A publication for the employees of Cooper HotelsTHE INN FORMER

Vol. 32 Number 1 Spring 2020

At Hilton Knoxville Airport, a 10,000 square foot expansion of meeting facilities and a new conference center entrance was completed in November. The new conference center offers 20 different meeting room options and a total of nearly 22,000 square feet of space to accommodate events, and conferences ranging from 12 to 1,000 attendees. Adjacent to McGhee Tyson Airport, it is the largest event venue in the area. In late January, complete guest room redesign and renovations were completed at the Crowne Plaza Fort Myers at Bell Tower Shops. The hotel’s 225 rooms now have a very contemporary, Southwest Florida style of décor including all new furnishings, large screen HDTVs, plush mattresses, stylish carpeting and wall covering, and energy efficient lighting fixtures. All bathrooms were totally reconstructed and now offer new walk-in showers, upgraded lighting and the latest fixtures, along with new “barn door” entryways creating a more spacious feel.

Cooper Hotels Completes Convention Center Expansion and Property Renovations

Visit the New Cooper Hotels Website at www.CooperHotels.com

In January, we announced a significant restructuring at the Cooper Hotels corporate office and in the field.• Effective April 30, Vice President of Operations Brian Carney is retiring after a distinguished, 34-year career with Cooper Hotels. • Also effective April 30, Alan Jarrett, regional director of development and operations in Florida, will transition his talents to hotel investment strategies and future development, after over 31 years in operations in Memphis and Florida. • On March 1, Carolyn Mondry, general manager of Hampton Inn & Suites Detroit Metro Airport since its opening in 2010, retired. Remarkably, her property has been ranked #1 on TripAdvisor continually since opening.• Geoff Thompson, a Cooper Hotels team member since 1994, has been promoted to vice president of operations. He most recently served as both general manager of the Embassy Suites Detroit Metro Airport and regional director of development and operations.• Cooper Hotels Corporate Director of Food and Beverage Andy Laubscher has been promoted to corporate director of operations. Andy began his career with Cooper Hotels in 1997.• Chef Becky Montoya at DoubleTree by Hilton Johnson City will be promoted to Cooper Hotels corporate training chef.• Shannon Dilworth, revenue management specialist based in Naples, Florida, was recently promoted to Cooper Hotels director of revenue management.• Joe Felice has been promoted from general manager at Hilton Garden Inn Detroit Metro Airport to general manager of Embassy Suites Detroit Metro Airport, and he will also lead the operations of his former property and the nearby Hampton Inn & Suites.• David Doyle, food and beverage director at Embassy Suites Detroit Metro Airport, has been promoted to general manager of Hilton Garden Inn Detroit Metro Airport. Cooper Hotels is known as a very stable and low turnover environment, given its leaders’ expertise, loyalty and consistent performance. Our new corporate structure will assure a tight and continued very strong supervision of our impressive team.

Memo from ManagementBy Pace CooperPresident & CEOCooper Hotels

The new Hilton Knoxville Airport Convention Center entrance.

A beautifully renovated king guest room at Crowne Plaza Fort Myers at Bell Tower Shops.

An extensive renovation of the 130-suite Homewood Suites by Hilton Fort Myers at Bell Tower Shops was recently completed. The lobby, dining and lounge areas, all suites, meeting facilities and corridors were updated. The new “lodge” features soft seating, new lounging areas and comfortable dining space. The hotel’s two-room suites with full kitchens now have all new furnishings, beds with upholstered headboards and mattresses with cool gel foam technology, updated flooring, wall covering, window treatments and lighting fixtures. Each living and sleeping room features a 55” high-definition television. Bathrooms were totally reconstructed and offer new walk-in showers, upgraded lighting and the latest efficient fixtures.

Also in Fort Myers, Hilton Garden Inn Airport/FGCU debuted a refreshed lobby and restaurant with new furnishings, a new color scheme and comfortable new seating. Major renovations are now in progress at Embassy Suites by Hilton Detroit Metro Airport, Hilton Garden Inn Detroit Metro Airport and DoubleTree by Hilton Memphis.

Homewood Suites by Hilton Fort Myers at Bell Tower Shops has a new, welcoming lobby and dining area.

