Townecrier Newsletter - Sum 08 Lo Res

Volume 3/issue 1

Change… continued from Front Page

2008 and 2009 Hotels on the Horizon 2008

2009 Residence Inn Newport News, VA

aloft by W Short Pump, VA

aloft by W Arundel Mills, MD

Courtyard Newport News, VA

Hyatt Place White Oak Village Richmond, VA

element Arundel Mills Hanover, MD

SpringHill Suites Chesapeake, VA aloft by W Chesapeake, VA

Residence Inn Norfolk Downtown, VA

aloft by W Bollingbrook, IL Sheraton Dulles South, VA

profit, customer satisfaction, and associate satisfaction. We want to be one of the most recognized hospitality companies in the world. To do that, we must build the best brands, operate the most efficient hotels no matter what the economic conditions, and have the best leaders in the industry. I am confident we are on the right track, but we must take one step at a time. I look forward to continuing this journey with you as the company continues to move forward into the future.

Neel’s Report......................... 1 Human Resources............... 2 Sales........................................... 4

Neel

Marketing................................ 5 Wachovia Center.................. 7 Community Affairs...........8-9 The Westin Norfolk Hotel & Conference Center........10

Corporate Office/Development/ Accounting 1564 Crossways Boulevard Chesapeake, VA 23320 Phone: 757.420.0900 Fax: 757.410.0931

2007 Sai-Kar Awards..........11 Newest Addition............... 12

Liberty Office/Operations/ Marketing/Training 1305 Executive Boulevard Suite 130/150 Chesapeake, VA 23320 Phone: 757.410.8920 Fax: 757.410.8930

The New Fairfield Inn & Suites...........................12

Sales/IT/Construction 1133 Executive Boulevard Chesapeake, VA 23320 Phone: 757.213.0110 Fax: 757.213.0118

Hotel Open House.............13

www.ltdmanagement.com

Groundbreaking................ 13 2008 LTD Management Company LLC

to invest in the company’s IT infrastructure, support functions, and reporting methods. Most importantly, though, you must play an active part and utilize these resources and tools in order to reap benefits. We have had many positive initiatives which have been in place for the last several years that have contributed greatly to the success of this company. However, in the spirit of continuous improvement, we must continue to constantly measure current practices and develop new strategies and initiatives to keep up with the ever-changing, fast-paced hospitality industry. In the next few months you will see and hear about some changes that are being developed for your benefit and in anticipation of the future by the leadership team currently in place. Many of these changes are based on your feedback and many are based on the objective of achieving and exceeding the overall goals of the company. My aim is to return focus to the core business we are in to achieve our goals. As we continue to grow, I will judge objectively the success of the company and monitor its results. Those results are the basics of hospitality: success in revenue,

©

better business. The building will be LEED Silver certified, which is a testament to the fact that our workspace will be more efficient and environment friendly. Our new headquarters will be centrally located near all of the region’s top notch professional firms, restaurants, and retail. Additionally, we were named as part of an elite group of top 100 management companies by the national Hotel Business magazine for 2008. Furthermore, we achieved the honor of being one of the “Best Places to Work” by Inside Business magazine. We were also the proud recipients of Marriott’s Partnership Circle and Spirit to Serve awards. All of these accomplishments have been realized due to your efforts and hard work. On a corporate level, in my new role, I have committed to simplify our processes that will continue to be adaptable as we enter different phases of growth and economic cycles. I am even more committed to providing the necessary resources and tools to help make your hotels successful. I will work with LTD’s corporate staff on strategies to ensure you are getting the proper support, guidance, and service you expect and deserve. To that end, my partners and I will continue

Hotel Kudos..........................14 Associate Highlights.........15

Change is the Law of Life

Neel Desai Managing Partner

John F. Kennedy once said “Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.” As a company, we have recently gone through many changes aimed towards continuously stimulating positive growth and ensuring our prosperity through anticipation of the “ups and downs” of the future. There have been adjustments made to our organizational structure, job responsibilities, and even our personal lives in the spirit of survival and improvement. Change is natural. Thus, as a law of life, change is essential to any organism’s ability to survive and succeed. Presently, we are experiencing an economic slowdown which has impacted the hospitality industry and many other industries. We have seen declines in business and leisure travel that have affected occupancy levels at hotels across the country including our portfolio of hotels. This is not the first time we have experienced this and unfortunately it will not be the last. However, one thing that is certain is that with your help we will continue to thrive and make each one of our hotels successful. LTD will continue to grow and solidify its place as a premier hospitality company in the industry. Despite present conditions, LTD is ready to launch into the future. The changes made today have positioned us to prepare for the climate of tomorrow. Through careful anticipation and planning, LTD continues to grow, despite a slowing economy, while many companies are forced to downsize and cease future development. In fact, in recent months the

company has experienced the most growth it has ever sustained; we will grow our portfolio by a staggering rate of 50% within two years. This rate of growth is exciting and daunting (if you let it be). Therefore, each and every person’s ability to accept and adapt to change is most critical during this time. Now is the time to make adjustments in order to improve our processes and better prepare ourselves for what the future holds. Some of the fruits of the change initiatives can already be seen as we have had many successes to celebrate throughout 2008. We announced the relocation of our corporate headquarters to the beautiful Wachovia Center, which is scheduled to open in 2010, in Downtown Norfolk. This move will allow our company to consolidate under one roof, continue to work together, and enhance synergies needed to help conduct Change… continues on Back Page

