Prime Hospitality owns, manages and franchises 166 hotels, including three proprietary brands of AmeriSuites, Homegate Studios and Suites and Wellesley Inns.  Also included in its portfolio are hotels operated under franchise agreements with national hotel chains.  Prime was nominated by Michelle Brown of Interior Hotel Design, Inc., who states, �Prime has a very specific design to what they are doing in guest rooms, particularly in their Business Suites.  Each of their hotels has a portion of their rooms designed to accommodate the business traveler.  It all really works for their guests.� 

Ed Dykes, Vice President of Operations for AmeriSuites, noted, �Our basic approach is to keep our eye on the future � looking at what keys to guest satisfaction are emerging as important � and shaping our programs and services around them.  This is how our TCB, Taking Care of Business, Suites came about.  After an extensive review and shop of the market place, we realized there were some things missing in the traditional business suite offered to guests, and we set about designing a suite that would really cater to a business person�s needs.� 

Dykes explains, �Our TCB Suites start off with the most user-friendly desk in the market.  It can be totally adjusted for user comfort and ease.  The lighting can be tilted and dimmed, and the desk can even be adjusted to fit a right-handed or left-handed guest.  We provide real desk chairs, and an easy chair and ottoman instead of a sofa.  Our task lighting has two outlets on the lamp itself so guests can plug in their PC�s instead of having to crawl around on the floor to find an outlet.  We also provide 2-line phones with data port and speakerphone capability.  Of course, we still provide Video Cassette Players in all of our rooms, not just TCB Suites.  In addition, all of our hotels have been converted to have T1 lines and voice mail.� 

Dykes concluded, �Prime is committed to making the necessary investments to be on the cutting edge for its guests.  And, it is making a really big difference in the quality of service we are able to provide our guests.� 

The other 1998 award winners are Candlewood Hotel Company, Inc., winner of The Telman MasterTech Award for Bottom Line Profits, and Carol Beggs, Director of Information Systems for Sonesta International Hotel Corporation, winner of The Telman MasterTech Award for Individuals.  The awards will be presented at the HFTP Annual Convention�s Awards Luncheon, sponsored by Telman, on September 26 at the Hyatt Crystal City in Washington, D.C..