MEMPHIS, Tenn. – (April 18, 2013) – Hilton Garden Inn has named Heidi Wilcox as the brand’s first female Owners Advisory Council (OAC) Chair. Wilcox is currently the chief operating officer (COO) of hotel and resort hospitality management company First Call Hospitality, which manages three Hilton Garden Inn franchises; Overland Park, Kansas; Eden Prairie, Wisconsin and Fort Worth, Texas.

“With more than 25 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Heidi is the ideal Chair for the Owner’s Advisory Council,” said Adrian Kurre, global head, Hilton Garden Inn. “Heidi’s passion and enthusiasm is apparent in her long history with Hilton Garden Inn and we look forward to having her help us keep the brand as a leader in the hospitality space.”

As the OAC Chair, Heidi will oversee quarterly meetings and provide essential feedback to the brand management team to guide the upscale hotel brand’s future direction.  The council meets on everything concerning the Hilton Garden Inn brand and business, from new products and standards to beta testing future innovations and training programs. The OAC is comprised of eight owners and management company representatives of all of Hilton Garden Inn’s property types, including urban, suburban, airport hotels, large and small properties.

“The Owners Advisory Council is positioned to help brand executives with overcoming challenges and developing new strategies to see continued success,” said Heidi Wilcox, OAC Chair, Hilton Garden Inn. “As the Owners Advisory Council Chair, I look forward to bringing a voice to every owner with the intention of increasing profitability and continuing the award-winning brand presence in the marketplace.”

As COO of First Call Hospitality, Wilcox works with management for hotel operations to improve sales, marketing, revenue, guest satisfaction and profitability.  She holds a bachelor’s degree in Hotel Restaurant Management with a minor in Business Administration from North Dakota State University and a MBA from University of Mary.

About Hilton Garden Inn
Hilton Garden Inn is the award-winning, upscale, yet affordable hotel brand that continually strives to ensure today’s busy travelers have everything they need to be most productive on the road — from our oh-so-comfortable Garden Sleep System® bed to complimentary wired and Wi-Fi Internet access in all guestrooms. So whether on the road for personal or business reasons, Hilton Garden Inn offers the amenities and services for travelers to sleep deep, stay fit, eat well and work smart while away from home. For more information about our locations around the globe, visit www.hgi.com or www.news.hgi.com.