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8/14/08 12:32:42 PM

Volume 3/issue 1

summer 2008

Human Resources

Change and Stress

Associate Highlights New Hires

June Barksdale Corporate Director of Human Resources

For some people, organizational change results in stress, regardless of how much

midst of it.

they try to avoid it or how many strategies they put in place to deal with it. This stress

Reward Yourself. Part of the fun of anticipating the stress, whether you plan for it or not, is rewarding yourself after it’s all over. Reality: This is going to be a really tough week. Plan: I’ll get through it like I’ve done in the past. Reward: Next weekend, I’m going to the beach. Not only will you feel great about the accomplishment, you have something to look forward to in the midst of the stress.

may be due to a hesitancy to change. We all get real comfortable in our little ruts and the idea of leaving our comfort zone is causing us to feel anxious. Or the thought of leaving the familiarity of friends in the old department isn’t sitting well. Maybe it’s just way too much change in a short period of time that has you feeling unsettled. You know those new policies and procedures that HR wants to implement are not going to be an easy sell. Or how about just way too much to do with too little time and resources to do it. That can keep you awake at night. Whatever the stress, there are ways to reduce it. You may not see results immediately, but just the decision to help yourself work through the stress will enable you to feel better. Exercise. The single, most helpful way to reduce stress is through exercise. This is the one strategy that is almost universally effective. Everyone can benefit from it. And it doesn’t have to cost a lot of money. Take a walk, work in the yard, take a swim, or take a spin around the block on your bike. It’s not how you exercise but the fact that you do it at all that’s important. It’s all about the release of endorphins – those natural chemicals that reduce stress and miraculously make us feel better. Talk It Out. Vent, pout, spout, or get angry. Sometimes it helps to talk about your stress with someone else. When you verbalize your frustration or anger, it becomes easier to deal with it. Then you can move on instead of dwelling on it. You don’t need an expensive therapist, just someone who will

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listen and be genuinely interested in you. An added plus would be to select someone who has “been there, done that.” Listen to Music. Music can be a great stress reliever – just like exercise. Research has shown that people who listen to their favorite music actually produce endorphins and, you guessed it, they naturally feel better. I would suggest listening to something that you enjoy – not just what other people find relaxing. And you can always combine two – exercise to music! Anticipate Times of Stress. You may not be able to eliminate all those looming projects, but if you plan ahead for those times you anticipate stress, you can often reduce the impact it will have. Regularly check your calendar and identify those upcoming high stress times. Develop a plan to eliminate as much stress as possible – like asking for help at work and home, planning exercise, eating healthy meals, and getting plenty of rest. If you anticipate the stress, it won’t hit you like a brick when you are in the

Go for a Drive. I would suggest this only if you are not angry and you can get away from heavy traffic. A drive in the country, with or without a destination, can be relaxing. If you’d rather be the passenger, ask someone to drive while you relax. Use Moderation. Ever hear someone say, “I’ve had a stressful day. I need a drink.” Do you think they will stop at one? Probably not. Then they will have additional stressors to add to their list. During times of stress, be careful not to “overdo” anything – drinking, eating, sleeping, and exercise. Rely on Your Natural Instincts. Some people respond to organizational change one way and others respond another way. Some people may become stressed Stress… continues on Page 3

Effective 6/25/08 6/24/08 6/23/08 6/23/08 6/23/08 6/18/08 6/10/08 6/09/08 6/05/08 6/04/08 6/02/08 5/20/08 5/19/08 5/14/08 5/12/08 5/12/08 5/12/08 5/06/08 5/01/08 4/30/08 4/23/08 4/22/08 4/22/08 4/21/08 4/14/08 4/08/08 4/07/08 4/01/08 3/31/08 3/24/08 3/20/08 3/21/08 2/25/08 2/18/08 2/14/08 2/04/08 1/28/08 1/21/08 1/14/08 1/07/08 1/03/08 1/02/08

Name Selena Washington Michael Wynne Tom Sims Mary Bunch Gigel Acuta Tawa Badru Andrew Mercer Blair Ore Aretha Jackson-Barrett Holly Isaacs Barbara Starnes Joe Dobbs Larry Wood Peter Saia Pat Cason Alice Walsh Nathaniel Thomas Vince Krause Kirsten Pass Laura Helwig Alan Duncan Heinz Woschitz Melissa Podles Dane Inalsingh Kim Price Betsy Carroll Brad Fleenor Melody Hauser Ben Timashenka Dan Ennis Sandra Fishbien Michael Mitchell Edward Kim Tony Parrow Jessica Rosa Tiffany West-Bey JoAnne Franzini Beth McNeal Shawntel Randolph Rob Murphy Dianne Poston Adrian Donnelly

Transfers

Effective 6/11/08 6/09/08 6/04/08 6/02/08 6/02/08 5/27/08 5/05/08 4/28/08 4/28/08

