"I am pleased to announce the promotion of Joe Smith to the position of Chief Operating Officer of Boykin Management Company. Joe has brought a wealth of knowledge and years of experience to the Boykin organization; his strong management skills and command over the day-to-day operations will further strengthen our market leading position�, commented Robert Boykin.

Most recently, Joe served as Executive Vice President of Operations for the Western Region of Boykin Management Company.

Mr. Smith began his career with Boykin in 1985 at the Beachwood Marriott as Director of Restaurants.  He subsequently served as General Manager of the Columbus Marriott East and Columbus Marriott North hotels before serving as Corporate Food and Beverage Director.  During his tenure with Boykin Management Company, Mr. Smith has held the position of Regional Vice President, General Manager, Corporate Director of Food & Beverage, and Food & Beverage Director, among others.  Prior to Boykin, Joe held various positions within both T.G.I. Fridays and American Airlines, adding additional hospitality and travel related experience.

Mr. Smith received his Bachelor�s of Science degree from the University of Wisconsin and has been a member of the Hotel Asset Managers Association (HAMA), National Hotel/Motel Association, and Hotel Electronic Distribution Network Association (HEDNA). He and his wife, Liz, reside in Avon Lake, Ohio with their daughters, Kelsey and Haley.

Boykin Management Company operates first class and upscale hotels, condominium hotels, and resorts throughout the United States.  Since 1958, Boykin has built a leadership reputation in the hotel industry with a solid foundation of experience in hotel operation, management, and development.  Boykin Management currently operates 29 hotels, with 8,030 rooms in 17 states, with hotels operating under the Marriott, Hilton, Embassy Suites, Doubletree, Radisson, Holiday Inn, Hampton Inn, Quality Suites, Ramada, Comfort Inn, and Red Roof brands. In addition, Boykin Management operates unique, independent hotels and resorts.