-0839, email [email protected] or visit www.stevenbelmonte.com. About Round Table Group Chicago-based Round Table Group, hailed as the Mercedes-Benz of expert databases, is a consortium of nearly 3,000 university professors and business professionals seeking to bring together the best and brightest minds. It was launched in 1994 with the idea of using the Internet to ease the process of locating high-end experts. The Wall Street Journal calls RTG one of the few firms of true value for high profile companies seeking intellectual expertise. In November 2003, Inc. Magazine named RTG to its prestigious "Inc. 500" list of the fastest growing US private companies. RTG also has been featured in the Chicago Tribune, Boston Globe, and Crain's Chicago Business as well as in Fortune Magazine, the Chronicle of Higher Education, and a Stanford University business case. |
Hospitality
has always been at the core of Belmonte�s business acumen. Working in various
line-level positions at Chicago area hotels as a teenager, Belmonte became
a general manager at the unprecedented age of 18. This hands-on experience
quickly lead him to become co-founder and CEO of Equity Hotel Corp. in
Chicago, ranked among the top 10 largest management companies in the U.S.
The firm operated approximately 35 hotels in 14 states, including such
brands as Sonesta, Sheraton, Radisson, Holiday Inn and Ramada, as well
as major independent properties.