Name Maria Pratsi Harless Jennifer Watson Rob Murphy Lynette Crouch Damian Polewczak Bob Neill Glenn Stafford Marcia Hackett Richard Castle

Promotions

Effective Name 6/08/08 5/12/08 4/28/08 4/28/08 4/14/08 2/18/08

Jesse Hemphill Jeanette Meekins Selena Cherry Edmond Pollard Kellye Hetrick John Mason

LTD Births Position Area Director of Revenue Management General Manager Chief Engineer Executive Administrative Assistant Chief Engineer Property Accounting Manager General Manager Sales Manager Assistant General Manager Catering Sales Manager Government Sales Manager General Manager Area Manager Chief Engineer Sales Receptionist/Administrative Assistant Regional Director of Sales Chief Engineer Project Superintendent Guest Care Manager Purchasing Manager Guest Care Manager General Manager Human Resources Manager Assistant General Manager Interim Marketing Project Coordinator Accounting Intern General Manager Executive Housekeeper General Manager Sous Chef Sales Manager Chief Engineer Luminous Executive Chef General Manager Corporate Training Coordinator Corporate Sales Manager Catering Sales Manager Executive Administrative Assistant Front Office Manager General Manager Executive Housekeeper Director of Construction Projects

Dept/Hotel BWI Hotels Fairfield Inn Williamsburg Courtyard Newport News Corporate Office Sheraton BWI BWI Hotels Holiday Inn Express Williamsburg aloft Greenbrier Courtyard Yorktown Sales Southside Sales Southside Hampton Inn Chesapeake Liberty Operations SpringHill Suites Greenbrier Sales Southside BWI/Frederick/Richmond SpringHill Suites Norfolk Construction Residence Inn Newport News Construction Courtyard Newport News Sheraton BWI Sheraton BWI Sheraton BWI Liberty Marketing Corporate Accounting Comfort Suites Chesapeake Residence Inn Newport News The Westin BWI The Westin BWI Southside Sales Holiday Inn Select Norfolk Westin BWI SpringHill Suites Norfolk Liberty Training Peninsula Sheraton/The Westin BWI Corporate Office Hilton Garden Inn Frederick Courtyard Chesapeake SpringHill Suites Hampton Corporate Office

Lindsey Janssen, welcomed a new baby boy on March 26th at 10:30am. The baby weighs 7.14 lbs. Congratulations to the Janssen family! We’re very excited to announce that Tom and Lynette Crouch welcomed baby Eadlyn Alexandra on Sunday, March 30 at 5:03 pm. Baby Eadlyn Alexandra weighed 6 lbs, 9 oz and was 20” long. Congratulations to the Crouch family! Marko & Eeryn Lubicich welcomed baby Ava Annetta Lubicich on April 2 at 8:23 pm. Baby Ava Annetta weighed 7 lbs 5 oz and 19.75” long. Congratulations to the Lubicich family! Chad & Crystal Williams welcomed baby Aspen Elisa on April 19 at 7:45 am. Aspen weighed 6 lbs, 3 oz and was 19.5” long. Congratulations to the Williams family!

Barrett and Caroline Wood welcomed baby Robert Barrett, IV on Saturday, May 17. Robert Barrett weighed 7 lb, 8 oz. Congratulations to the Wood family!

New Position Senior Revenue Analyst Executive Assistant General Manager SMERF Sales Manager Manager of Talent Acquisition Chief Engineer General Manager Human Resources Manager Chief Engineer

Location Liberty Revenue Liberty Sales aloft Greenbrier Southside Sales Human Resources The Westin BWI Residence Inn Chesapeake The Westin BWI Residence Inn Chesapeake

Former Position SMERF Sales Manager Revenue Analyst General Manager SMERF Sales Manager General Manager Chief Engineer General Manager Human Resources Manager Chief Engineer

Former Location Southside Sales Liberty Sales Courtyard Chesapeake Peninsula Sales Courtyard Yorktown Sheraton BWI Sheraton BWI Sheraton BWI Courtyard Chesapeake

New Position

Location

Former Position

Former Location

General Manager Executive Housekeeper Executive Housekeeper Chief Engineer Group Sales Coordinator Kitchen Manager

Couryard Chesapeake Holiday Inn Express Williamsburg SpringHill Suites Norfolk Courtyard Chesapeake Newport News Office Hilton Garden Inn Frederick

Assistant General Manager Housekeeping Supervisor Housekeeping Supervisor Maintenance Technician Front Desk Associate Cook

SpringHill Suites Greenbrier Holiday Inn Express Williamsburg SpringHill Norfolk Courtyard Norfolk SpringHill Suites Hampton Hilton Garden Inn Frederick

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Volume 3/issue 1

summer 2008

Hotel Kudos…

Stress… continued from Page 2

Associate Appreciation Week

change will materialize – so they organize. The person for whom the change doesn’t occur fast enough will go to work on a new project. Builders need to reduce stress by working with their hands. Do what comes natural to alleviate your stress.

