Microtel Inns & Suites

Hotel of the Year
The �Hotel of the Year� award is presented to an individual Microtel hotel that best represents and sets the standard for the brand.  The Rochester, Minn. Microtel Inn & Suites, owned by Larson Investments, was this year�s winner, having achieved an outstanding 499 (out of 500) Quality Assurance score.  The property also maintains a strong presence in the community by being active in numerous charity organizations such as the Rochester Youth and Rochester Police Benevolence Association.  With 82 guest accommodations, the hotel is located at 4210 Highway 52 North, 11 miles from the Rochester airport.  General manager is Lynn Plumer.  Other nominations for �Hotel of the Year� included the El Paso, Texas and Green Bay, Wis. Microtel hotels.

Franchisee of the Year
�Franchisee of the Year� went to Marian Goodman, president of Leesburg Innkeepers, LLC and owner of the Leesburg, Fla. Microtel Inn & Suites hotel.  The award�presented to an individual or entity who has given the most of themselves to help make the brand a success � cited Goodman for maintaining the highest standards and averaging �97� on guest comment cards.  The two-story, 81-room Microtel Inn & Suites is located at 9700 U.S. 441. 

�Goodman is a true professional in running her hotel and supervising her staff,� said Vinay Patel, vice president of brand marketing for Microtel.  �She not only provides exceptional service to her customers, but is always available to assist other franchisees.�  Steve Olson of Leisure Hotels, LLC and Thomas Larson, Larson Companies were also nominated for �Franchisee of the Year.�

Additional Top Achievers
Michael Luksich of the 63-room Camp Verde, Ariz. Microtel Inn & Suites, located at 504 Industrial Drive, was named �General Manager of the Year.�  The award is presented annually to a general manager who exceeds normal job expectations and contributes to the overall success of the hotel.   Luksich has created numerous incentive programs at his hotel, including celebrations for National Housekeepers Week.  He serves on several community boards such as the House of Ruth, a local pregnancy crisis center, and The Potters Wheel, a home for people with mental disabilities.  He is also on the Board of Directors of the Camp Verde Chamber and previously received the Verde Valley Chamber of Commerce Pride Day 2000 Volunteer Service Award.   Additional nominations for this award included Denise Johnson of the Tallahassee, Fla. and Lynn Plummer of the Rochester, Minn. properties.

The Staunton, Va. Microtel Inn hotel, located at 200 Frontier Rd., received the �Community Service of the Year� award, which cites a property that has shown unparalleled commitment to the local community.

According to Patel, �The 58-room Staunton hotel, property and its employees have gone out of their way offering time and energy to the surrounding community.�  The hotel has provided rooms for families in times of need, assisted a local high school with repainting efforts, hosted a tour of the property for a local elementary school, provided phone-bank staffing for a television fund raiser and donated room nights for a local fund raiser.  Other nominations included the Matthews, N.C. and Tallahassee, Fla. Microtel hotels. 

Hawthorn Suites Hotel 
 

Hotel of the Year went to the Chelmsford, Mass. Hawthorn Suites LTD, owned by Lowell, Mass-based Princeton Properties.  Commented Steve Hymans, vice president of brand marketing for Hawthorn, �This Hawthorn has successfully marketed itself in the North Chelmsford community and offers regular activities for both guests and employees.  The property truly is committed to �treating your associates well� and

Boston/Chelmsford  Hawthorn Suites LTD.  25 Research Place North Chelmsford, MA

The property participates in The Walk for Cancer, Daffodil Day, Toys for Tots, the Firefighters Fund and DARE.  In addition, employees regularly volunteer as �greeters� to travelers at the I-495 Visitors Center and make donations to local food drives and scholarship funds.  Located at 25 Research Place, the 105-room hotel features studio and one-bedroom suites.  Additional nominations for Hotel of the Year included properties in Chandler, Ariz., Santa Clara, Calif. and South Burlington, Ver.

Franchisee of the Year went to Steve Olson, co-founder, president and CEO of Hutchinson, Kan.-based Leisure Hotel Group of Companies.  Commented Mike Leven, chairman and CEO of US Franchise Systems (USFS), parent company of the franchisor of Hawthorn, �Steve is a 28-year veteran with extensive experience in all facets of our industry�from operational to negotiating, financing and developing multi-million dollar hotel and land development projects.  He is also known for producing a quality product, hiring quality people and doing what he says he will.�

Olson teamed with businessmen Fran Jabara and Richard Smith in 1985 to form Leisure Hotel Group of Companies, which specializes in the development and management of hotels in the limited-, suite- and full-service markets.  Now employing over 500 people, it is one of the industry�s fastest growing companies.  Olson is a member of Hawthorn�s Franchise Advisory Committee. 