COOPER HOTELSDECATUR, AL: DoubleTree by Hilton

DETROIT, MI: Hampton Inn & Suites

DETROIT, MI: Hilton Garden Inn

Still #1 on TripAdvisor Since 2010!Hampton Inn & Suites Detroit Metro Airport has been ranked first among 26 hotels in the Romulus, Michigan, market by travelers’ reviews on the TripAdvisor website since opening. The hotel holds the Cooper Hotels record for such performance.

Sarah Uveges, assistant general manager at Hampton Inn & Suites Detroit Metro Airport, and the “Launch into the Decade” Hilton Honors®

Challenge rocket board she created to measure the number of new Honors members each hotel team member enrolls.

David Doyle Promoted to General ManagerDavid Doyle has been pro-moted from food and bev-erage director at Embassy Suites by Hilton Detroit Metro Airport to general man-ager of the Hilton Garden Inn Detroit Metro Airport.

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DETROIT, MI: Embassy Suites by Hilton

Left: As they have done for several years, last December, many employees from all three of the Cooper Hotels Detroit Metro Airport hotels served their community by volunteering at Gleaners Food Bank. Together, they sorted over 5,000 pounds of food to feed over 4,000 less fortunate families.

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Joe Felice Promoted to General Manager at Embassy SuitesJoe Felice has served as gen-eral manager at Hilton Garden Inn Detroit Metro Airport for over nine years. He was recently named general manager of Embassy

Suites by Hilton Detroit Metro Airport, replacing Geoff Thompson who was pro-moted to vice president of operations for Cooper Hotels. Joe will also lead the operations of his former property and nearby sister property Hampton Inn & Suites.

Housekeepers Judy Miller (left) and Helen Maine have both been with Hilton for 25 years and with Cooper Hotels for over 12 years. Embassy Suites by Hilton Detroit Metro Airport management wanted to recognize and congratulate them and show appreciation for their dedication. They con-tinue to be an inspiration for all other employees.

Well-Earned PromotionsCourtney Smith has been part of the DoubleTree by Hilton Decatur team for just over a year. She began at the front desk. Soon after, she was pro-moted to the sales office, where she thrived even more. Recently, Courtney was promoted to director of front office.

Always busy...Courtney Smith is now director of front office at DoubleTree by Hilton Decatur.

“Blairvis” and a few of his hotel staff fans after another stellar performance! Left to right: Jose Ortiz, banquet captain; Kirsty Cotten, reservations & events coordinator; Blair Temple (Blairvis), Iris Pettus, director of sales, events, & marketing; Courtney Smith, director of front office and Mirela Hodge, director of hotel sales.

Elvis is in the BuildingMr. Blair Temple, owner/president of Temple Inc., a longtime top hotel account and val-ued guest at DoubleTree by Hilton Decatur Riverfront, hosts his company’s Christmas party each year at the hotel. He always enter-tains and delights his employees by dressing and performing as Elvis (Blairvis).

Several Best of theBest Awards in 2019Each year the local Decatur Daily newspaper asks its readers to vote for their favorite places and people in the area. This year, DoubleTree by Hilton Decatur and its Twist Grill and Bar won multiple awards – Best Hotel, Best Brunch, Best Event Venue, Best Restaurant Manager (Taelor Waddell) and Best Boss (Morgan Swindoll).

Felicia Nguyen Named General Manager at Hampton Inn & SuitesFelicia Nguyen has been appointed general manager, replacing Carolyn Mondry, who recently retired. Felicia has 24 years of industry expe-rience. She most recently

FeliciaNguyen

served as general manager for four years at Hampton Inn Ann Arbor North, Michigan. Felicia has a strong background in revenue management and sales in addition to hotel operations.

COOPER HOTELSFORT MYERS, FL: Crowne Plaza at Bell Tower Shops

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Employees of the Monthn July – Kerline Seide, house- keeping attendant, was alsothe Employee of 3rd Quartern August – Levi Ross, en- gineeringn September – Maribel Hernandez, housekeeping attendant/part-time inspectorn October – Marta Merida, housekeeping inspectorn November – Carmen Gutierrez, housekeeping at- tendant

Congratulations to Crowne Plaza Fort Myers General Manager Jim Larkin (right) on receiving the Key to the City of Fort Myers in December for his ongoing service to the community. Presenting the key are Fort Myers Mayor Randy Henderson and Colleen De PasQuale, executive director of the Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce.

