SPRINGFIELD, MO HOTEL BUSINESS. has learned that restaurant/hospitality veteran Sam Hamra, owner of the milestone 200th Baymont Inns & Suites, is planning to launch a management division. Hamra has hired 25-year industry veteran Roger Bank to head the initiative, which will initially handle Hamra s two Texas properties.
He ll head the management company, putting it together for the hotel group, said Hamra. He has tremendous background and he knows the Dallas area very well.
Bank has the title of operating manager.
Hamra currently has two Baymont hotels under construction in the Lone Star state: one slated for a third-quarter opening in Lewisville and the chain s 200th franchise property in North Ft. Worth. Hamra expects to begin construction on that $4 million, 86-room, limited-service property this summer, for project completion by March 1, 2002. Hamra also has a 109-room Baymont in his headquarters base of Springfield, MO.
Hamra said Bank will initially handle just the ones [hotels]in Dallas, since the company already has a management arrangement set up in Springfield.
The company hasn t formulated the name for the division yet, said Hamra. (2/23/01) Stefani C. O Connor