Wednesday, June
15, 2011 (Shawnee on Delaware, Pennsylvania) – The Shawnee
Inn and Golf Resort’s General Manager, Rob Howell, chosen last year as
Pennsylvania General Manager of the Year, has now been chosen as the
2011
United States General Manager of the Year by the American Hotel and
Lodging
Association (AH&LA).
The
AH&LA chose to honor Mr. Howell with the prestigious United States
General
Manager of the Year award because of his innovative stewardship of the
historic
Shawnee Inn and Golf Resort and his role as a leader in the tourism
industry in
Pennsylvania and the Pocono Mountains.
“The
owners of the resort, the Kirkwood Family, have allowed me a great deal
of
latitude to develop a plan for the resurgence of Shawnee and this has
inspired
a creative atmosphere that has revitalized our resort”, said
Howell. In
2007, the resort began what we now call Shawnee’s Renaissance. In
addition to continuing property renovations, Mr. Howell has introduced
environmental and conservation projects appropriate to the resort in
the
Northeast nestled along the Delaware River, only 73 miles from New York
City.
The
Pocono Mountains is a resort destination with many mixed messages and a
guest
base that may not realize the extent of its beautiful environment and
interesting history given its proximity to New York City.
Shawnee’s
Renaissance is an attempt to not only reinvent itself, but also help to
reposition the Pocono Mountains as an interesting “green” destination.
Mr.
Howell’s vision transcends the traditional hospitality approach.
In
addition to advancing Shawnee’s guest service, Mr. Howell put a
significant
emphasis on the outdoors and the breathtaking natural environment that
surrounds the resort. “Encouraging our guests to engage in an
activity
that takes them into the outdoors is one of our focuses. Whether
people
want to hike or bike or spend time on the river we make it easy for
them to do
whatever it is they love or would like to try.” Shawnee’s rich
tradition of
nurturing nature inspired Mr. Howell to completely embrace Shawnee’s
unique
surroundings. From ensuring the historic grounds of the Shawnee
Inn are
pristine to developing the 32,000 sq. ft. Great Shawna Island Farm and
Apiary,
the resort’s offerings have been revolutionized. Guests of
Shawnee can
now experience the destination in a true holistic way.
Shawnee’s
staff has taken ownership of the resort’s vision – many of whom since
have
received regional honors for their outstanding guest service. “I
am
humbled by the magnitude of this honor and inspired by the cooperation
of the
staff of our resort who continue to reimagine this destination”, said
Howell. In 2009, through Mr. Howell’s leadership,
Shawnee
staff members formed the Shawnee Green Team which maximizes Shawnee’s
vision by
expanding upon the resort’s environmental plan. Mr. Howell added
that,
“The Commitment of our staff to our vision, our mission and green
efforts is
truly inspirational. This award is for all of them and the
direction they
are taking Shawnee.”
Mr.
Howell was honored as Pennsylvania’s 2009 General Manager of the Year
by the
Pennsylvania Tourism and Lodging Association at their annual
convention.
He has been a part of the Shawnee family since 1994 and is deeply
involved in
the tourism industry here serving as a Board Member of the Pennsylvania
Tourism
and Lodging Association.
For
more information or to schedule an interview with Mr. Howell, please
contact
Jeromy Wo, Public Relations Coordinator at: 570-424-4050 ext.
1409 or by
e-mail at: [email protected].
www.ShawneeInn.com
About The Shawnee Inn and Golf Resort
The
Shawnee Inn and Golf Resort, rich in breathtaking views, features 80
rooms in
the historic Inn, 12 rooms in the Delaware Lodge, plus six suites and
two
cottages in Shawnee’s luxury accommodation, the Legacy Collection.
Shawnee’s
varieties of recreational facilities make it an ideal destination for
any
event. Choose from Shawnee’s 27-hole championship island golf course,
golf
lessons at the Tillinghast Golf Academy, nine-hole lighted Tillinghast
Approach
Course, skiing at Shawnee Mountain, mountain biking, or hiking on the
scenic
Appalachian Mountain trails, canoeing, rafting, fishing, kayaking,
indoor pool,
fitness room, tennis, professional theater, and Spa Shawnee and Salon.
The
Shawnee Inn and Golf Resort is conveniently located 70 miles from New
York
City, 100 miles from Philadelphia, 150 miles from Albany, N.Y. and 200
miles
from Washington, D.C. Three airports – Lehigh Valley
International,
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and Newark International – all are within easy
distance
of the property.