2019 Employees ofthe YearMegan Soltis, front desk agent, is a very hard working and dedicated individual who is always eager to work and learn more. Her demeanor and willingness to go above and beyond to help guests – all with a smile – earned her this recognition.Abigail Hudson, housekeep-ing supervisor, is a dedicated worker. She goes above and beyond to help guests, and she is very pleasant to guests.Abigail

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Employees ofthe Monthn July – Alexis Oscar, engineer/IT, is a hard worker, very know-ledgeable, and he is a very professional employee that every-one can rely on.

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AlexisOscar

Christopher Young

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Miguelina Alonzo

n August – Abigail Hudson, housekeeping supervisor, and Co-Employee of the Yearn September – Winsert Vedrine, engineer/maintenance, takes his job seriously and always completes tasks in a timely manner. n October – Miguelina Alonzo, housekeeper. Her job performance is excellent.

n November – Christopher Young, engineer/maintenance, is a dedicated employee who is always on the move and keeping himself busy.n December – William Warren, driver/bell staff, is always willing to help others and goes above and beyond to make sure guests feel comfortable.

LeviRoss

KerlineSeide

MartaMerida

CarmenGutierrez

MaribelHernandez

LeoMoyer

2019 Employee ofthe YearLeo Moyer, assistant chief engineer, was also December Employee of the Month and Employee of the 4th Quarter.

FORT MYERS, FL:Homewood Suites by Hilton Bell Tower Shops

FORT MYERS, FL: Homewood Suites Airport / FGCU

ClaribelOyola

2019 Employee ofthe YearClaribel Oyola, housekeeping supervisor, has been a huge asset to her department for over four years. She is passionate, detail-orientated and always ready for a challenge.

Employees of the Monthn July – Andrew Kin-bacher, Sr., knows how to keep a smile on for guests during his 4:00 AM peak hour drives to the airport.

Kenneysha Picornell

AndrewKinbacher, Sr

BryanKinbacher

MiriamFrias

RafaelBorrero

Chris Nassetta, president and chief executive officer of Hilton, in February at the 2020 Hilton All Suites Leadership Conference in Anaheim, California, with attendees (from left) Maureen Killeen, Fort Myers area director of sales, Lisa Vinciguerra, Florida regional director of sales, catering & marketing andEvi Davis, general manager of Homewood Suites by Hilton Fort Myers Airport/FGCU.

n August – Kenneysha Picornell. Transfer-ring from housekeeping, she decided to put her bilingual skills to the test and broke through the many challenges of the front desk.n September – Rafael Borrero is there when you need him and makes his presence known. He is an asset to the F&B department. n October – Bryan Kinbacher fills in wher-ever he is needed without hesitation. He is a former Employee of the Year.n November – Miriam Frias, is “happy, cheery and go lucky Miriam”! Guests are so happy to be greeted by her at breakfast and the hotel’s evening social.n December – Claribel Oyola, housekeeping supervisor and 2019 Employee of the Year.

From left: Carlos Martin, houseman; Nasa Lopez, executive housekeeper; and Casey Matheson, front office manager, volunteered at the local Harry Chapin Food Bank and bagged 2,313 pounds of fresh produce for 1,928 meals.

COOPER HOTELS

On Veteran’s Day, employees created a display for veterans. It included snacks and hot cider, along with a signed card from all employees thanking all veterans for their service. Shown are Susan Holly (left), Hilton Honors® manager and Anna Croghan, human resources manager.

Lobby and restaurant renovations were recently completed at Hilton Garden Inn Fort Myers Airport/FGCU. A more vivid, new color scheme, flooring, seating and fixtures were installed. Highlighted above is the lobby video wall with new sofas and flooring.

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BryanKinbacher

JaimeMiranda

Savanah Porter

Employees of the Monthn July – Bob Houseman in banquets is a team player who is always willing to help wherever needed.n August – Bryan Kinbacher in maintenance is continuously re-liable with a friendly face.

