Hotel & Motel Management - September 15, 2008 - (Page 44)

44 Special Report ANNUAL HOTEL COMPANY REPORT H&MM September 15, 2008 | HotelMotel.com www.HotelMotel.com/digital_edition Family-owned company grows, remembers roots By Chris Crowell ASSOCIATE EDITOR C ory Jackson Jr., president of Jackson Hospitality Services, a family-owned development and management company, has been through a downturn before and sees no reason to feel any differ- ent about the industry’s current economic unrest. “As a development company, we are busy in an upswing because we’re building,” he said. “When we’re in a downswing, more people with troubled hotels are looking for management services. We pretty much have opportunity any way the market goes.” Located in Alabama, Jackson Hospitality’s roots date back to Cory Jackson Jr.’s grandfather, who sold his savings and loan company 30 years ago to start a hotel management company. It had one ofﬁce and three hotel contracts. Now, Jackson Hospitality man- ages 17 hotels of several different brands, including Comfort Inn & Suites, Staybridge Suites, Hampton Inn, Holiday Inn, Microtel Inns & Suites, Sleep Inn and Candlewood Suites. Amid the decades-long expansion, JHS has retained its family roots. “We have a long history of people moving up through the company,” Cory Jackson Jr. said. Recently, Ben Koopman, who started as a desk clerk at one of JHS’ properties while in college, was promoted to VP of operations. “It’s a good way to run business,” Cory Jackson Jr. said. “It’s family-owned and -operated, and we try to treat [our employees] like family. We look after their long-term goals when an opportunity arises—but they have to earn it, too. That’s why people work for us.” Cory Jackson JACKSON HOSPITALITY Neal Jackson JACKSON HOSPITALITY On Site No Downtime Cost Efficient Refinishing Upholstery Armoire Modification Custom Granite & Quartz Jack Pack & Bracket Installation 10-20 Rooms per Day Professional Finish Clean and Non-toxic Warranted Recognized Globally Jackson Hospitality stays focused on Alabama and its surrounding areas. Its most recent opening was a Staybridge Suites in Augusta, Ga., which will be followed by the opening of the independent Hotel Capstone, a renovation and conversion of a 152room Four Points by Sheraton in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Further down the pipeline are two more Hampton Inns that will open in Alabama in 2009. “I know a lot of people have scaled back development [because of the economy], but there is always room for new, good development; you just have to be selective,” Cory Jackson Jr. said. “That’s why we’re still growing and expect to continue to do so … you can’t do it willy-nilly. You must be focused and attentive.” Many of the hotels Jackson Hospitality manages and develops are under the umbrellas of Hilton Hotels Corp. or InterContinental Hotels Group. Neal Jackson, Cory Jackson Jr.’s brother and the VP of JHS, said this isn’t necessarily a conscious decision. “Our clients have picked them, and it just so happens it’s with those two [companies],” he said. “By working with them, the See Company grows | page 46 1.800.523.9448 www.therefinishingtouch.com CIRCLE NO. 149 http://HotelMotel.com http://www.HotelMotel.com/digital_edition http://www.therefinishingtouch.com http://www.therefinishingtouch.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Hotel & Motel Management - September 15, 2008

Hotel & Motel Management - September 15, 2008 Contents Microtel, Hawthorn Settle in at Wyndham Is it Black or Red for Green Hotels? New City on the Strip When in Doubt, Purchase some Seashells Legal FAQ Consultant's Corner Sales Clinic On Finance Travel Trends Franchise Law Guest Column Events Cornell Insights HotelWorld Update Trends & Stats Top Hotel Companies Survey Awards Lending Requires Knowledge, Preparation Casegoods Minibars Historian to Keynote Leadership Forum at IH/M&RS Fitness Equipment The Lodging Conference Preview Accent Lighting Awards Vacuums Supplier News Transactions People Ad/Editorial Index Marketplace Classifieds Checking Out

Hotel & Motel Management - September 15, 2008

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