Another exciting year at Residence Inn Norfolk! Tony Parrow

Meredith Alexander

General Manager

General Manager

In celebration of Associate Appreciation Week, the Managers at SpringHill Suites Norfolk took on the task of preparing a splendid fine dining experience for their employees. The management staff pulled out all the stops for this event, even giving each employee a printed invitation to the dinner event. Al McIntyre (Banquet Manager) and Nino Romero were responsible for the fully decked-out banquet room (with linen napkins, silverware, and china). Steven Gantt (Food and Beverage Director) and Tony Parrow (General Manger) donned their chef hats and prepared exquisite cuisine items, such as Lumped Crab Balls with Lemon Pepper Bistro Sauce, Chicken Cordon Bleu, and Garlic String Beans, just to name a few. Lastly, Selena Cherry (Executive Housekeeper) and Nathaniel Thomas (Chief Engineer) got down and dirty with the cleanup of the function after the event. The celebration was a smash hit, with an overwhelming turn out of Associates. It’s evident that the management staff over at SpringHill Suites Norfolk are true believers of Marriott’s Spirit to Serve “The Unshakable Conviction That Our People Are Our Most Important Asset.”

We were pleased to have the following staff members join our team since the last issue… Ondrea Worrell, Latrice Taylor, Carla Brown, Rosa Parks, Shaakira Foster, Marlene Williams, Tyrone Bellinger, Kenneth Midgette, and Perry Stevenson. Our employees of the 1st Quarter were Jennie Griswold (Front of the House) and Connie Sanderson (Back of the House) – Both of these associates have made significant contributions to our hotel. They always go above and beyond for our guests and their team. Thank you! Jajuan Mosby was the winner of our “Bead Boss” Contest. For one month we gave out beads to associates for comment card recognition, teamwork, turning in valid work orders, etc. Jajuan ended up with over 40 beads! He won a prize and the pleasure of being the “GM of the Day”. On Jajuan’s GM Day – Sha walked in to do our Internal Audit. We received a 95%! Jajuan learned quite a bit from Sha and now hopes to work in hotel management. Robert Denney was our runner up and won the opportunity to be the “AGM of the Day.” We also celebrated the following anniversaries during the 1st quarter into the 2nd quarter; Jennie Griswold (6 years), Elizabeth Williams (2 years), Connie Sanderson (5 years), Miriam Guieb (3 years), Cynthia Browne (2 years), Melanie Brown (2 years), Antonio Spence (1 year), Carlton Tyler (1 year), and Ronnie Ore (1 year). Too often we forget to mention the hard work our support staff contributes to our property so I would like to thank Lori Lowry, Dawn Anderson, Sidra Quezada, Georgeanne Sharp, Maria Harless, Arteria Burris, Ed Denton, and all of our sales staff! Most importantly thank you to my wonderful managers, Brian Anderson, Michael Graham, Elizabeth Williams, and Regina Harris for making Residence Inn Norfolk the team to beat! More to come in future issues…

Tony

Meredith Page 14 | The Towne Crier TowneCrier Newsletter - Summer 2008.indd 3

Challenge Your Mind-Set. Unless an event is life threatening, it’s stressful only if we choose to let it be stressful. In other words, it’s how we interpret an event that determines our reactions to it – not the event itself. If you take a negative attitude about a change in the office, you may get over it. You’ll waste more time and energy over something that was beyond your control. If you decide to make the best of it and go with the flow, you can remain positive and work through any related stress. Laugh. Laughter is one of the best stress relievers. Like exercise, it gets the endorphins (yes, the endorphins again) flowing through your body. The situation may not change, but your outlook can be altered by feeling better through laughter. Other stress relievers are volunteering, shopping, reading, gardening, participating in a sport (player or spectator), reflection, meditation, or prayer. The list is endless. Do what makes you feel good. Stress works on you and can get you down. If you’re going to make change work for you, you have to work through the stress in positive ways. And it all begins with the commitment to do something instead of nothing. LTD has wonderful changes happening – new hotels, new employees, changes within departments…

Thanks for your support!

Damian in uniform

I would like to first thank everyone for supporting me while I was deployed. There were times that during the little lul’s that we had that I always wondered what was going on at my old property. Sometimes I looked at sunsets and thanked God that I had a family that is supportive. I always tell people that I have three families: my immediate family, my army reserve family, and finally my LTD family. One of the things that made me join LTD and that makes me thankful to be with LTD is the thought of family. My new position with the company is Talent Acquisition and I know our company has lots of talent in it and I intend to find it, develop it, and hopefully come up with a program to promote it. It’s the housekeeper that does two additional rooms after her board. It’s the desk clerk that doesn’t mind staying after because someone is late. It’s the managers that do the special things for their staff that makes us what we are. I look forward to our relationship and doing great things together.

Damian

Thank You! … Thank You! … I’ve had two employees come back from the New Hire Orientation and all they could talk about was how much of a good time they had with you gals. Most importantly, the positive feedback on how they were impressed with LTD as a company. I think that it is very important for all our employees to know what the company has to offer and the different opportunities they have. I really feel that it is not just me and my staff but people like you that are really helping me out to help train them and keep them aboard.

Let’s live, love, and laugh through whatever stress these changes bring.

June Sara Herdsman, Human Resources Generalist and Jessica Rosa, Training Coordinator

Lamaquia Boone The Towne Crier | Page 3 8/14/08 12:33:34 PM

Volume 3/issue 1

summer 2008

Sales Central

Hotel Groundbreaking

Living a Passionate Life

Computer rendering of the front exterior of the Sheraton Dulles South which is expected to open in the Fall of 2009.