OrlandoJiminez

Employees of the Monthn July – Julius Bowling, server, is constantly complimented on how nice and attentive he is.n August – Garrett Lowe, server, is always friendly and courteous with everyone he encounters, especially guests. n September – Amanda Slagle is always willing to go above and beyond for guests. n October – Chance Wladischkin, main-tenance. When he joined the department, two other employees left to follow other careers. Despite not having a maintenance background, after three months he is now a team leader. n November – Tammy Sherfey, house per-son, takes pride in her work, and guests often comment on how spotless and fresh-smelling the public areas are. n December – Joe Freeman, cook. His personality and hard work are assets to the team, and he is a great night shift team lead.

JOHNSON CITY, TN: DoubleTree by Hilton

CARE Team and ServiceLast July, four team members visited Coalition for Kids to teach them how to transform plas-tic bottles into flower pots by cutting them into three pieces. Kids planted seeds in their own “pots” (the next day some of them started to sprout). They also enjoyed DoubleTree cookies while the team read the Dr. Seuss book, “Oh Say Can You Seed”. To help employees do some closet de-clut-ter and raise funds for the CARE Committee, a “clothing drive” was held. Volunteers sorted the clothing, set up the tables, and worked the event. They had many purchase donations, and it was a great fundraiser for committee projects. Items that were not purchased were donated to God’s Corner, a local store. Every year in nearby Jonesborough, the Storytelling Festival brings thousands of visi-tors from all over the U.S. The front desk team prepared treats for guests of small ginger snaps, apples, chocolates, caramel candies, coffee, apple cider and infused water. It brings a warm, welcoming touch that many guests look forward to each year.

JuliusBowling

Garret Lowe

Amanda Slagle

JoeFreeman

TammySherfey

ChanceWladischkin

PromotionMisty Taylor was promoted from house person to inspec-tor. Her strong leadership skills and friendly personality made it easy for her to quickly learn this demanding job.

FORT MYERS, FL: Hilton Garden Inn2019 Employee ofthe YearOrlando Jimenez in main- tenance was also the May Employee of the Month. He is always willing to help out wherever he is needed.

2019 Employee ofthe YearEugenia Byrd, head cook and a 15-year employee, is dependable in everything she does and remains loyal to the company and to Hilton standards. She is honest,

caring and a hard worker.

JeannieByrd

MistyTaylor

JACKSON, TN:DoubleTree by Hilton

2019 Hero of the YearAnnette Denton in the food & beverage department

Annette Denton

DorothyWilliamson

ShariLancaster

TomSquires

PromotionsMorgan Miller was promoted on the front desk to social media champion/reservationist.LaMarcus Brown was promoted on the front desk to night manager.

Heroes of the Monthn July – Dorothy Williamson, food & beveragen August – Josten Finley,

housekeepingn September – Shari Lancaster, front deskn October – Robert Bond III, food & beveragen November – Annette Denton, food & beveragen December – Tom Squires, maintenance

n September – Katelyn Hagler, front desk, shows what BRIGHTHEART is all about.n October – Brenda Adams, housekeeping, can be counted on to be there for her coworkers and to volunteer to help the community.n November – Jaime Miranda, maintenance, is a hard worker who never minds tackling a tough job. n December – Savanah Porter, F&B, can always be counted on for a welcoming smile!

COOPER HOTELSKNOXVILLE, TN: Hilton Airport KINGSTON, NY:

BEST WESTERN PLUSPromotionsGleb Babenkov, was pro-moted to banquet chef. He has been part of the culinary staff since July 2018. Devin Proffitt, was pro-moted to assistant chief engineer. He joined the hotel staff in September 2015 and has proven to be a dedicated employee and team player.

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GlebBabenkov

Employees of the Monthn November – Joe King, maintenance, shows continuous dedication to the company, with a positive attitude that is infectious to those surrounding him. n December – Madison McGarril, sales and catering coordinator, has been a key member of the sales team this past quarter. She has also taken on many creative projects.n January – Francisco Garcia, restaurant staff, is a positive worker who is willing to go above and beyond job duties to ensure each guest has a pleasant dining experience from beginning to end.

Bryan Cable, Hilton Knoxville Airport general manager cuts the ribbon to open the hotel’s new meeting facilities in December. In attendance were (from left) Bryan Daniels, president & CEO Blount Partnership; Eddie Mannis, chairman of the Knoxville Airport Board of Commissioners; Hamilton Martinez, rooms division manager; Mary Moore, sales staff; Kim Fry, director of sales, Courtney McGhee, sales staff; Mr. Cable; Monique Ayala, revenue manager; and Fred Weekley, food and beverage director.

