MILWAUKEE, WIS. | Baymont Inns & Suites has created three new regional sales manager positions to develop new and existing business for its franchisees. The positions were created to enhance revenue and occupancy, and increase brand awareness overall.
"We created these positions to support and develop brand revenue through effective direct sales and local marketing within this specific target area,” said Dan Daniele, president of Baymont Franchises International, LLC. “Baymont Inns & Suites is the first hotel franchise company that has created regional sales positions whereby the brand pays the salaries to support franchisees at the local level.“
Daniele said some Baymont Inns & Suites franchises do not have a full-time sales person on board. Therefore, the general manager, in most cases, fills the role as operations manager and sales manager simultaneously.
“The regional sales managers will not only strive to drive business on a regional and local level to specific hotels, but will train existing local salespeople on how to better market their hotels,” Daniele said. “This supports our commitment to working with franchisees directly to help them boost performance.”
Sales Driven, Quality Focused
“Creating these positions compliments the strategy put in place to build brand loyalty and recognition through exceptional customer service and expanded amenities,” said Jim Abrahamson, president and chief operating officer of Baymont Inns,
Inc. “Becoming more aggressive in our sales effort, being a quality-focused and sales-driven organization, providing exceptional customer service backed by a 110% Satisfaction Guarantee, and offering guest amenities not previously provided to guests in this segment, will immediately help our franchisees drive revenue.”
The regional sales managers will work closely with hotel salespeople and/or general managers on identifying areas of new opportunity or areas that are in need of improvement.
Former director of sales and marketing for the franchise Baymont Inn & Suites in Gainesville, Fla., Tim Flors was promoted to regional sales manager for the Southeastern region, which includes Florida, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. Flors is based in Nashville, Tenn., and reports to Baymont Inns & Suites Director of Franchise Operations Steve Clinkenbeard, who oversees 29 hotels in his seven-state region.
Janice Pavlich was named regional sales manager for the Great Plains-Southwest region, which includes Baymont Inns & Suites franchise locations in Arizona, Illinois, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Nebraska and Texas. Pavlich is based out of St. Louis and reports to Director of Franchise Operations Karen Yoest, who oversees 25 Baymont Inns & Suites in a seven-state region.
A third regional sales manager will be in place by June 1, 2004. This individual will report to Rick Zurburg, director of franchise operations for Baymont Inns & Suites that are located in the Midwest. Zurburg oversees 30 Baymont Inns & Suites franchise hotels in six states, including Arkansas, Iowa, Michigan, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin.
“I look forward to serving as a mentor to property salespersons to further develop their sales abilities,” said Flors. “Networking with other regional and national sales directors will surely improve revenues within the region, and also supports the brand’s national sales and marketing efforts.”
About Baymont Inns & Suites - Headquartered in Milwaukee, Wis., Baymont Inns & Suites continues to be a leading brand in the mid-market segment. The brand offers a 110% Satisfaction Guarantee, and has a frequent-stay program—Guest Ovations®—with more than 330,000 members and growing. Under the 110% Satisfaction Guarantee, if any guest is dissatisfied with any aspect of his or her night's stay and the hotel is unable to resolve the problem, the guest will receive their night’s stay for free, plus a coupon for a 10-percent discount on their next stay at any Baymont Inns & Suites hotel.
In addition, Baymont’s Ovations Rooms offer upscale amenities not found in competitive mid-market hotels, such as plush pillow-top mattresses, down pillows, fluffy towels, branded bath products and free in-room bottled water. The rooms also feature an enhanced workstation with an executive-sized desk, comfortable ergonomic chair and task lamp with a data port.
Baymont Inns & Suites operates or franchises more than 180 locations in 32 states nationwide, is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Marcus Corporation (NYSE: MCS). For more information on The Marcus Corporation, go to www.marcuscorp.com. For more information about Baymont Inns & Suites or to make a reservation, visit www.baymontinns.com or call 1-877-BAYMONT (1-877-229-6668).
Tom Schroeder