Martha Fraser Vice President of Sales

Passion is intensity of emotion, enthusiasm, or conviction. It is that fire in your belly that drives you. Passion isn’t only about your career or job; but about every aspect of your life. Leading a passionate life encompasses every part of your life — your career, your relationships, your hobbies, your causes. Pursuing your passions connects you to your soul and satisfies your deep cravings for a meaningful life. When you are following your passion you will experience profound happiness, fulfillment, and success.

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focus while engaged in your passion allows you to come back to work with a sense of accomplishment, clarity of purpose and energy to achieve the tasks at hand.

Photo Credit: Sandra Hall

Engaging your passion can be as simple as enjoying your love for bird-watching, gardening, reading, or walking in the woods. It can also be something huge and life altering like working to help end homelessness. Think about the last time you stopped to enjoy the beauty of a sunset or sunrise and the incredible hues of orange, pink, and purple. Think about a time when you were engaged in an activity that you love — at work or play. A time when you were so absorbed in the activity that you completely lost track of time. When you get absorbed in moments like this you are connected with your passion. Living a passionate life means being present in the moment to appreciate and enjoy the small things in life in addition to having an overriding passion that drives your life’s work. Once you know what some of your passions are (big or small), you need to make time and space in your life to pursue them. Cultivating your passion will begin to spark and awaken other passions. As you continue to follow your heart and connect with that fire in your belly you will reap the rewards of living passionately. Passion can be a powerful driving force that allows you to plow through obstacles in order to reach your goals. Complete mental

Martha Fraser, Vice President of Sales, riding on her horse ‘Stanley’.

If you are not sure what your passions are, start experimenting. Try taking a class – cooking, photography, computer skills, knitting, exercise, writing, yoga, etc. Think about things you enjoyed as a child and check them out again. Make a list of all the things you would do if you had no limits – you know, the things that you secretly dream about doing but feel you can’t. This list can guide you as you begin living your passionate life. Start small and stop to smell the roses – literally. Pay attention

to and appreciate the beauty that is around you – flowers, sunsets, smiles, playful children, etc. Instead of living on autopilot and simply going through the motions, you can begin to appreciate the small things in your life. Many people know what their passions are, but are afraid to make the necessary changes in their lives to follow their passion. Be courageous and be bold! It is important to remember that pursuing your passions creates happiness and helps you find meaning in life. So, even if you try some new venture and fail  (by objective standards) you still win because you have the deep satisfaction that you gain from living passionately. Start now! You can’t keep waiting for extra time to magically appear so that you can pursue your passions. You have to make the effort and carve out the time. Get up an hour early. Turn off the TV one or more nights a week. While it may seem like a difficult thing to do at first, after you get going you will find that taking this time is well worth it. The rewards (happiness, joy, and deep satisfaction with life) of living passionately far outweigh the risks. Start pursuing your passions today. It is time to ignite that fire in your belly and fulfill your purpose in life. It is time to be bold and live passionately!

Martha

Sheraton Dulles South Breaks Ground LTD broke ground on the 243-room Sheraton Dulles South on Tuesday, May 27. Approximately eight miles from Dulles International Airport, the new hotel will offer a complimentary airport shuttle service to travelers. The Sheraton will be the first of the Starwood family to enter the Dulles South area and is slated to open in 2009. The Sheraton Dulles will offer 9,000 square feet of

flexible meeting and banquet areas. Additional facilities include a concierge floor and club lounge, state-of-the-art fitness center, business center, and sundry shop. Adjacent to the lobby, guests will find an inviting full-service restaurant outfitted with a fireplace, expansive windows, and burnished light fixtures. Please visit the LTD Media Center for the complete press release.

Hilton Garden Inn Hampton Coliseum Central Open House

Sheley Dickens, HGI Banquet Server, making her rounds at the open house

Officially opening the Hilton Garden Inn Hampton are (from left to right) Kush Thakkar, Managing Partner; Jimmy Eason, Director of Economic Development Development; Malay Thakkar, Managing Partner; Neel Desai, Managing Partner; Tejal Desai, Managing Partner; Blaine Dorsey, Hilton Garden Inn Hampton General Manager; and Randall Gilliland, Vice Mayor of Hampton

Kameren Polasek, HGI Cook, manning the buffet station Eunice Gibbs, NN Sales Office; Blaine Dorsey, GM HGI; and Sarah Armstrong, NN Sales, poses for the camera

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Volume 3/issue 1

summer 2008

How a Team Becomes a Family…

SpringHill Suites Hampton Coliseum Central

Spending as much time as we do with our co-workers and team members, sometimes it seems like we spend more time with each other than we do with our families! And while we are striving for and achieving our goals, sometimes we start to treat each other like family… Is that a good thing? For the most part, yes! The Peninsula Sales Team is not exactly “one, big happy family,” but we treat each other with the same respect, concern, and support that we offer our family members. You’ve heard it said that respect is “earned, not given,”