In October, Best Western Plus Kington updated and rebranded the hotel’s event space with a more modern, upscale look. The Venue Uptown (above), was launched with a successful celebration and gathering of local companies and residents. Since the rebranding, the sales team has been working to continue the ‘buzz’ created by the launch event.

Several of the English language program graduates with teacher Chester Pun Chuen and General Man-ager Bryan Cable.

English LanguageProgram CreatedWith the increasing diversityof the hotel staff, an Englishprogram was created to assist housekeeping staff who wanted to participate. The group met for an hour each week for 16 weeks. The class was taught by Chester Pun Chuen of the front office staff. The purpose of the program is to enable participants to build confidence in listening, speaking, reading and writing in English. 16 students graduated from the level one program. A level two program is also offered to those interested.

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Francisco Garcia

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Events Announce New Conference Center Expansion OpeningHilton Knoxville Airport’s expanded event facilities and new conference center entrance were completed and opened for business in December. The hotel now has an additional 10,000 square feet of new meeting and banquet space. The $7.5 million project also includes new seating and audiovisual enhancements. A ribbon-cutting ceremony took place December 19, and a grand opening reception was held January 23. Both events gave the staff the opportunity to showcase the expansion and improvements to the business community. “This project has enabled us to double the size of our meeting space facilities and serve groups of all sizes in the future,” said Hilton Knoxville Airport General Manager Bryan Cable. “We are very thankful to our partners, the Blount Partnership Tourism Development and the Metropolitan Knoxville Airport Authority, for joining with us to make this project happen.”

MEMPHIS, TN: DoubleTree by Hilton2019 Employees of the Year(front of house / heart of house)Wayne Sanders, banquet set-upCynthia Johnson, housekeeping

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Employees of the Month(front of house / heart of house)n July – Tavares Lee, restaurant supervisor / Lillian Johnson, housekeepingn August – Terrance Fulton, busser / Robert Young, engineern September – Marilyn Walton, front desk / Gary Denson, engineern October – Paul Johnson, shuttle driver / Kevin Foley, restaurant supervisorn November – Wayne Sanders, banquet set up / Ladosha Cobb, housekeepingn December – Dennis Grayson, shuttle driver / John Garcia, cook

PaulJohnson

A wedding was one of the first private events held at The Venue Uptown at the Best Western Plus Kingston.

COOPER HOTELSMURFREESBORO, TN: DoubleTree by Hilton

2019 Employee ofthe YearMario Fuentes, cook, was also the December Employee of the Month. He has been with DoubleTree by Hilton Murfreesboro since 2008. Mario’s dedication over the

years and his positive attitude earned him this recognition.

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LashonMorrison

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Hilton Executive is Immersed in Hilton Naples OperationsDak Liyanearachchi, Hilton chief data and analytics officer, visited Hilton Naples to par-ticipate in Hilton’s Business Immersion Pro-gram, a three-day experience that connects senior Hilton leaders to the most fundamental aspect of its business – hotel operations.

NAPLES, FL: Hilton

The “Southern Jam” burger, Burger Bar Murfrees-boro’s first-place winning burger, at the Murfrees-boro 2019 Battle of the Burger.

2019 Team Member of the YearCongratulations to Michelle Noriega, front desk associate and also the 4th Quarter Team Member of the Year.

2019 Manager of the YearCongratulations to Rose Joseph, controller.

Team Member of the 3rd QuarterCongratulations to four-year team member Carlos Serna, server in Shula’s Steak House.

Last September María Blanco, banquet server and a six-year team member, officially became a U.S. citizen. Celebrating with her are Clark Hill (left), Hil-ton Naples general manager, and John Machnicz, banquet manager.

Hilton Naples helped make Christmas a little more merry by partnering with Collier County Salvation Army to fulfill 45 Angel Wishes for kids in Collier County. Shown are (back row from left) Niccole Neebling, director of sales, catering and market-ing; Clark Hill, general manager; Rose Joseph, controller; Sig Ruiz, assistant controller. Front row from left are Horia Vese, revenue manager; Donna Cox, executive assistant; Kylie Waters, engineer-ing executive; Stephanie Roman, catering & sales manager and Mari Hornbeck, senior catering and sales manager.

