Interstate Hotels & Resorts Honors Distinguished Associates and Hotels of The Year

ARLINGTON, Va., April 10, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Last week, 37 esteemed awards were presented by Interstate Hotels & Resorts – the leading U.S.-based global hotel management company – during its 2014 global leadership conference, "The Power of One."

Announced annually each first quarter, Interstate recognizes strategic innovators among the Company's expansive bench strength of more than 26,000 associates worldwide.  The pinnacle award categories included in the honors are the General Manager and Hotel of the Year in the Full-Service, Crossroads^® Select-Service and International divisions of the Company, as well as the "Thomas F. Hewitt Leadership Award."

The 2013 winners in these categories are:

• Orkun Aydin, Westin Tampa Harbour Island, 2013 General Manager of the Year, Full-Service
• Mark Mitchell, Crowne Plaza Charleston Airport-Convention Center, 2013 General Manager of the Year, Crossroads^®
• Hilton Durham near Duke University, 2013 Hotel of the Year, Full-Service
• Courtyard Atlanta Decatur Downtown/Emory, 2013 Hotel of the Year, Crossroads^®
• City Hotel in Derry, Northern Ireland, 2013 International Hotel of the Year (United Kingdom)
• Renaissance Monarch Centre in Moscow, 2013 International Hotel of the Year (Russia)
• Hampton by Hilton Amsterdam Arena Boulevard, 2013 International Hotel of the Year (Europe)
• Michael Matheson, Hilton Fort Lauderdale Airport, 2013 Thomas F. Hewitt Award Recipient, Full-Service
• Tim McGlinchey, Area General Manager, Residence Inn/Courtyard by Marriott Manhattan/Central Park, 2013 Thomas F. Hewitt Award Recipient, Crossroads^®

"We're proud to celebrate the hard work of all of our winners, and their dedication that not only inspires their peers, but resonates as innovators throughout the industry," said Jim Abrahamson, chief executive officer for Interstate Hotels & Resorts. "Interstate has the most expansive, qualified management strength in the industry and these teams embody the Interstate culture, utilizing intuitive training, experienced leadership and indestructible working relationships as the recipe for success."

The General Manager of the Year Award goes to the general manager who achieves outstanding results in all areas of the balanced scorecard, including associate, guest, revenue and profit, and excels in each area. Interstate encourages its GMs to be active in the community and tirelessly engaged in their hotels, personally caring for owners and guests, utilizing the knowledge gleaned from the menu of training course options equipping general managers with the knowledge to ultimately produce energized and efficient personnel.

The Hotel of the Year Award is achieved only when a hotel runs the board on their balanced scorecard results and strategically impact operations and sales performance to drive optimal revenue and profit metrics. Honoring Interstate Hotels & Resorts' chairman of the board and former chief executive officer, the "Thomas F. Hewitt Leadership Award" is given to extraordinary leaders who have demonstrated excellence, perseverance, strength of character, and personal drive as they overcame unique obstacles to achieve their goal, demonstrating Interstate's core values of acting with integrity, being a team player, embracing others' differences with respect, delivering excellence, promoting innovation, communicating openly and often, and serving Interstate's communities and guests.

"Selecting honorees is a welcome challenge, considering Interstate's expansive workforce of more than 26,000 associates worldwide," said Ted Knighton, Interstate's president and chief operating officer. "When optimal performance results are complemented by reliable, trustworthy and enjoyable leadership, these teams rose to the top. Each award winner exemplifies Interstate's talent as the finest in the industry and deserves huge accolades for their accomplishments in 2013, showcasing a glimpse of the overall dedication and passion that propels Interstate's nearly 400 hotels to success every day."

With a platinum portfolio and focus on its owners' success, Interstate Hotels & Resorts is the leading U.S.-based global hotel management company, offering intelligent solutions for both full-service and select-service hotels. Prospering through the applied experience of task force teams dedicated to the category, Interstate's Full-Service division receives hands-on attention from the Company that has relationships with more major brands than any other independent management resource in the world. Crossroads^® Select-Service is recognized as one of the premier operators in this segment, gaining advances through tailored management efforts.

For more information on Interstate Hotels & Resorts, visit www.interstatehotels.com.

About Interstate Hotels & Resorts
Interstate Hotels & Resorts, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of a 50/50 joint venture between subsidiaries of Thayer Lodging Group and Jin Jiang Hotels, is the leading U.S.-based global hotel management company, operating branded full- and select-service hotels and resorts, convention centers and independent hotels worldwide.  Interstate and its affiliates manage nearly 400 hotels with more than 73,000 rooms in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, with ownership interest in 31 hotels. In addition, Interstate has executed agreements to manage 30 hotels with nearly 5,500 rooms under construction or development throughout the world. 

For more information about Interstate Hotels & Resorts worldwide, please visit www.interstatehotels.com. Connect with Interstate at www.linkedin.com/company/interstate-hotels-resorts, www.facebook.com/InterstateHotels, and http://jobs.interstatehotels.com. 

SOURCE Interstate Hotels & Resorts