Photo Credit: Mendell dela Cruz

Newest Addition to the LTD Hotel Family

The Honorable Mayor Ross Kearney II, Mr. Desai, Dan Bettencourt, Councilwoman Angela Lee Leary, Kush Thakkar, and Mr. Thakkar kick off the event at the ribbon-cutting ceremony. The SpringHill Suites Hampton Coliseum held its Grand Opening event on Thursday, May 15 from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm. The Peninsula Sales Team led tours for the hundreds of guests in attendance. Dan Bettencourt surprised the Peninsula Sales Team with awards and pins for their sales success on OPENING HOT! Tavius Johnson, Eunice Gibbs, Joyce Byington-Clark, Taryn Boone, Kelli Henry, and Amy Walker hold the OPEN HOT trophies that were presented by Dan Bettencourt. On its very first night, the SpringHill Suites Hampton opened with 50% occupancy and $100 ADR.

Photo Credits: Mendell dela Cru z

The Fairfield Inn & Suites Chesapeake finished their hotel renovations, with a sleek design and new furnishings. Highlights of the renovation include a transformed lobby, breakfast area, business and fitness centers, and refreshed guest rooms and suites. A HUGE thanks and job well done to the hotel staff, Kurt Hanger, and the entire LTD Construction Team.

TowneCrier Newsletter - Summer 2008.indd 5

other member as successful as possible. Knowing that there are other people looking out for them makes every one more confident, more secure, and happier… Regional Director of Sales thereby, more successful. And when that happens, we all win!

Kelli A. Henry

Kelli

Marketing Minutes

Everyone’s role in Marcom As times of change are upon us from the current economic conditions and the aggressive pace of LTD’s development… the marketing team has excelled with accomplishing many important activities. One of the biggest goals is our emphasis on the value of communication and every associate’s role in it.

The ‘New and Sleek’ Fairfield Inn & Suites Chesapeake…

Page 12 | The Towne Crier

haven’t you? While that may be true, is your benchmark for “earned” too high? When respect is given is it given unconditionally? And how does any of this relate to Sales? How confident, successful, and happy you are as a person is often defined by how you feel in the nest of your family. All of those traits project onto those you come in contact with during your day. I have often said to my “family” that we win together and we lose together. Every effort will be made by each “family” member to make every

Many people view marketing communications (or MarCom) as a role specific to a marketing department or an outside agency. What people fail to realize is that everyone is involved: from the sales person who is out landing accounts for our hotels to the housekeepers and desk associates who take care of our guests at the property. Every single time any employee communicates with a guest, client, or business partner, they are involved in marketing communications. The marketing department helps the company in shaping the communications for everyone. We focus on improving our corporate and hotel branding and help ensure that everyone at all levels are consistent with the

company message and how that message is delivered. Specifically, how our hotels are represented to the internal/ external consumer or guest as well as the company events, awards and milestones. One of the marketing team’s missions is to keep LTD in the news and the activities of the department reflect the high level of publicity LTD has received in many reputable publications and the media. The marketing team is also undertaking the tremendous task of changing the identity of LTD and launching a new name in the near future. This will result in a new graphic identity and format for all of the company communications such as the Towne Crier and The Crier newsletter.

Kimberly Schlick Vice President of Marketing

These communications are important as they give everyone in the company an opportunity to share news from both the corporate headquarters and each property. As stated earlier, these are times of change and that brings concerns and uncertainty to many of us. The Share Success email is a critical component of the great stories and guest service feedback happening every day at LTD. Please continue to send in those successes so that everyone can share in them and focus on the positives that great associates are making happen all the time!

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Volume 3/issue 1

summer 2008

Breakthroughs in eMarketing In 1968, Dr. Spencer Silver, a scientist at 3M, discovered a chemical formula. The formula didn’t have a practical use until Art Fry, Silver’s colleague, had an epiphany at church one day. Fry could not keep the bookmark in his choir’s hymnal book from falling out, so he wondered how

LTD Management Company, LLC (LTD) has announced Marion Sawyer as the recipient of their first ever Sai-Kar Award. The award, named after its founders Dilip Desai and Hari Thakkar, is based partly on LTD’s five Core Values: Communication, Continuous Improvement, Developing People, Maximizing Resources and Teamwork. It is the highest honor an employee can achieve at LTD. Nominees must reflect each of the Core Values, exemplify LTD’s Credo: “Know It, Share It, Live It” and support the community through volunteer efforts. Marion has done all of these things during her tenure at LTD, and now as the Community Affairs Manager, she is able to inspire her peers while doing what she loves: serving others. Nominees’ names are submitted by fellow LTD associates. “Our values enable us to manage our

Nedie Recel Director of e-Marketing

he could use the sticky substance to keep his bookmark in place. After many hours of trial and error in the lab, Fry developed the biggest breakthrough at 3M – the Post-it® Note. We often think that our breakthroughs have to be as monumental as Art Fry’s invention. However, our personal and professional lives are filled with plenty of breakthrough moments. Think about the last time you found a faster way to set up a banquet room or that “ah-ha!” moment you had when you figured out how to run a report in Delphi. Here are some ways to inspire your next breakthrough:

Connect the Dots Think about Art Fry’s connection between Dr. Spencer Silver’s formula and his bookmark. Finding a creative solution is about making connections between ideas, things, and people that may have not existed before. Inspiration is everywhere – you just have to make the connection.

could have potential. Just make sure you’ve calculated the pros and cons behind this new breakthrough.

