Hotel & Motel Management - September 15, 2008 - (Page 46)

46 Special Report ANNUAL HOTEL COMPANY REPORT H&MM September 15, 2008 | HotelMotel.com DNC Parks & Resorts Continued from page 42 has owner/operator roles at eight properties—counting Yosemite’s seven lodging properties as one— most of which have received the International Organization for Standardization’s 14001 certiﬁcation. To achieve this, the properties must comply with environmental regulations, move forth with environmental management programs and promote employee awareness of the programs. From there, the company goes through an intensive audit process by a third-party source. “We just completed that process last spring and the auditor said he’s never seen a company where the program was ingrained in every level,” said Deb Collins, VP of sales and marketing for DNC Parks & Resorts. “Everybody embraces the program, and that was really a nice thirdparty endorsement to say that [environmentalism]’s something the company does—not because it’s part of a trend, but because it’s part of the culture.” The environmental values are instilled, in part, because of the employees the properties attract by being in parks and other historic areas, Socha said. Additionally, each property has a “green team” comprised of all levels of employees, said Mary Burich, director of corporate communications for Delaware North Cos. But perhaps the founding principle that employees build upon in terms of sustainability is DNC’s GreenPath, a formal, doc- umented environmental program. Elements of GreenPath vary from using bulk dispensers of amenities in the guestrooms to the use of re-reﬁned oils in vehicles, in addition to recycling, reuse, educational programs and sustainable building, to name a few. Another formal program the company uses with its employees is GuestPath, a ﬁve-step process for employees and the company itself to continually improve the following: setting and meeting standards, training employees, receiving measurements from guest surveys and other assessments, giving rewards and recognition for associates and leaders and providing further training to ﬁll gaps found in the assessments. The guest feedback, through 130-question e-surveys that get a 40-percent return rate, remains integral for DNC. The Ahwahnee Hotel in Yosemite National Park is an example of DNC’s committment to environmentalism. Harrison Hot Springs, owned by DNC Parks & Resorts, is located in British Columbia, Canada. “It’s a guest-centric view of how we operate our business,” Collins said, “and also [lets us see] are we serving our guest to the level that they are looking for?” So far, the company is pleased with its results—and it intends to continue on the path it started about 15 years ago, preparing to tell the stories of more historic and landmark hotels. “Everybody can do hospitality; not everybody can blend stewardship and hospitality together in an economic manner,” Socha said. ehanna@questex.com Admit It. You’ve Never Needed Us More. With prices rising and revenues slowing, purchasers everywhere are scrambling for a better way to control expenditures and manage their purchasing processes. That’s what BuyE cient gives you. A nationwide network of major suppliers you will de nitely recognize. A negotiated pricing structure that leverages the combined buying power of our members. And an online purchasing management system that allows you to track, budget, and control procurement in every facet of your operation. If you need greater control, you need BuyE cient. It’s that simple. So admit it—you’ve never needed us more. Visit our website at buye cient.com or email sales@buye cient.com. We’ll show you how to take control of all your purchasing with a brief online demonstration. Company grows Continued from page 44 Hilton and IHG people have gotten to know us, understand us and recommend us.” This relationship with these two industry leaders is yet another family tie that Jackson Hospitality has worked to build over the years. As owners, JHS has stake in four hotels—Hotel Capstone; Comfort Inns in Tuscaloosa, Ala., and Birmingham, Ala.; and a Hampton Inn in Leeds, Ala., which is in development right now—but is looking to slowly build on that number. “Our goal is to increase our equity ownership in hotels,” said Neal Jackson. “We have many successful hotels, and we receive a nice management fee; but when it’s successful, we’d like to experience that success.” Along with being owners, developers and managers, JHS now can call itself a franchisor. In 1989, it was helping to develop a new economy brand called Cricket Inns. When Cricket Inns failed to launch, Jackson Hospitality was inspired to launch its own economy chain in Alabama, Key West Inns, which now has proliferated through other southeastern states. “We wanted one with a lot of curb appeal, so we started developing new hotels with a southFlorida theme,” Neal Jackson said. For a long time, the 40- to 60-room Key West Inns were all new builds. “We slowly grew until we made our franchise fees more competitive and allowed easier process for conversion, and now we see a 40-percent growth.” There are now 21 Key West Inns properties, with two or three more opening this year. “We’re not Choice [Hotels International] or Hilton,” Neal Jackson said. “We’re pleased with the growth or popularity of the chain, and I didn’t have to have a Super Bowl ad.” Neal and Cory Jackson believe JHS’ experience as a developer, owner and management company helps it function better as a franchisor, giving its Key West brand some of that Jackson Hospitality family feel. “We’re in the trenches,” Neal Jackson said. “Those franchisees beneﬁt from our 30 years of management experience. Our tools are available to them.” ccrowell@questex.com 903 CALLE AMANECER | SUITE 100 SAN CLEMENTE, CALIFORNIA 92673 | BUYEFFICIENT.COM CIRCLE NO. 112 PHOTOS: DNC PARKS & RESORTS http://HotelMotel.com http://BUYEFFICIENT.COM http://BUYEFFICIENT.COM

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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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