SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – May 18, 2009 – John Q. Hammons Hotels & Resorts took home 12 of the top recognitions among the 2008 Embassy Suites Hotels® brand awards announced at the recent 25th Anniversary Embassy Suites brand conference in San Diego. Recognitions included the following:
• Connie Award winner for #1 ranking
• Total Quality System Awards, 11 (of 19)
• Make a Difference Hotel of the Year Award
The outstanding performing hotels were recognized from among Embassy Suites Hotels’ (www.embassysuites.com) national brand portfolio of 200 upscale, all-suite hotels throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico and South America. Springfield, Mo.-based John Q. Hammons Hotels & Resorts is the nation’s leading independent builder, developer, owner and manager of upscale, full-service hotels, resorts and suites (www.jqhhotels.com).
“Our guests have spoken and are telling us loud and clear through their feedback to keep up the great performance, and we will whether it’s day one at a John Q. Hammons hotel or day 2,555,” said Mr. John. Q. Hammons, founder, chairman and chief executive officer of John Q. Hammons Hotels & Resorts.
#1 Spot: Connie Award
John Q. Hammons Hotels & Resorts continued its track record for securing the #1 ranking within Embassy Suites Hotels’ brand awards. Touting the top honor, John Q. Hammons Hotels & Resorts’ Embassy Suites East Peoria – Hotel & Riverfront Conference Center in East Peoria, Ill., received the coveted Connie Award, named for company founder Conrad Hilton. Joe LoMonaco serves as general manager of the 226-suite property, which opened in January 2008 and is connected to 35,000 net square feet of meeting space. The Connie Award is given to properties based on the top Total Quality Scores (TQS) category derived from a property’s year-to-date, overall service and accommodation scores from Satisfaction and Loyalty Tracking (SALT) reports, plus a 12-month average on Quality Assurance scores. The hotel will be honored with a trophy for display in the hotel and a luncheon hosted by the Embassy Suites brand team.
Top Quality System (TQS) Awards
The prestigious Total Quality System Awards were presented to 19 properties in the Embassy Suites Hotels portfolio. In addition to the #1 ranked hotel that received the Connie Award, 10 additional John Q. Hammons Hotels & Resorts properties were recognized and ranked as follows:
• #5, Embassy Suites Northwest Arkansas Hotel, Spa & Convention Center in Rogers, Ark.
• #6, Embassy Suites St. Louis – St. Charles/Hotel & Spa in St. Charles, Mo.
• #8, Embassy Suites Charlotte – Concord/Golf Resort, Spa & Conference Center in Concord, N.C.
• #9, Embassy Suites Hot Springs Hotel & Spa in Hot Springs, Ark.
• #11, Embassy Suites Nashville – South/Cool Springs in Franklin, Tenn.
• #12, Embassy Suites Huntsville – Hotel & Spa in Huntsville, Ala.
• #13, Embassy Suites Hampton Roads – Hotel, Spa & Convention Center in Hampton, Va.
• #14, Embassy Suites Dallas – DFW International Airport North at Outdoor World in Grapevine, Texas
• #15, Embassy Suites Dallas – Frisco Hotel, Convention Center & Spa in Frisco, Texas
• #16, Embassy Suites Albuquerque – Hotel & Spa in Albuquerque, N.M.
Special Recognition
Another John Q. Hammons Hotels & Resorts property was also recognized with the following award:
• Make a Difference Hotel of the Year Award, Embassy Suites Charlotte – Concord/Golf Resort, Spa & Conference Center in Concord (also #8 for TQS Awards)
Embassy Suites properties operated by John Q. Hammons Hotels & Resorts feature a variety of amenities for both business and leisure travelers. Select properties also feature a full-service spa. For more information about John Q. Hammons Hotels & Resorts’ Embassy Suites properties, please call 1-800-EMBASSY or visit www.jqhhotels.com.
About Embassy Suites Hotels; Hilton Hotels Corporation
Founded in 1984, Embassy Suites Hotels defines the upscale, all-suite segment and today has 200 hotels, with an additional 60 in the pipeline. With spacious two-room suites, engaging team members and an inviting atrium environment, guests are allowed to put their feet up and feel right at home. To learn more, visit www.embassysuites.com.
Hilton Hotels Corporation is the leading global hospitality company, with more than 3,300 hotels and 550,000 rooms in 77 countries and more than 130,000 team members worldwide. The company owns, manages or franchises some of the best known and highly regarded hotel brands including Hilton®, Conrad® Hotels & Resorts, Doubletree®, Embassy Suites Hotels®, Hampton Inn®, Hampton Inn & Suites®, Hilton Garden Inn®, Hilton Grand Vacations™, Homewood Suites by Hilton®, the Waldorf Astoria™ and the Waldorf Astoria Collection™, as well as the recently launched Home2 Suites by Hilton™. The company also manages the world-class guest reward program Hilton HHonors®. For more information about the company, please visit www.hiltonfamily.com.
About John Q. Hammons Hotels & Resorts
Springfield, Mo.-based John Q. Hammons Hotels & Resorts is the nation’s leading independent builder, developer, owner and manager of upscale, full-service hotels, resorts and suites, including: Embassy Suites Hotels, Renaissance, Marriott, Radisson, Residence Inn, Homewood Suites by Hilton, Holiday Inn and Courtyard by Marriott brands. With 82 hotels strategically located near demand generators, such as state capitals, universities, airports, corporate headquarters or office parks in secondary and tertiary markets, John Q. Hammons Hotels & Resorts’ properties are dominant in their markets. Over the course of his impressive 51-year career in the hotel business, Mr. John Q. Hammons has developed 208 hotels. For more information about John Q. Hammons Hotels & Resorts, please visit the company’s Web site at www.jqhhotels.com.