John Q. Hammons Hotels & Resorts (JQH) today announced that Missouri-native Brent Parker has been appointed general manager of the company’s University Plaza Hotel & Convention Center located in the heart of the Springfield Arts District downtown. With 24 years of professional hospitality experience, including with JQH assignments in Illinois and Iowa, Parker will also oversee the company’s Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Springfield adjacent to Hammons Field. Last year, both properties earned the TripAdvisor special Hall of Fame status for achieving a Certificate of Excellence from TripAdvisor for five consecutive years. Springfield-based JQH is a leading private, independent owner and manager of hotels in the United States, including operating more than 1 million square feet of superb meeting space.
Parker, a graduate of Missouri State University’s Hospitality & Restaurant Administration program, most recently served as general manager of the Cedar Rapids Marriott Hotel in Iowa. Prior, he was assistant general manager of JQH’s Bloomington − Normal Marriott Hotel & Conference Center in Illinois. His career also includes serving as director of food and beverage and director of event management for the St. Louis Airport Marriott in Missouri. Parker is active in the hospitality community, including serving on the Board of Directors of GO Cedar Rapids (formerly Cedar Rapids Area Convention and Visitors Bureau) and the Iowa Lodging Association.