Employees of the Monthn July – Sarah Beard in housekeeping. She has been with the hotel for 25 years! Sarah’s bright personality always manages to put a smile on every guest’s face. n August – Lashon Morrison, housekeeping assistant, is hard-working and always leaves a lasting impression with guests. She always goes above and beyond. n September – Kevin Owen is both a front desk agent and night auditor. He is always helpful to guests and coworkers.n November – William Pitts is a shuttle driver, but he always offers a helping hand to every department in the hotel.n December – Mario Fuentes, cook, who is also the 2019 Employee of the Year.

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PromotionMariah Thomas joined the hotel as the catering coordi-nator and was promoted to catering director by the end of the year. Her dedication to the team has made her a valuable asset to both the catering and sales departments.

Burger Bar Murfreesboro’s Burger Creation is Voted BEST!DoubleTree by Hilton Murfreesboro’s Burger Bar took the 2019 top prize at the third annual Battle of the Burger. Everyone with a ticket to the event served as a judge. “It was an absolute upset this year. We had Jack Brown’s Beer and Burger Joint win-ning two years in a row, and this year, Burger Bar takes home the win,” said Britton Fraley with Murfreesboro Magazine, which orga-nized the event with The Daily News Journal. Burger Bar’s winning “Southern Jam” burger featured a Hereford beef patty smothered with house-made beer cheese, pimento cheese and bacon jam, topped with fried onion rings on a potato bun.

Michelle Noriega

RoseJoseph

CarlosSerna

Each year on September 11, DoubleTree by Hil-ton Murfreesboro team members treat local first responders to DoubleTree cookies to thank them for their service. Last September, the hotel team members formed four groups and visited 16 first responder locations throughout Rutherford Coun-ty. Shown visiting a local fire station are team members Kristin McClain-Bailey (left), in sales, and Angie Drish, housekeeper.

COOPER HOTELSORLANDO/ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, FL: Hilton

OAK RIDGE, TN: DoubleTree by Hilton

Halloween contest participants included (front row from left) Katrina Ganshorn, housekeeping; Catlyn Wells, hostess; Alexia Hunter housekeep-ing; James Packard, banquet captain; Ashley Hagy, accounting/front desk and Carol Harris, banquets. Back row: Karen Myers, banquets; Heather Dre-wry, server; Christy Woodbury, assistant house-keeper; an Oak Ridge firefighter judge and Megan Scott, sales administration.

Employees of the Month(back of house / front of house)■ July – Lisandra RiveraMarquez, housekeeping /Nevenka Delizamovic, F&B■ August – Paul Freeman, kitchen / Ashlee Smyth, front office■ September – Maria Barrientos, house-keeping / Steve Colon, front office■ October – Kishma Creque, housekeeping / Myesha Thomas, F&B■ November – Kelvin Robinson, banquets / Joseph Williams, F&B■ December – Miguel DeLeon, kitchen / Elvira Juretic, F&B

CARE Team Community Efforts• Tools for Schools – Last July, DoubleTree by Hilton Oak Ridge participated as a community school supplies drop-off site, collecting and donating $150 in school supplies. Helen McKay, executive housekeeper, helped with the effort.• November Turkey Trot – The hotel donated 300 cookies and Robin Castleberry, director of sales, and Julie Sullivan, sales coordinator, worked the event for local elementary and middle schools.• Middle School Career Day – Staff members talked about hospitality to visiting students, who also enjoyed DoubleTree cookies.• In December, the Boys & Girls Clubs visited to sing holiday songs for the staff and guests and enjoy DoubleTree cookies.• Toy Drive for Holiday Bureau – In December, the hotel team collected $250 in new toys, and three team members donated three hours helping families choose items.

Christopher Vandeneynd

DavidKing

CatlynWells

AlexiaHunter

JoshPorter

Christian Boggs

MichaelWallaceEmployees of the Month

■ July – Christopher Vandeneynd, house-man, is reliable and shows initiative.■ August – Catlyn Wells, hostess, is very pleasant to guests, with nice gestures.■ September – David King, housekeeping, doesn’t mind helping others when needed■ October – Josh Porter, maintenance, is dedicated to his job, pleasant and helpful. ■ November – Christian Boggs, server ■ December – Alexia Hunter, housekeeper, is always willing to work when called upon.

