DEFORREST TO HEAD UP LANE HOSPITALITY

Bill DeForrest was officially appointed the new president/CEO of Lane Hospitality by Forrest Schneider, president/CEO of Lane Industries after serving as interim president since John Rijos, former president/CEO, resigned in August. DeForrest will focus more on upscale properties that meet current travel industry demands. To that end, “we want to offer the best experience we can, and if it means spending more money, we will,” he said. Indeed, Lane is currently working to upgrade some of its properties, including an upcoming Holiday Inn Select conversion to a Crowne Plaza in Clark, NJ and a Hilton hotel renovation in Texas. Lane also expanded its Northeast portfolio with hotels like the new Hilton in Lake Placid, NY and the Crowne Plaza in New Jersey. DeForrest further noted that Lane is aggressively expanding its presence in domestic markets where the company is currently under-represented, like Washington, DC.