Hotel Online  Special Report

,

In addition To Keynote, Belmonte Hosting �Franchise
Negotiations Workshop� At WSH&LA Convention
-
Steve Belmonte, trained mediator with the CPR Institute of Dispute Resolution
in New York and former President of Ramada Hotels, to discuss
ways of improving the franchisor/franchisee relationship
.
Randolph, N.J. � Sept. 21, 2004 ��I�ve said it for years, and so have countless others: �In business, you don�t get what you deserve � you get what you negotiate,�� said Steven J. Belmonte, Founder, President and C.E.O. of Hospitality Solutions LLC, based here. This message is the crux of a workshop titled: �Franchisor/Franchisee: The Ultimate Love/Hate Relationship� to be presented by Belmonte at the Washington State Hotel & Lodging Association�s Annual Convention to be held Oct. 10-12 at the Alderbrook Resort in Union, Wash.
 
Through Hospitality Solutions LLC, Belmonte provides 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. Previously he served as President and CEO of Ramada Franchise Systems.
 
The workshop, to be held immediately following the keynote address�which also is being presented by Belmonte�will highlight new ways to get value out of a franchise agreement.
 
�The franchisor/franchisee relationship is truly the ultimate in power sharing,� Belmonte said. �This workshop is not designed as a �trashing session� to vent about unreasonable or unresponsive franchisors. Instead, it�s about owners learning how to get the very most�the highest return on investment�from the fees that franchisees are paying every month.�
 
Belmonte said it�s important for all franchisees to recognize that all franchise companies are not all the same. However, he said, there should always be a way to structure a franchise agreement that is equitable for both entities. If implemented correctly, there are ways to maximize the benefits provided by the franchise company to help increase guest satisfaction and improve overall asset performance.
 
Earlier this month, Belmonte and Hospitality Solutions LLC associate Wayne Miller were certified as trained �CPR Mediators� by the CPR Institute for Dispute Resolution in New York. The CPR Institute, recognized by the American Hotel & Lodging Assn. and other hospitality entities, is a nonprofit alliance of the largest global corporations, law firms, scholars and public institutions in the country. Its primary mission is to �increase the reliance on negotiation rather than litigation.�
 
Kickin� Things Off

In keeping with the convention�s theme, �Training for Peak Performance,� Belmonte will kick off the WSH&LA event as keynote speaker, discussing 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.
 
�We�re excited that Steve has agreed to deliver the keynote address and also provide his valuable insight into the world of franchising,� said Lynn Edwards, CMP, Convention Coordinator for the Seattle-based WSH&LA. �Our planning committee wanted someone who�s been in the trenches like Steve has, who can speak from experience about the importance of training and leadership. Our general managers want to hear from someone who�s been a general manager, and who�s run hotels as well as hotel companies. Steve, of course, has done both.�
 
Belmonte, who started working in hotels as a teenager, became a general manager at the age of 18. He then served as co-founder and C.E.O. of Equity Hotel Corp. in Chicago, operating approximately 35 hotels in 14 states. In 1991, he became President and C.E.O. of Ramada Franchise Systems and remained in that high-profile position until launching Hospitality Solutions LLC in November 2002.
 
For more information on the WSH&LA Conference, visit www.wshla.com.
 
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.


 
Contact:

Steve Belmonte
President/CEO
Hospitality Solutions LLC
Tel: (973) 598-0839
[email protected]
www.stevenbelmonte.com
 

Also See: Industry Veteran Steven J. Belmonte Joins Prestigious Round Table Group / July 2004
Arlington Hospitality Garners HVS �Top Board� Award; Arlington�s Herman, Belmonte Accept Lodging Leadership Award at 26th Annual NYU International Hospitality Industry Conference / July 2004
Steven J. Belmonte Named To AAHOA Industry Relations Committee / June 2004
Steven J. Belmonte, Founder to Keynote at the Washington State Hotel & Lodging Association�s Annual Convention / June 2004
Steven J. Belmonte To Keynote Best Value Inn Conference -- Again / June 2004
Belmonte�s Business Is Booming; Jeff Seymour Joins Growing Team / April 2004
Belmonte Appoints Lee Dushoff To Hospitality Solutions Team / February 2004
Belmonte To Bring Insight To Best Value Inn Members as Keynote at Conference / October 2003
Belmonte �Talks the Talk� in Role as Motivational Speaker / March 2003
Steve Belmonte Immersed in Sarbanes-Oxley as a New Member of the Board of Directors of Arlington Hospitality Inc. / May 2003
Belmonte�s Back In Business As Hospitalty Solutions LLC / Feb 2003


To search Hotel Online data base of News and Trends Go to Hotel.Online Search

Home | Welcome! | Hospitality News | Classifieds | Catalogs & Pricing | Viewpoint Forum | Ideas/Trends
Please contact Hotel.Online with your comments and suggestions.