Embassy Suites Honors Top Brand Performers

McLean, Va. (USA) – May 26, 2013 – Embassy Suites Hotels today announced the recipients of its 2012 Brand Awards and its top performing properties of 2012. The upscale all-suites brand uses a mix of qualitative and quantitative metrics to select properties and leaders that have demonstrated best-in-class performance as it relates to revenue generation, guest service and leadership, while embodying the brand’s service culture to Make a Difference with guests, team members and the communities in which they serve. This year’s crop of top-performing hotels was recognized at a national brand awards ceremony in late April in Dallas, Texas, where one of the brand’s latest Design Option III properties, Embassy Suites Houston – Downtown, was named “Hotel of the Year.”

Hotel of the Year Embassy Suites Houston – Downtown winners with the brand leadership team

“Embassy Suites is known for providing guests more with every stay,” said John Rogers, Global Head, Embassy Suites Hotels. “The employees and properties we recognized have gone above and beyond in 2012 to bring this promise to life day-in and day-out through quality customer service and a passionate dedication to our brand. Their continual efforts deliver the comfort, attentiveness and reliability of the Embassy Suites brand with every guest experience and interaction, contributing to our high brand loyalty and guest satisfaction.”

The best-performing hotels in the portfolio are the 10 percent that score highest on quality assurance audits of cleanliness, condition and adherence to brand standards, and guest satisfaction scores. The top three performing Embassy Suites hotels – Houston – Downtown, TX; Loveland – Hotel, Spa & Conference Center, CO; and Raleigh – Durham Airport/Brier Creek, NC – receive special recognition with a Connie Award, named for Hilton Worldwide’s founder, Conrad Hilton.
The complete list of the top 10 percent of the Embassy Suites portfolio includes:

1. Houston – Downtown, TX; General Manager: Scott Austin
2. Loveland – Hotel, Spa & Conference Center, CO; General Manager: Tom Dwyer
3. Raleigh – Durham Airport/Brier Creek, NC; General Manager: Hector Jeyakaran
4. Murfreesboro – Hotel & Conference Center, TN; General Manager: Peter Tziahanas
5. Ontario Airport, CA; General Manager: Brad Wymer
6. Louisville, KY; General Manager: Verl Wilder
7. Tucson – Paloma Village, AZ; General Manager: Jeff Zelkin
8. Fort Worth – Downtown, TX; General Manager: Jodi Beard
9. Anchorage, AK; General Manager: Bill Remmer
10. Fort Myers – Estero, FL; General Manager: Shaune Caliguire
11. Charlotte – Concord/Golf Resort & Spa, NC; General Manager: Terry Crawford
12. Dulles – Airport, VA; General Manager: Jeffrey Obomeghie
13. St. Louis – St. Charles/Hotel & Spa, MO; General Manager: James Vavak
14. Norman – Hotel & Conference Center, OK; General Manager: Michael Vance
15. Savannah – Airport, GA; General Manager: Cautham Shetty
16. Houston – Energy Corridor, TX; General Manager: Faisal Kamal
17. Omaha – La Vista/Hotel & Conference Center, NE; General Manager: Steve Hilton
18. Palmdale, CA; General Manager: Randy Keller
19. Lincoln, NE; General Manager: Bryan Sullivan
20. St. Louis/Downtown, MO; General Manager: Rosco Larson
21. Rogers/Bentonville – NW Hotel, Spa & Convention Center, AR; Gen. Mngr: David Lang

Additional winners honored at the awards ceremony included: General Manager of the Year: recognizes a hotel general manager who demonstrates superb leadership, accountability, business sense and creativity

Hector Jeyakaran of Embassy Suites Raleigh – Durham Airport/Brier Creek, NC
Director of Sales of the Year: Wade Thompson of St. Louis/Downtown, MO
Director of Revenue Management of the Year: Esther Busch of Miami Airport, FL
Director of Front Office of the Year: Paige Lawrence of Charlotte – Concord Golf Resort & Spa, NC
Revenue Awards: recognizes the hotels that have increased their RevPAR Index the most in 2012

Urban Hotel: Lincoln, NE
Suburban Hotel: Baltimore – North/Hunt Valley, MD
Airport Hotel: Savannah – Airport, GA
Resort Hotel: Greenville Resort, Hotel, Golf & Conference Center, SC
Sustainability Recognition Award: Charlotte – Concord Golf Resort & Spa, NC
Make a Difference Endowment Recipient: Embassy Suites Lincoln, NE and Embassy Suites Omaha/La Vista Hotel & Conference Center, NE
SALT Awards: awarded based on the highest guest satisfaction scores of 2012

Helpfulness of Front Desk Staff: Louisville, KY
Cleanliness of Guest Room/Suite: Raleigh – Durham Airport/Brier Creek, NC
Overall Breakfast Experience: Minneapolis/Brooklyn Center, MN
Overall Manager’s Reception Experience: Dulles – Airport, VA
Overall Service Average: Louisville, KY
Highest Problem Resolution Rate: Raleigh – Durham/Research Triangle, NC
For more information on Embassy Suites Hotels, please visit www.embassysuites.com. For development queries, please visit www.embassyfranchise.com.

**Service of alcohol subject to state and local laws. Must be of legal drinking age.

About Embassy Suites Hotels
Embassy Suites Hotels, one of Hilton Worldwide’s ten market-leading brands and one of Parents magazine’s 10 Best Hotel Chains for Families of 2012, gives guests more during every stay. The full-service, upscale brand offers spacious two-room suites, free cooked-to-order breakfast and nightly Complimentary Evening Receptions with appetizers and beverages. Both leisure and business travelers looking for an approachable, upscale experience feel right at home in the brand’s inviting atrium environment. Embassy Suites Hotels has 211 properties across the Americas and nearly 35 more in the pipeline.

About Hilton Worldwide
Hilton Worldwide is a leading global hospitality company, spanning the lodging sector from luxurious full-service hotels and resorts to extended-stay suites and mid-priced hotels. For 93 years, Hilton Worldwide has offered business and leisure travelers the finest in accommodations, service, amenities and value. The company is dedicated to continuing its tradition of providing exceptional guest experiences across its global brands. Its brands are comprised of more than 3,900 hotels and timeshare properties, with 650,000 rooms in 90 countries and territories and include Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, Conrad Hotels & Resorts, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, DoubleTree by Hilton, Embassy Suites Hotels, Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton Hotels, Homewood Suites by Hilton, Home2 Suites by Hilton and Hilton Grand Vacations.

Media Contact:
Jacqueline Toppings
Director, Brand Public Relations
Embassy Suites Hotels
+1 703 883 6587
Jacqueline.Toppings@hilton.com