HB ON THE SCENE: USFS Kicks Off Conference With Awards, Trade Show

ATLANTA——US Franchise Systems set the multi-tasking mood for its 2007 annual conference here at the Hyatt Regency last night, giving some 500 attendees a change to nosh, network and also negotiate for products if they wanted as it kicked off the annual event at the Hyatt Regency with a buffet dinner during the conference’s 77-exhibit trade show. And to sweeten the evening, dessert, coffee, cocktails plus entertainment by a pair of “dueling pianos” followed, served up with an awards presentation hosted by evp/coo Roy Flora to honor the most outstanding owner/operators, managers, staff and properties within the franchisor’s two brands, Microtel Inn and Suites and Hawthorn Suites. Flora was assisted in the presentations by Teri Fox, svp/operations for Microtel and David Kemp, vp/brand manager for Hawthorn. There were several highlights. In the Hawthorn category, Franchisee of the Year went to Ira Levy, Rome, GA; Hotel of the Year went to the Hawthorn Suites Atlanta (Northwest), GA, owned by Northwest Atlanta Hotel Partners; and General Manager of the Year was awarded to Vickie Molzer of the Hawthorn Suites, Seattle/Kent, WA. Among the Microtel Inn and Suites winners were: Franchisee of the Year, Jett Mehta of Indus Hospitality, LLC; Hotel of the Year went to the Microtel Inn and Suites in Seneca Falls, NY, owned by Blue Star Development, LLC; and General Manager of the Year went to Julie Hill of the Microtel Inn and Suites in Decatur, AL. There also were citations for salesperson of the year, guest-service hero, hotel performane improvement, community service, quality excellence and quality. “While all of us represent many voices, we’re one strong team,” Flora told the packed ballroom, picking up on the conference theme: “Many Voices, One Team.” “This past year has been an exciting year, as well as a year of transitions, A year where we saw a number of changes, including changes in leadership,” said Flora, referring to the departure at the end of last year of evp/marketing Jon Leven after 10 years, as well as the retirement at the same time of his father, USFS founder and chairman Mike Leven, described by Flora as “…an industry icon who is a role model and one of franchising’s most innovative leaders.” The conference continues today with general sessions for both brands, seminars, the trade show and dinner, cocktails and a performance by comedian/actor/producer Bill Cosby.