Johnson-Reece will create strategies and education programs to help the Hotel Group attract, retain and develop minority talent.  She also will strive to enhance the Hotel Group�s relationship with minority franchisees and increase the number of those franchisees.  In addition, she will manage corporate and employee involvement with key minority and community organizations.

Johnson-Reece previously held the position of director of multicultural marketing and sales for the Hotel Group.  From 1997 to 1999, she served Bell Atlantic as staff director for ethnic and premium marketing and sales for the African-American market.  Prior to that, she was international marketing manager for AT&T�s Sub-Sahara Africa and Caribbean regions and served AT&T in other marketing and management positions from 1989 to 1997. 

In 2001 and 2002, Black Meetings and Tourism magazine recognized her as one of the �Top Blacks in the Lodging Industry.�  Johnson-Reece serves on the International Franchise Association�s Minorities in Franchising committee and The Association of National Advertisers Multicultural Marketing committee.
 
Johnson-Reece received her bachelor of science degree in economics from Rutgers University, New Brunswick, N.J., in 1989. 

"The creation of Nicole's position is a testament to the Hotel Group�s commitment to diversity," said Milton C. Anderson, Hotel Group senior vice president of human resources.  "We are focused on leveraging that commitment to make the Hotel Group an employer and franchisor of choice."

Cendant Corporation�s Hotel Group, based in Parsippany, N.J., is the world�s largest lodging franchisor with 6,432 open hotels representing 523,635 rooms on five continents under the Super 8®, Days Inn®, Ramada®, Travelodge®, Howard Johnson®, Knights Inn®, Villager, Wingate Inn® and AmeriHost Inn® brands.  Cendant�s franchised hotels sell one out of every four economy and midpriced room-nights in the United States, and Cendant franchises 11.8 percent of the entire U.S. hotel room supply, according to Smith Travel Research.  All hotels are individually owned and operated under franchise agreements with Cendant subsidiaries.