Microtel Inns & Suites Recognizes Top Hotels and Franchisees of 2000
According to Mike Leven, chairman and CEO of US Franchise Systems (USFS), parent company of the franchisor of the brand, "We pride ourselves in a unique family environment, and are proud to honor members of the Microtel family for their particular spirit, hard work and dedication to franchising during the year."
Hotel of the Year
The "Hotel of the Year" award is presented to an individual Microtel hotel that best represents and sets the standard for the brand. The Rochester, Minn. Microtel Inn & Suites, owned by Larson Investments, was this year's winner, having achieved an outstanding 499 (out of 500) Quality Assurance score. The property also maintains a strong presence in the community by being active in numerous charity organizations such as the Rochester Youth and Rochester Police Benevolence Association. With 82 guest accommodations, the hotel is located at 4210 Highway 52 North, 11 miles from the Rochester airport. General manager is Lynn Plumer. Other nominations for "Hotel of the Year" included the El Paso, Texas and Green Bay, Wis. Microtel hotels.
Franchisee of the Year
"Franchisee of the Year" went to Marian Goodman, president of Leesburg Innkeepers, LLC and owner of the Leesburg, Fla. Microtel Inn & Suites hotel. The award -- presented to an individual or entity who has given the most of themselves to help make the brand a success – cited Goodman for maintaining the highest standards and averaging "97" on guest comment cards. The two-story, 81-room Microtel Inn & Suites is located at 9700 U.S. 441.
"Goodman is a true professional in running her hotel and supervising her staff," said Vinay Patel, vice president of brand marketing for Microtel. "She not only provides exceptional service to her customers, but is always available to assist other franchisees." Steve Olson of Leisure Hotels, LLC and Thomas Larson, Larson Companies were also nominated for "Franchisee of the Year."
Additional Top Achievers
Michael Luksich of the 63-room Camp Verde, Ariz. Microtel Inn & Suites, located at 504 Industrial Drive, was named "General Manager of the Year." The award is presented annually to a general manager who exceeds normal job expectations and contributes to the overall success of the hotel. Luksich has created numerous incentive programs at his hotel, including celebrations for National Housekeepers Week. He serves on several community boards such as the House of Ruth, a local pregnancy crisis center, and The Potters Wheel, a home for people with mental disabilities. He is also on the Board of Directors of the Camp Verde Chamber and previously received the Verde Valley Chamber of Commerce Pride Day 2000 Volunteer Service Award. Additional nominations for this award included Denise Johnson of the Tallahassee, Fla. and Lynn Plummer of the Rochester, Minn. properties.
The Staunton, Va. Microtel Inn hotel, located at 200 Frontier Rd., received the "Community Service of the Year" award, which cites a property that has shown unparalleled commitment to the local community.
According to Patel, "The 58-room Staunton hotel, property and its employees have gone out of their way offering time and energy to the surrounding community." The hotel has provided rooms for families in times of need, assisted a local high school with repainting efforts, hosted a tour of the property for a local elementary school, provided phone-bank staffing for a television fund raiser and donated room nights for a local fund raiser. Other nominations included the Matthews, N.C. and Tallahassee, Fla. Microtel hotels.
As of Dec. 31, 2000, there were 259 Microtel hotels open or under construction worldwide. According to Lodging Econometrics, Microtel is one of the top ranked hotel brands in the U.S. for number of projects and rooms in the development pipeline. For reservations or a copy of the Microtel directory, call 1-888-771-7171 toll-free.
Microtel Inn & Suites, 13 Corporate Sq. #250, Atlanta, GA 30329. Tel: 404-321-4045; Fax: 404-321-4482.