Hilton's (NYSE: HLT) innovative hotel brand, Tru by Hilton, today announced the opening of its latest property, Tru by Hilton Springfield Downtown. The 98-room hotel, located at 517 E. Elm St., is owned by Bryan 517, LLC and managed by Bryan Hotels Management. The new hotel is conveniently located near Missouri State University, Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium, and Springfield-Branson National Airport.
Leo Spriggs, President and CEO of Hospitality Management Corporation (HMC), is pleased to announce the addition of this 92-Suite SpringHill Suites® in Springfield, Missouri, to their portfolio of managed hotels. HMC continues its ongoing business expansion which is made up of full service, conference center, select service and limited service hotels. HMC is one of the country's largest third-party privately held hotel management companies, ranked in the top 40 of all third party and owner operated hotel management corporations.
Bloom has a long history in Springfield, having served in hospitality positions for 20 years in the "Queen City of the Ozarks." Most recently, he was general manager at Atrium's 188-room/suite Holiday Inn & Suites Springfield - I-44, including overseeing 8,000 square feet of meeting space. His experience in Springfield also includes serving in assistant general manager and food and beverage director positions at the University Plaza Hotel & Convention Center on behalf of John Q. Hammons Hotels & Resorts (JQH). In addition, his extensive career comprises management positions at the 103-room Cocoa Beach Oceanside Inn in Florida and for the 1800-passenger Big Red Boat for Premier Cruise Lines in Cape Canaveral, Florida. In the Chicago area, Bloom's experience spans diverse management roles for Taboo Bistro, Holiday Inn, and Park Hyatt Hotel. Bloom is active in mentoring hospitality talent in training in conjunction with Missouri State University. He attended Daley Community College in Chicago.
Overseeing sales and marketing responsibilities for four hotels, representing 665 rooms/suites, Ruble, a Missourian, will leverage her established hospitality background in the Springfield area with her expanded role. For 15 years, she has served as the director of sales for the University Plaza Hotel & Convention Center, which is ranked the largest hotel in Springfield based on the number of guest rooms. Ruble's career also includes director of sales positions for properties under well-known hospitality brands, including DoubleTree by Hilton and Holiday Inn, among others. The Events Industry Council (EIC) recognizes Ruble as a certified meeting planner (CMP). She is involved in professional associations at the national and local levels and is the current past president of the Springfield Hotel Lodging Association. Ruble is a board member of the Springfield Sports Commission and a member of the Religious Conference Management Association (RCMA), with her initial membership dating back 18 years. She is the current president elect of the Springfield Business Builders Club, having served in several leadership positions for the organization. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in recreation and leisure studies with an emphasis on business/marketing from Missouri State University (SMSU).
Best Western Hotels & Resorts marked the arrival of its boutique hotel concept, Vīb, with a grand opening celebration at its first U.S. property in Springfield, Missouri. Local dignitaries, Best Western executives, and members of Elliott Lodging joined community VIPs to celebrate the debut of this traveler-centric brand in the U.S. market.
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.
John Q. Hammons Hotels & Resorts today announced Robert Henley is returning to the company July 22 to serve as general manager of the University Plaza Hotel and Convention Center in Springfield, Mo. One of the key priorities upon his return is to oversee a multistage, multimillion-dollar renovation of the hotel. Located at 333 S. John Q. Hammons Parkway, the University Plaza Hotel and Convention Center is owned and operated by Springfield-based John Q. Hammons Hotels & Resorts, the largest private, independent owner and manager of hotels in the United States. The company also operates the Springfield Expo Center. Henley is a nearly nine-year veteran of John Q. Hammons Hotels & Resorts and served as general manger of the University Plaza Hotel and Convention Center from January 2012 – April 2013. Under Henley’s direction, hotel revenues grew by 20 percent in 2012, relationships were strengthened with the community, and the hotel’s profile has improved as a part of the downtown arts district and Walnut Street.
John Q. Hammons Hotels & Resorts today announced Robert Henley’s new appointment as general manager of the University Plaza Hotel and Convention Center in the heart of downtown Springfield, Mo. The 26-year hospitality veteran will be responsible for overseeing operation of the upscale hotel and connecting convention center, as well as the Springfield Expo Center, combined representing approximately 150,000 square feet of meeting and exhibit space. Henley will report to John Pasley, one of five regional vice presidents of operations overseeing John Q. Hammons Hotels & Resorts’ national award-winning portfolio of 78 hotels in 24 states, including 5.4 million gross square feet of meeting and convention space. Springfield, Mo.-based John Q. Hammons Hotels & Resorts is the largest private, independent owner and manager of upscale, full-service hotels in the United States.
Prior to joining O’Reilly Hospitality Management, LLC, Tarwater served as Executive Vice President of Development for John Q. Hammons Hotels & Resorts, the nations leading independent owner, developer and manager of upscale hotels, resorts and convention centers. Tarwater was responsible for the overall strategic direction of the company’s public/private hotel, resort and convention center developments. Under his direction the 80 hotel/resort portfolio dominated awards from brands represented (e.g. Embassy Suites, Hilton, Renaissance, Marriott and Holiday Inns. Tarwater previously served as senior vice president, sales & marketing, John Q. Hammons Hotels & Resorts and senior vice president, sales & marketing, Windsor Hospitality Group. Tarwater is an active influencer in the hospitality industry, as well as in the Springfield community. He currently serves on the board of directors for the Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau and for Arvest Bank. He also serves on the Missouri State University Foundation board of trustee’s executive committee. He is a popular guest speaker at major universities’ school of hospitality programs. He was profiled in Ozarks Signature Magazine for his example as a business and community leader and family man, and also highlighted by the Springfield Business Journal as one of the “12 People You Need to Know”