Richard Merkel named president and chief operating officer at True North Hotel Group

Richard Merkel, formerly executive vice president of operations, is now president and chief operating officer; and Brad Wiens, formerly senior vice president, development and acquisitions, has been named executive vice president and chief development officer. Richard Merkel’s influential contributions to True North Hotel Group began in 1999, when Lew Wiens hired the already-seasoned hotel executive to serve as vice president of operations for Henry Hotels, Inc., and its affiliate, True North Hotel Group, L.L.C. Merkel was named executive vice president of operations of True North Hotel Group, Inc., in 2006. He has directed start-ups, turnarounds, asset management, financial control, market feasibility, site selection, risk management, food and beverage operations, quarterly reporting to investors and hotel valuations. The common thread throughout Merkel’s talents is and has always been his strong acumen as an outstanding "people manager." Over the years, he has served as a board director for several convention and visitors bureaus, chambers of commerce and lodging associations. He currently serves on Marriott's SpringHill Suites Marketing Committee. Merkel holds a certified hotel administration (C.H.A.) designation from the Education Institute of the American Hotel and Motel Association and is a graduate of Western Illinois University.