Candlewood Suites Introduces More Harvard Business School-Based Quality Programs, Honors Best Performers.Business Editors WICHITA, Kan.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 20, 1999 Candlewood Suites Candlewood Suites is a brand name applied to hotels within the InterContinental Hotels Group. History The Candlewood Suites chain was started in 1995 by Jack Deboer, founder of the Residence Inn and co-founder of the Summerfield Suites chain. honored hon·or n. 1. High respect, as that shown for special merit; esteem: the honor shown to a Nobel laureate. 2. a. Good name; reputation. b. exceptional achievements this year at the company's annual general managers conference and looked to the future with a continuing commitment to customer satisfaction. Three new quality initiatives will build upon the company's already successful "Best Methods" program for performance and quality. These new programs were tested and refined at several properties before company-wide introduction.
- The Maintenance Mentor program outlines training for
maintenance engineers and general managers. It provides for
quarterly, monthly, weekly and daily action plans to keep the
hotels looking and feeling brand new.
- The "On the Spot" awards program provides for immediate
individual and team recognition for excellence in quality.
- The Perpetual Green Plan integrates all quality initiatives to
help ensure exceptional guest experiences.
"Our quality assurance program is based on the Harvard Business School's `Achieving Breakthrough Service' program," says Jim Roos. Roos is president and chief operating officer Chief Operating Officer (COO) The officer of a firm responsible for day-to-day management, usually the president or an executive vice-president. for Candlewood can·dle·wood n. 1. Any of several trees or shrubs yielding a usually resinous wood. 2. The wood of such a plant, burned for light or fuel. 3. The ocotillo. Noun 1. Hotel Co., which owns, operates and franchises Candlewood Suites. "We emphasize the importance of the service-profit chain, leading to increased customer retention," he says. "Instead of relying solely on inspections, we focus on training that increases team member productivity and satisfaction, and the creation and implementation of quality processes and continuous improvement." Special achievements were also honored at the conference. The Hampton-Norfolk, Va., Candlewood Suites won Candlewood's Hotel of the Year award and its general manager, Teresa Boswell, was named General Manager of the Year. The property was singled out for extraordinary quality and customer service, earning the company's highest quality rating. It was the first hotel to win a perfect score in Candlewood's stringent suite inspection program. Boswell was cited for her commitment to the community and the company. Under her leadership, the Candlewood team hosts blood drives and supports a local children's hospital A children's hospital is a hospital which offers its services exclusively to children. The number of children's hospitals proliferated in the 20th century, as pediatric medical and surgical specialties separated from internal medicine and adult surgical specialties. . She is instrumental in training other general managers in her region, serves on the standards committee and is known for her team motivation skills. "We're very proud of the commitment to quality and customer satisfaction demonstrated by all our team members day in and day out Adv. 1. day in and day out - without respite; "he plays chess day in and day out" all the time ," says Roos. Gold Awards were also presented to properties with an exceptional rating in quality assurance and other top performance factors, including revenue and occupancy. They included: PROPERTY GENERAL MANAGER Braintree, Mass. Stacey Certner Clearwater, Fla. Jay Gregg Hampton-Norfolk, Va. Teresa Boswell Irvine-Spectrum, Calif. Kaleolani DeLaCruz Las Colinas, Texas Gigi Newbern Louisville, Ky. Marilyn Beatty Schaumburg, Ill. Irene Eby Somerset, N.J. Robert Bernardo Southfield, Mich. Gary Misczak Warren, Mich. Kristin Anton The Clearwater, Fla., Candlewood Suites won Gold Awards for highest revenue per available room compared with budget (RevPAR RevPAR A performance metric in the hotel industry which stands for "revenue per available room." RevPAR is typically calculated by multiplying a hotel's average daily room rate (ADR) by its occupancy rate. ) and the highest gross operating profit Operating profit (or loss) Revenue from a firm's regular activities less costs and expenses and before income deductions. operating profit See operating income. (GOP) to budget. Clearwater also was among several Gold Award winners for the fastest ramp-up to opening. Other Gold Award winners for fastest ramp-up included Albuquerque, N.M., Columbus, Ohio Columbus is the capital and the largest city of the American state of Ohio. Named for explorer Christopher Columbus, the city was founded in 1812 at the confluence of the Scioto and Olentangy rivers, and assumed the functions of state capital in 1816. , and Oklahoma City Oklahoma City (1990 pop. 444,719), state capital, and seat of Oklahoma co., central Okla., on the North Canadian River; inc. 1890. The state's largest city, it is an important livestock market, a wholesale, distribution, industrial, and financial center, and a farm . The Las Colinas Las Colinas is a developed area in the Dallas suburb of Irving, Texas. Due to its central location between Dallas and Fort Worth and its proximity to DFW Airport, Las Colinas has been a viable place in the Metroplex for corporate and business relocation. , Texas, Candlewood Suites won the Gold Award for highest revenue increase. Silver awards went to Braintree, Mass., for second-highest RevPAR compared to budget and to Hampton-Norfolk, Va., for second-highest GOP to budget. The Austin, Texas, Candlewood Suites won Silver for the second-highest revenue increase. Outstanding general managers for each of the company's five regions were also honored: - Teresa Boswell - Hampton-Norfolk, Va. - Kaleolani DeLaCruz - Irvine-Spectrum, Calif. - Irene Eby - Schaumburg, Ill. - Gary Misczak - Southfield, Mich. - Gigi Newbern - Las Colinas, Texas Candlewood Hotel Co. owns, operates and franchises Candlewood Suites, which targets mid-market business travelers and others on short or long-term travel. The company has recently launched a franchising program for its newest brand, Cambridge Suites by Candlewood -- an upscale hotel concept based on the value-oriented philosophy of the Candlewood Suites brand. Continuous quality improvement programs are key operational components for both. Candlewood Chairman and CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. Jack DeBoer -- who founded Residence Inn and co-founded Summerfield Suites In June 2005 the Blackstone Group acquired Wyndham International for $3.2 billion. Summerfield Suites, Wyndham’s extended stay offering, was included in the deal. On December 1st 2005 Global Hyatt confirmed that it had entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the in the 1970s and 1980s -- founded Candlewood in 1995. He is recognized in the hotel industry as the creator of the extended-stay concept. There are currently 76 Candlewood Suites open coast-to-coast, with more under construction. www.candlewoodsuites.com |
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