SPRINGFIELD, Mo., and SIOUX FALLS, S.D. | John Q. Hammons Hotels & Resorts, LLC (www.jqhhotels.com) announced today that the Holiday Inn City Centre (www.holidayinnsiouxfalls.com) in Sioux Falls, S.D., recently received the Large Employer of the Year 2006 Symon Award from the Sioux Falls Business Leadership Network. The hotel was recognized for its commitment to forging partnerships that promote successful hiring and management practices of people with disabilities. Springfield, Mo.-based John Q. Hammons Hotels & Resorts, LLC is the nation’s leading independent builder, developer, owner and manager of upscale, full-service hotels, resorts and suites.

“On behalf of the Holiday Inn City Centre, we are honored to accept this award,” said Tom Bosch, general manager of the Holiday Inn City Centre. “It recognizes that both our management and associates believe in a diverse workforce. We can all use our different gifts and abilities to work together and create an exceptional, quality guest experience.”

One of the hotel’s recent skills training projects included creating a partnership between the Southeast Technical Institute and Sioux Falls Vocational Services to train six members of the community with disabilities in housekeeping skills. The project included creating a seven-week program with classroom and hands-on job skill training, led by Julie Winstruck, executive housekeeper of the Holiday Inn City Centre. Plans are underway to expand the program to include laundry services and restaurant and banquet area assistance training

The award also recognized the Holiday Inn City Centre for installing wheelchair accessible automatic doors throughout the hotel. The installation was part of a $2 million renovation completed in February.

Area Information
A major highlight within Sioux Falls’ historic district is St. Joseph’s Cathedral, as well as an abundance of opportunities to revisit the past with traditional museums, unique specialty shops and self-guided tours to more than 40 historic sites around the area.

The city’s Main Street invites visitors to experience the perfect mix of carefree spirit, cultural celebration and refined style with vibrant shops in restored buildings, bringing the historical past and future together to create a unique experience for all.

Property Information
The Holiday Inn City Centre boasts a variety of amenities for both business and leisure travelers and has been recognized for room service excellence by InterContinental Hotels Group, parent company of Holiday Inn. Each of the 299 guest rooms include a hair dryer, coffee maker, iron and ironing board, remote control color television and 24-hour room service. For those travelers with business needs, guestrooms also provide large desks, data ports, telephones with private voicemail, and USA Today newspaper delivery.

With 15,000 square feet of meeting space, the location can accommodate events such as small group meetings to large functions. The hotel’s full-service, sales and catering department accommodates each group’s specialized needs and provides a full range of event planning assistance and catering.

To make a reservation or to book a group function, guests can call (605) 339-2000, contact their travel agent, or visit the hotel’s Web site at www.holidayinnsiouxfalls.com. The hotel also can be booked under the following GDS codes: Amadeus FSD6C4, Galileo 3459, Sabre 2743 and Worldspan 1732.