Make the Leap Take a risk knowing that your idea

Nedie

Learn from Your Mistakes and Celebrate Your Successes Having that “ah-ha” moment doesn’t happen after one try. It is learning from trial-and-error, while celebrating every win along the way.

eMarketing is proud to share some of our own breakthroughs over the past year:

•

Luminous Restaurant on MySpace and Facebook & aloft Chesapeake on MySpace – We wanted to find a more effective way to spread the word about Luminous Restaurant at The Westin BWI and our aloft. We’ve created profiles on MySpace and Facebook to promote Luminous’ delicious menu and sophisticated atmosphere. Rob Murphy, GM at the aloft Chesapeake, and Sales Manager Blair Ore will be adding a personal touch to aloft’s MySpace profile. Rob and Blair are managing the profile and are sharing photographs of the hotel during development and will use it to promote events at the w xyz bar after it opens. eMarketing Newsletter – eMarketing

was challenged with how we should communicate our eMarketing campaigns to the field. As a solution, we created the monthly eMarketing newsletter to share news, best practices, and brand standards to our staff. •

Brand Photography – Over the years, we’ve contracted photographers or used stock photography on our brand websites and sales collateral. We had a breakthrough moment when we realized we could use the talents of our Graphic Designer, Mendell dela Cruz. Mendell owns his own design and photography business, so we’ve taken advantage of his amazing talents to photograph our SpringHill Suites Hampton, Courtyard Chesapeake, and Fairfield Inn & Suites

New Intranet using Microsoft SharePoint – With the tremendous growth of our employees, we wanted to find a more effective way to communicate and share news, reports, and other important information across our organization. To do so, Kelly Reed Waters has been working on a solution to combine all of these resources using web software called Microsoft SharePoint. Microsoft SharePoint will integrate the resources on our Extranet, shared drive, Microsoft Outlook, and Microsoft Office into one easy-to-use website. Look out for more details from Kelly soon!

We will have even more breakthroughs to share over the next several weeks including an exciting YouTube initiative. Please keep checking our eMarketing Newsletter for more information.

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Senior Managing Partners and Cofounders Dilip Desai and Hari Thakkar present Marion Sawyer with the 2007 Sai-Kar Award.

Chesapeake. •

Congratulations to Marion Sawyer, the winner of the 2007 Sai-Kar Award and to the three finalists Dawn Anderson, Paul Higgins, and Tracy Henderson.

VIP Visit

LTD welcomed Mr. Bill Marriott on Wednesday, May 14 to the SpringHill Suites Norfolk. Mr. Bill Marriott toured the newly renovated Fairfield Inn & Suites Chesapeake, the Courtyard Chesapeake, and the Residence Inn Chesapeake Greenbrier.

Photo Credit: Mendell dela Cruz

•

hotels more efficiently and help build character for our associates. Marion has embodied these values since day one, twenty years ago when she joined our team. We couldn’t be more proud to honor her with this award,” said Hari Thakkar, Cofounder and Managing Partner of LTD. Sawyer was picked out of the four final nominees for the inaugural award. Under her leadership, LTD won the “Spirit to Serve” Award at Marriott’s 2007 Owner’s Conference. Sawyer began her career with LTD as a Night Auditor, working her way into General Management and Accounts Payable before becoming Manager of the Community Affairs Department – a position created specifically for her leadership skills.

Photo Credits: Mendell dela Cruz

LTD Awards Marion Sawyer with the Company’s Highest Honor

Mr. Bill Marriott poses with Kimberly Schlick, Vice President of Marketing; Malay Thakkar, Managing Partner; Howard Woods, Area Manager; Tony Parrow, SpringHill Suites Norfolk General Manager; and Neel Desai, Managing Partner.

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Volume 3/issue 1

summer 2008

Announcement of The Westin Norfolk Hotel & Conference Center

New Headquarters

Rendering of the exterior of The Westin Norfolk Hotel & Conference Center

Mayor Paul D. Fraim and Malay Thakkar of the Norfolk Hotel Alliance LLC, announced that a Westin flag has been confirmed at the Downtown Norfolk Hotel and Conference Center and all agreements with the Norfolk Hotel Alliance LLC and the City of Norfolk have been solidified. “We are delighted to be able to confirm the Starwood brand for this significant investment and future icon for the City of Norfolk,” said Mayor Fraim. Malay Thakkar, Managing Partner of LTD, speaking on behalf of the Norfolk Hotel Alliance LLC, a

Management and the Norfolk Convention and Visitors Bureau will cooperatively represent The Westin Hotel to meeting planners. The complete article can be read in its entirety by logging onto the News & Press Section in the LTD Corporate Website at www.ltdmanagement.com/ news.aspx “Agreements completed for the Westin Norfolk Hotel and Conference Center”

Grand Ballroom, a 4,000 square foot “state-of-the-art” media meeting room, as well as three floors of meeting and