Florida Unique Abilities PartnerThe Florida Department of Economic Oppor-tunity recertified the hotel to assist in training and employing those with unique abilities.

2019 Employee ofthe YearKelly Freels, a longtime team member who is dependable and willing to work any time. She helps direct and support the housekeepers when needed.Kelly

Freels

Carolina Castro

Suite is Now “The Dresner Suite”In February, one of the suites at DoubleTree by Hilton Oak Ridge – Knoxville was dedicated in honor of Larry and Blanche Dresner, Oak Ridge residents since 1954. The Dresner Suite is the only suite or guest room ever named for individuals at the hotel. The Dresners have frequented the hotel almost weekly since its opening 35 years ago to dine or host one of their numerous social gatherings or family events for their four children and grandchildren. The hotel has also regularly served as a home away from home for family and friends visiting the Dresners.

Best Hotel in Anderson CountyDoubleTree by Hilton Oak Ridge – Knoxville was voted Best Hotel in the county by readers of the Oak Ridger newspaper.

The CARE Team donated a large number of stuffed animals to the Agape Center at First Bap-tist Church of Oak Ridge. Above are Robin Castle-berry (left), director of sales, and Robin Berrier, front office manager.

2019 Employees of the Year(back of house / front of house)Michael Wallace, engineeringCarolina Castro, inbanquets

LisandraRivera Marquez

PaulFreeman

NevenkaDelizamovic

AshleeSmyth

SteveColon

MariaBarrientos

Kishma Creque

KelvinRobinson

Myesha Thomas

JosephWilliams

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MiguelDeLeon

An Annual Tradition ContinuesOnce again, the DoubleTree by Hilton Oak Ridge – Knoxville staff participated in a Hallo-ween costume contest and a creative pumpkin carving/jack-o’-lantern contest. Carol Harris from the banquet department, won the costume contest prize. Katherine Bolden, house person, won the pumpkin contest prize. A group of Oak Ridge fire department firefighters served as judges for the contests.

THE CUSTOMERS ALWAYS WRITE – OR POST

Hilton Garden Inn Detroit Metro Airport“Overnight before flight”This is one of our favorite hotels to stay before f lying out of Detroit Metro. The staff is always amazing and the hotel is clean. Rooms are nice and clean and quiet. The restaurant is very good, and the staff there are fantastic. If you want a safe, clean, friendly place to rest or to stay before f lying out look no farther.schierup1987 ~ Fenton, Michigan

Best Western Plus Kingston“All around great hotel”Great location, front desk staff were helpful. I love the indoor pool and fitness center. If you are going skiing in the surrounding area, this is a great place to stay. The restaurant on site is good so I did not have to go out for dinner if I was wiped out from skiing.Catherine J

DoubleTree by Hilton Johnson CityGreat Stay at Johnson City DoubleTreeMy favorite place to stay when ever I’m in JC. Never disappoints. Staff is courteous, friendly and helpful. The location is convenient to shopping and restaurants. The beds are dreamy and let’s not forget the yummiest chocolate chip cookie!! Highly recommend!Storyteller819693

Hampton Inn & Suites Detroit/Airport-Romulus“Excellent stay before flight”Chose this hotel to beat a big storm - excellent hotel. Very clean and modern. The staff was super friendly. Excellent front desk service, and especially also from Evelyn. Always smiling and friendly. Would stay again. A+mjp61360

DoubleTree by Hilton Murfreesboro“Relaxing stay at DoubleTree”We enjoyed the cleanliness of the hotel everywhere. All employees were friendly and professional. Only had to make requests once and was taken care of. Stayed 5 days and had no worries while there. Our 10 year old mini Schnauzer enjoyed herself. It was her first stay at a hotel.mhaartman ~ Franklin, Ohio

Hilton Knoxville Airport“Great choice!!”We chose this hotel due to the proximity to the airport since having a very early flight in the morning. The front desk was exceptionally helpful and friendly. The room was large, clean and comfortable. The 2 minute walk to the terminal was a pleasant surprise. No need for a shuttle. We would definitely use this hotel in the future.Christine B

