Crestline Hotels & Resorts Announces Internal Promotions and the Addition of Three Executives as the Company Implements its 2010 Operations Strategies

FAIRFAX, Va., Jan. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- James Carroll, Chief Operating Officer of Crestline Hotels & Resorts today announced the promotion of two operational executives along with the addition of three regional management positions.  Two of the company's Regional Vice Presidents of Operations, Bruce Nelker and Shaun Kirby, have been promoted to Senior Vice Presidents of Operations and will have enhanced leadership responsibilities within the operations team of Crestline Hotels & Resorts.  In addition to these promotions, three positions were announced both increasing the operations oversight of the hotel properties and providing more in-depth interaction with ownership groups regarding the performance of, and strategies for, their assets:  Al Wiles, Senior Vice President of Operations for the Hampton Roads portfolio of managed hotels in Virginia; Terri Ryan, Regional Vice President of Operations for the greater Washington, DC metro area; and Carol Simon, Area Manager of the portfolio of hotels in Southwest Virginia.  All of these positions were filled through the promotion of some of Crestline's top performing, existing management.

These promotions are a key part of the Company's overall strategy for 2010 and beyond, and further positions Crestline for growth and improved customer service to owners.  Crestline plans to lead the industry with a results-driven hospitality management platform that generates growth in profitability for owners, in a guest-centric environment.  "Over the past 18 months, we have become smarter, leaner and more efficient," said James Carroll, COO of Crestline.  "We are developing an enhanced management structure that puts more senior talent and a broader scope of industry professionals into the field delivering intelligence, foresight, and insight in a radically changing business environment.  By the diffusion and empowerment of senior management through a system of Regional Vice Presidents, Regional Directors of Operations, and other regional specialists, Crestline promotes planning and execution of strategies for each hotel in its particular market, all the while with the expertise of senior level guidance and experience.  We believe this mix of de-centralized creativity and leadership, along with central intelligence and guidance, is the winning combination to effectively manage change and drive explosive revenue and profitability growth as the markets recover," added Carroll.

The promotions and new positions announced are:

• Bruce Nelker, Senior Vice President of Operations.  Mr. Nelker has been with Crestline for 21 years and is based in Atlanta, Georgia.  Previously, he was Vice President, Area Manager of Durbin Companies.  Prior to joining Durbin Companies, Nelker served in the capacity of General Manager at the Marriott in Corpus Christi, Texas; the Hilton in Columbus, Georgia; and the Melbourne Hilton at Rialto Place in Melbourne, FL.  Mr. Nelker also has rooms operation experience with Hyatt Hotels where he worked for seven years in four different locations.  He holds a BS degree in business from The Citadel.
• Shaun Kirby, Senior Vice President of Operations.  Mr. Kirby joined Crestline in 2006 as a Vice President of Operations and is currently based at the company's headquarters in Fairfax, VA.  Prior to Crestline he has held similar positions with Archon/Broadway Hospitality, Valley Forge Investments and Bristol Hotels & Resorts. His on-property experience includes the positions of General Manager and Director of Sales & Marketing as well as extensive food and beverage experience in catering, banquets, restaurants and as an executive chef.  Mr. Kirby holds a Bachelor of Science degree in finance from the Cornell School of Hotel Administration and is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, Hyde Park, New York.
• Al Wiles, Senior Vice President of Operations.  Mr. Wiles will oversee the Crestline portfolio of managed hotels in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia and will be based in the Crestline offices in Virginia Beach.  Mr. Wiles joined Crestline in May 2005, as General Manager for the L'Enfant Plaza Hotel in Washington, DC.  During the last four years, he has not only proven his leadership ability by building a strong, high performing team, but with that team, has driven the financial results of an aging property to far exceed expectations.

Mr. Wiles brings extensive hospitality management and a finance background that spans more than two decades.  Just prior to joining Crestline, he worked for Professional Hospitality Resources, Inc., based in Virginia Beach, VA, where he held positions as Managing Director of the Hilton Virginia Beach Oceanfront Resort, and as Director of that company's Hotel Division and Vacation Ownership Division.  In addition, he has been a General Manager for Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, and has led acquisition and development for Seaway Hotels Corporation.  While at Seaway, he served as that company's Corporate Treasurer.  Mr. Wiles is a graduate of the University of New Hampshire with a B.S. in Hotel and Business Administration.

• Terri Ryan, Regional Vice President of Operations.  Ms. Ryan will be based in Washington, DC, and will oversee Crestline's managed hotels in the greater DC metro area. She brings vast experience in hospitality management and an in-depth knowledge of the DC market to this new position.  Since 2006 she served as the General Manager for The Melrose Hotel in Washington. Prior to that she was the GM for The Holiday Inn on the Hill, and the Radisson Barcelo Washington DC, when they were Crestline managed properties. Prior to joining Crestline, Ms. Ryan was the GM of the Loews Annapolis Hotel, and the regional Food & Beverage Director for Loews L'Enfant Plaza and Loews Annapolis Hotel.  Her experience also includes the role of Food & Beverage Director at the Sonoma Mission Inn and Spa in California. 

Ms. Ryan is a graduate of Catholic University in Washington, DC and is active in the Hospitality Industry.  She is currently Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors for the Hotel Association of Washington, D.C. and a 1997 graduate of Leadership Washington. In 2001, Terri was a mayoral appointee to the first Board of Directors for the Washington Convention and Tourism Corporation, now Destination DC, and continues to serve on the Destination DC Board, representing the Hotel Industry.

• Carol Simon, Area Manager of Operations for Crestline's managed hotels in Southwest Virginia.  Ms. Simon will continue in her role as General Manager for the Stonewall Jackson Hotel & Conference Center in Staunton, VA, while taking on the operational oversight of three additional hotels.  Ms. Simon is one of Crestline's most tenured Crestline associates, having been with the company for 23 years.  She was appointed General Manager of Stonewall Jackson Hotel in 2005 and was formerly General Manager at the Brasstown Valley Resort, an upscale, full-service destination resort and conference center located in the North Georgia mountains and previously managed by Crestline.  Her extensive hospitality industry career spans nearly 30 years and includes management positions with the Atlanta Marriott Gwinnett Place, the Norfolk Waterside Marriott, the Berkeley Marina Marriott and Holiday Inn Hotels.

Ms. Simon holds a B.S. Business from Arizona State University, and a Masters of Business Administration from Golden Gate University.  She has served on numerous tourism and community councils, and as Vice President of Rotary International. 

About Crestline Hotels & Resorts, Inc.

Crestline Hotels & Resorts, Inc. is one of the nation's largest independent hospitality management companies.  Founded in 2000, the company presently manages 66 hotels, resorts and conference and convention centers with nearly 14,000 rooms in 13 states and the District of Columbia.  Crestline Hotels & Resorts manages 13 independent properties in major US markets including Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles and Washington D.C.  Crestline also manages properties under such well-regarded brands as Marriott, Hilton, Westin, Renaissance, Sheraton and Crowne Plaza.  For more information visit: www.crestlinehotels.com.

Note: Certain matters discussed herein are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Certain, but not necessarily all, of such statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, such as "believes," "expects," "may," "will," "should," "estimates" or "anticipates" or the negative thereof or comparable terminology.  All forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause the actual transactions, results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future transactions, results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.  These may include: (i) national and local economic and business conditions or governmental regulations that will affect demand, prices, wages or other costs for hotels; (ii) the level of rates and occupancy that can be achieved by such properties; (iii) the Company's ability to compete.

SOURCE Crestline Hotels & Resorts, Inc.