“We are excited to have the opportunity to bring to Norfolk a style that is architecturally inspiring and thoughtfully designed,” – Malay Thakkar Managing Partner of LTD

partnership between LTD Management, Robinson Development Group, and Fulco Development, Inc. said, “As the leader of the upper-upscale brand segment for hotels and resorts, The Westin will raise the bar of lodging choices in Downtown.” Slated to open in 2011, the 23-story Norfolk Westin and Conference Center will have 301 guest rooms featuring 12 luxury suites on ten floors. The 50,000 square foot conference center will have a 21,000 square foot

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ballroom space. Ample parking will be provided with over 600 spaces connected to the hotel. The top six floors of the hotel tower will be private residential condominiums that have been pre-sold. The hotel will have two restaurants, a full service hotel restaurant and a ground floor restaurant, which will be leased to a national upscale concept. The Westin will begin booking conferences this summer. A Westin marketing sales office on Main Street is planned to open in early fall. LTD

LTD’s Success & Growth Propels Company to Urban Chic Downtown Norfolk

Rendering of the exterior of the Wachovia Center

After scouting out a few sites, LTD decided to join the growing roster of companies, retailers and residents who are calling downtown Norfolk home. It plans to move into the $170 million Wachovia Center after its opens in 2010 while maintaining the Chesapeake location as a regional office. “Downtown Norfolk is the center of business in the region, and we want to be part of that growth and renewal,” says Thakkar. “The entire downtown has gone through such revitalization in the past 15 years. Moving into the future, we see more growth and a pro-business environment.” The complete article can be read in its entirety by logging onto the News & Press Section in the LTD Corporate Website at www.ltdmanagement.com/ news.aspx “LTD’s success and growth propels company to urban chic Downtown Norfolk”

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Volume 3/issue 1

summer 2008

Helping Hands Highlights

Marion Sawyer Community Affairs Manager

June 2008 is the second anniversary for the Community Affairs Department. We continue to do great things in

p 2008 MDA Lock-U

2008 Food Bank Missi on 2008 Taste of Hampton Roads

our communities. The Non-profits and companies we partner with always look forward to working with us on the next project. You are really amazing. We welcome all our new associates to the Community Affairs Department. Everyone came to LTD with an excitement and a devotion to Community service. We welcome back Damian Polewzcak from his tour of duty in Iraq, to our tour of the communities. We missed you Damian and we are glad to have you back home and at LTD. I would like to thank our board and committee members who help to make sure we operate efficiently and stay within the guidelines of the IRS. Many of you owned projects and carried them out successfully. Thank you for your support and dedication to the commitment LTD has made to our communities.

In the first quarter of this year, LTD associates contributed their time, money, and hearts toward several worthy causes. Here are just a few of the highlights: Volunteered Hours: 267.25 Money Raised: $1,843.00 Donated Goods and Services: $2,012.00 Top Volunteer: Joyce Byington-Clark, Newport News Sales Top Property: Residence Inn Norfolk Top Donor of Goods and Services: Kelley Gamble, Corporate Accounting Mark your calendars for the City of Chesapeake’s First Project Homeless Connect at the Dr. Clarence V. Cuffee Community Center on 2019 Windy Road, Chesapeake, VA 23324. The event will take place on Thursday, April 24 from 1 to 6 pm.

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This year several of Courtyard – Downtown associates volunteered for the Taste of Hampton Roads, which is the largest fund raiser for the Food Bank of Hampton Roads. There were many local restaurants sharing their culinary skills. Theresa and Louie worked the silent auction and there was a $5,000 diamond ring bided on during the event.  The experience was awesome as well as knowing that the proceeds will go to the Kid’s Café and other charitable organizations as we fight to put an end to hunger.

We do everything with heart. The reflections our associates share with me and each other, let me know we are headed in the right direction. Thank you LTD Management Company, for two fantastic and heartfelt years of serving our communities. I look forward to working with each one of you, your family members, and friends doing what we do best: give hope with heart.

Marion

 

Future projects for LTD’s Community Affairs Department Remember our family and friends are always welcomed to join us. August

Project Homeless Connect 2008

September

Day of Caring 2008

September

27th Bikers Against Diabetes (B.A.D. Ride)

October

Food Bank Mission

October

Annual Blood Drives

November

Pile on the Bed (school supplies drive)

November

CHKD Radiothon and Change Bandits

2008 Dismal Swamp Stomp

2008 Classic Car Show

Courtyard was also on the move for the 4th time representing LTD at the Classic Car Show, held at Kimnach Ford in Norfolk. The proceeds will benefit the American Red Cross of Hampton Roads. Beep, Beep! We keep it Moving.

‘Special Events Volunteer of the Year’ Named by the Red Cross of Southeastern Virginia Marion Sawyer was awarded the Special Events Volunteer of the Year by the American Red Cross of Southeastern Virginia. The inaugural award was given to Ms. Marion for her volunteer work following the Hurricane Katrina and Suffolk Tor- Erika Dillard, Volunteer Coordinator Specialist from the Amerinado disasters. Ms. Marion was featured can Red Cross, presents the award to Marion Sawyer. among other Outstanding Volunteers on the American Red Cross’ website.

Photo Credit: Mendell dela Cruz

Second Anniversary for Community Affairs

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