Embassy Suites Detroit Metro Airport“Hotel stay”We love this hotel. Great staff, yummy breakfast, spacious and comfy rooms. We keep coming back to this particular hotel! We have stayed here when we traveled for our children’s sporting events and now come back as a couple.712travelgirl ~ Grand Rapids, Michigan

Homewood Suites by Hilton Fort MyersAirport/FGCU“Top Notch Hospitality”Just returned from a 16-day extended stay. This was our seventh consecutive stay at this property. We reunited with several couples we had met on previous visits and met new guests as well. We got to visit once again with the core group of employees that make this particular property one of the top hotels in the Fort Myers area. Jerry, at the front desk, greeted us by name and took care of our luggage upon an early arrival. Thanks to Evi Davis, manager, Jay Frias, assistant manager, and Casey for having a staff that places the guest’s satisfaction as their priority.Mr. & Mrs. Stehlik - 48th Wedding AnniversaryHilton Garden Inn Fort MyersAirport/FGCU“Perfect Location”Excellent customer service and location. The best value and close to all restaurants and shopping. Rooms are very clean, hotel is immaculate, and parking is easily accessible. Can’t go wrong for the price and value of the location.maraj158900

DoubleTree by Hilton Jackson“Consistently excellent” The rooms are always clean, well lit and comfortable. The staff is always friendly, and willing to help. The breakfast is excellent, even if you have to wait a while for them to refill the buffet. The breakfast staff is always friendly. A shout out to Miss Dorothy. Bill O

Hilton Naples“Our home away from home”I want to personally thank Kylie and Bella. They went above and beyond to help us get reservations on short notice. Also, Krista and Shannon for breakfast are awesome. They remembered what we liked every morning and always made us happy. Thank you to the staff for making our winter home away from home.Marlene ~ Hamden, Connecticut

Hilton Orlando/Altamonte Springs“Scoping out local hotels for incoming family”During my visit, I paid particular attention to the employees. Everyone seemed friendly and busy with their task at hand. Ample parking and clean! I would like to recognize the bartender on duty this particular night “Tyler”. His drinks were the BEST I’ve had in central Florida. This will be my hotel of choice for friends and family.Vanessa B ~ Orlando, Florida

Homewood Suites by Hilton Fort MyersBell Tower Shops“Good place to stay while visiting Fort Myers”The best asset this hotel has is its staff. The place is kept very clean from the rooms to the lobby area to the pool area. Ciera is wonderful at getting breakfast and evening light meals served. She is all about service with a smile. My husband is a cancer patient, and she was very accommodating in making sure his dietary needs were met. Another lady was there every morning also and was just as sweet and nice also. There were always pool towels, and our suite was kept very clean.dkozub ~ Cleveland, OhioDoubleTree by Hilton Memphis

“A great hotel experience”The front desk made my stay as easy as possible with complimentary waters, snacks and shuttle rides around the area and to the airport. The restaurant/lounge had a warm atmosphere with live music and 2 for 1 specials. The rooms were clean and modern. The beds were very comfortable with outstanding linens. Overall a great value because of the attention to care.djgrith ~ Rocheport, Missouri

Crowne Plaza Hotel Fort Myers“Best hotel stay ever”Staying at the Crowne Plaza was a wonderful experience. The staff worked hard to make my stay memorable. The morning hostess, Maria Adame, and evening hostess, Chantay, always remembered my name and with beautiful smiles worked hard at making sure everything was perfect. My visiting friends were very impressed with the hotel and the hostesses. I can’t wait to come back next year.happytravels

DoubleTree by Hilton Oak Ridge“Oak Ridge!”This is a very clean and well maintained facility. My room was spacious and very comfortable and included an extra-large refrigerator with 2 bottles of complimentary water!! My bed was perfect! It had great pillows, too! For dinner, at Burchfield’s, our server Skylar, recommended the spicy peach pork chops, and they were fantastic! The staff was friendly and very helpful! Especially Kaitlyn, Will, Josh, Holly and Megan!!Michelle N ~ Oberlin, OhioDoubleTree by Hilton Decatur Riverfront

“Great Hotel!!”I took my daughter and some of her friends here for her birthday to stay at a hotel and have a sleepover.We had an amazing time! The staff was super sweet and helpful! We had breakfast in the restaurant, but we got down there very close to the end of time.They made us all new food and were very nice and helpful!jenniferlawrence601