Accor North America Honors Franchisees Of The Year
Outstanding performance and dedication to quality and service leads to Accor's highest franchise mark of distinction
Carrollton, TX - Accor North America, the nation's largest owner and operator of economy lodging, recently recognized the Franchisees of the Year for Red Roof Inn and Motel 6 at the company's annual convention. Vijay Dandapani, owner of the Red Roof Inn in New York, N.Y., and Keith and Patricia Stotereau, owners of the Motel 6 in Avoca, Iowa, received this prestigious award.
"Our Franchisees of the Year consistently deliver exceptional quality and service to our customers and continuously go above and beyond to ensure guest satisfaction," said Dean Savas, senior vice president for Accor Franchising. "By reflecting our values and high standards, Dandapani and the Stotereaus help Accor North America further position itself as a leader in economy lodging."
For these awards, Accor North America judges franchisees on compliance with brand standards, quality, guest service and overall operational performance. Franchisees must also consistently reflect Accor philosophies and excel in Guest Satisfaction Surveys in order to be considered for this prestigious designation.
The Red Roof Inn Franchisee of the Year, Vijay Dandapani, is well respected and highly sought after for his expertise in the hotel industry in the nation's largest city. As chief operating officer of Applecore Hotels, Dandapani has been instrumental in the company's growth and development, including acquisitions, six hotel renovations and the implementation of state-of-the-art computer systems. The hotel industry veteran currently serves as chairman for the Hotel Association of New York City.
The Stotereaus, Franchisee of the Year winners for Motel 6, moved to Avoca, Iowa, and built a Motel 6 a little over a year ago. Their previous experience as owners/operators of Big A Automotive and their exceptional customer service largely contributed to their success as a Motel 6 franchise owner. Keith Stotereau is heavily involved in The Avoca Business Development Committee, which meets to discuss ways to recruit new businesses in Avoca. He is currently running for City Council.
As part of Accor's ongoing commitment to quality and guest satisfaction, the hotel company also recognized additional franchisee leaders at the annual conference. The franchise owners of Motel 6 State College, Penn., and Red Roof Inn Ontario, Calif., were named Franchisee of the Year Runner-ups for their respective brands.
Accor North America also named the Red Roof Inn franchise owners of the Watsonville, Calif., and the Ocoee, Fla., properties and the Motel 6 franchise owners of the Athens, Tenn., and the Clarkston, Wash., properties as the winners of the Quality Award. The Quality Award symbolizes a property that consistently meets or exceeds the brand's quality standards and provides a consistently enjoyable guest experience.
Accor North America plans to double its franchise owners for its leading economy brands Red Roof Inn, Motel 6 and Studio 6 in the next several years. To accomplish this goal, Accor North America will increase field support, offer financial and management incentives and increase outreach to women and minority business owners.
SOURCE: Accor North America