Marriott�s Partnership Circle Award salutes franchise companies that perform in the top ten percent in excellence in the following categories: hospitality, development, guest satisfaction, associate satisfaction and quality assurance.

Lew Wiens, president and CEO of True North Hotel Group, accepted the award � the highest honor presented to Marriott franchisees � from J.W. (Bill) Marriott, Jr., chairman of Marriott International.  The three-day meeting was attended by more than 300 representatives from companies that own or franchise five Marriott brands: Residence Inn, Courtyard, Fairfield Inn and Fairfield Inn & Suites, SpringHill Suites and TownePlace Suites.
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TNHG president and CEO Lew Wiens (fifth from left), and Richard Merkel, vice president
of operations (third from left), received the award from (from left) Marriott�s Nick Kellock,
Steven Joyce, Bill Marriott, Bill Shaw and Liam Brown.
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While accepting Marriott�s award, Wiens credited former True North Hotel Group partner Mike Dubroff, whose 2002 stroke necessitated his retirement from the company. �Mike helped plant the seed of real growth and innovation for True North, and his legacy will always live on within our company,� said Wiens, who added that a meeting room at the new Residence Inn in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. is named in Dubroff�s honor.

True North Hotel Group�s principals have developed or owned 49 hotels since 1984.  The current portfolio includes 17 hotels in seven states, including 12 Marriott-branded hotels either open or under development.