MINNEAPOLIS? Jay Witzel, who recently ended a two-year tour-of-duty as president/COO of Fort Lauderdale, FL-based ESA Management, has similarly ended speculation surrounding his lodging industry future via an announced return to Radisson Hotels Worldwide as president/COO. Prior to joining the Extended Stay America operating unit in August 1997, Witzel had filled this same post with Radisson, having moved steadily up to that level of responsibility after joining the company in 1987 as vp/operations. He began his hospitality industry career with Hyatt Hotels Corp., and also logged experience with JP Hotels and the Landmark Hotel Group in the years prior to his initial Radisson affiliation. While wearing the hat of president/ COO at Radisson won?t be new to him, Witzel nonetheless admitted that ?some of the duties and responsibilities will likely differ this time around. For example,? he said, ?I expect I?ll be spending considerably more time and expending more energy on management contracts as well as the building of deals and relationships? as well as the Radisson presence? all around the globe.? Witzel said that, in addition to family reasons, his departure from Radisson?s ranks two years ago was also prompted by the enticement of helping a new company grow…and the corresponding equity stake that went hand-in-hand with that opportunity. However, he added: ?I am very happy to be returning to Radisson, having found that I missed operating in the global arena as well as the challenge and complexity of overseeing multiple brands.? On the other hand, Witzel?s return to Radisson raised the question of whether his new skill sets? sharpened in the extended-stay market? might be tapped by his former/current employer. ?At this point, I don?t think my extended-stay operational experience is what Radisson will find most helpful. Rather, it seems to me my familiarity with the workings of the public market as well as the acquisition of debt and equity financing will prove to be most applicable.? Conversely, Witzel did venture some thoughts on the extended-stay arena and its relationship to mainstream hotel operations. ?There?s no doubt that those in the lodging industry need to better understand how the extended-stay concept works. To that end,? he said, ?so-called ?main-stream? hoteliers must appreciate that? while it undoubtedly has cannibalized a significant portion of the lodging business marketplace? extended-stay won?t necessarily gobble up traditional hotels. In the broadest sense, extended-stay is not so much a market-maker as it is a market-taker.? In the wake of Witzel?s return to the Radisson fold, Brian Stage? who had been holding the position of president/ COO? will reprise his earlier role as executive vp/ sales and marketing with the Carlson Hotels operating unit. Commenting on Stage?s resumption of past duties and responsibilities, company sources emphasized that this realignment was not a demotion in any sense of the word. Instead, it was a move made ?in keeping with Radisson?s commitment to most effectively match executive talents with the organization?s operational needs,? and that during Stage?s 10-year tenure with the company he has demonstrated considerable achievement in the area of worldwide sales and marketing.