Additional Winners
In addition, Hawthorn�s outstanding general manager and salesperson of the year were cited.  Don Bruce, general manager of the S. Burlington, Vt. Hawthorn Suites hotel, a 104-suite property located at 401 Dorset Dr., was named General Manager of the Year.   Under Bruce�s direction, the property continues to exceed goals set for the year in almost every category and received a 497 (out of 500) on its last quality assurance inspection.

�Bruce joined Hawthorn prior to the opening of the S. Burlington property in 1998 and was instrumental in recruiting key personnel and building a start-up team that is still together today,� said Hymans.  Bruce, a 14-year hospitality veteran, is also an adjunct faculty member with the Champlain College Hospitality Program. 

Salesperson of the Year went to Marion El Awar, director of sales of the Ann Arbor, Mich. Hawthorn Suites hotel.  A member of the property�s opening team in 1998, El Awar has helped the property ring in impressive occupancy rates, and increased group bookings by 38 percent.  Hailing from Manchester, Jamaica, El Awar began her hospitality career in 1985 as entertainment coordinator for Super Clubs Resorts.  She has resided in the U.S. for over 10 years, working her way up from front desk clerk.  She received her undergraduate degree in hotel/restaurant management from East Michigan University and is currently pursuing a master�s degree.  The Hawthorn Suites hotel in Ann Arbor features 82 studio, one- and two-bedroom suites.

Best Inns & Suites

Hotel of the Year
The �Hotel of the Year� award, presented to an individual Best hotel that best represents and sets the standard for the brand, went to the Lake Charles, La. Best Suites hotel.  Located at 401 Lakeshore Dr., the property achieved over $70 in revenue per available room due in large part to its unique setting and professional staff.  David Rothschild is general manager of the property.  Other nominations for �Hotel of the Year� included the Coeur D�Alene, Idaho and Birmingham, Ala. Best hotels.

Franchisee of the Year
Dede Silberman, CEO of Meyer Motels, Ltd. and owner of 12 Best Inns & Suites hotels throughout northern California, Oregon and Nevada, was named �Franchisee of the Year.�  The award is presented annually to an individual or entity who has given the most of themselves to help make the nationwide hotel brand a success. 

Silberman is one of a handful of women hoteliers in the hospitality industry and is known for being refreshingly innovative in the management of a family-owned business.  She is a member of Best Inns� Franchise Advisory Council and a CHA, having served as a director on the board of the California Lodging Association.  Terry Wynia, president of Hospitality Associates, and Ballu Patel were nominated for �Franchisee of the Year.�

Additional Top Achievers
Don Johnson of the 95-room West Des Moines, Iowa Best Suites, located at 1236 74th St., was named �General Manager of the Year.�  The award is presented annually to a general manager who exceeds normal job expectations and contributes to the overall success of the hotel. 

Commented Jon Leven, senior vice president of marketing, �Don has been with the Best family for over seven years and with the West Des Moines property since its opening in 1999.  He is a leader known for quality development and is consistently pushing to improve local marketing and hotel operations.�  The West Des Moines Best hotel received high quality assurance scores of 499 out of 500 in its last two inspections.  Additional nominations for the award included Bill Brown of the Birmingham, Ala. Best hotel and Tracee Daniel of the Libertyville, Ill. Best hotel.

The Vancouver, Wash. Best Inns & Suites hotel, located in the Cascade Park section at 221 N.E. Chkalov Dr., received the �Community Service of the Year� award, which cites a property that has shown unparalleled commitment to the local community. 

The 116-room hotel annually participates in the Evergreen School District�s work experience program for children with disabilities.  Children visit the property and work in various positions throughout the hotel to learn more about a work environment and running a hotel.  The Vancouver Best Inn & Suites hotel also works with the Clark County Skills Center hospitality training program, which is open to high school juniors and seniors and allows them to intern at the property for hands-on experience.  Other nominations included the Berkley/El Cerrito, Calif. and Caldwell, Idaho Best hotels. 

This year�s �I am the Best� award, presented to an individual that exemplifies the service culture of the Best hotel brand, went to Carol Vervick, head housekeeper of two Best Inn hotels in Missoula, Mont. 
According to Al Arneson, owner of the Missoula Best properties, �After 11 years with Best, Vervick continues to be one of the hardest working, most loyal people I know.  She is the ultimate team player and we could not provide the outstanding service we do without her help.�  Other nominations included Angie Gonzales and Anna Rodriguez from the Caldwell, Idaho Best hotel and Bill Brown from the Birmingham, Ala. Best hotel.

The Best Inn in Redwood City, Calif. received the �Property Improvement Award� for not only improving the appearance and design of the exterior and interior of the property, but also overall hotel performance.  Also nominated was the Best Inn in Breckenridge, Minn.