Marcus® Hotels & Resorts Announces Leadership Changes at the Skirvin Hilton Hotel and Westin Atlanta
Marcus® Hotels & Resorts Announces Leadership Changes at the Skirvin Hilton Hotel and Westin Atlanta Perimeter North
Martin van der Laan to assume general manager role at the Westin Atlanta Perimeter North; Roseann Grippo to assume general manager role at the Skirvin Hilton Hotel
MILWAUKEE--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Marcus® Hotels & Resorts, a division of The Marcus Corporation (NYS: MCS) , today announced two hotel general manager appointments. Martin van der Laan, former general manager of the historic AAA Four Diamond Skirvin Hilton Hotel in Oklahoma City, Okla., has been appointed general manager of the company's Westin Atlanta Perimeter North hotel in Atlanta, Ga. and industry leader Roseann Grippo has been named the new general manager of the Skirvin Hilton Hotel.
Martin van der Laan (Photo: Business Wire)
Van der Laan joined Marcus Hotels & Resorts in 2008. During his time with the company, he has served as general manager of the Platinum Hotel and Spa in Las Vegas, Nev. and the Xona Resort Suites in Scottsdale, Ariz. He joined the Skirvin Hilton in 2011 and since then has led the hotel in achieving service scores in the top five-percent for the Hilton brand. Under his leadership, the Skirvin Hilton was named 2012 Best Hotel in Oklahoma City and in the state of Oklahoma by U.S. News & World Report and was one of only four Hilton Hotels included on the list. The hotel has also received a AAA Four Diamond rating since its reopening in 2007. Born and raised in Holland, Van der Laan's 30-year hospitality career includes working for six-star cruise operations and luxury hotels in Switzerland, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Nevada and Florida.
Grippo brings 24 years of hospitality experience to Marcus Hotels & Resorts. A long-time veteran of the Hawaii hotel industry, she most recently served as general manager of the legendary Kahala Hotel & Resort in Honolulu, Hawaii, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2014. Under her leadership, The Kahala received numerous awards from major tourism publications and organizations, including Forbes Travel Guide, Conde Nast, Travel + Leisure and TripAdvisor. She also initiated the hotel's first James Beard Foundation Dinner, which resulted in funding to establish a new scholarship in the hotel's name at the Culinary Arts School at Kapiolani Community College. Prior to joining The Kahala, Grippo worked with Starwood Hotels and Resorts for nearly a decade in positions including manager of the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel, Starwood's flagship property in Hawaii, and director of food and beverage for Starwood in Hawaii and French Polynesia. Her career also includes 13 years with Hyatt Hotels and Resorts Worldwide.
"A seasoned hospitality veteran, Martin led the Skirvin Hilton through its 100th anniversary and in maintaining its premier position in the market. I know Martin will do a fantastic job in guiding our most recent hotel acquisition through its $14 million renovation. I'm also proud to welcome Roseann to Marcus Hotels & Resorts. Her passion for hotel operations, deep knowledge of the food and beverage industry and drive to create an exceptional guest experience will be a tremendous asset to the historic Skirvin Hilton's continued growth and success," said Kirk A. Rose, president of Marcus Hotels & Resorts.
For more information on the latest news and updates from Marcus Hotels & Resorts, please visit: http://media.marcushotels.com.
About The Skirvin Hilton Hotel
Opened in 1911, the Skirvin closed in 1988 but remained on the National Register of Historic Places. The hotel re-opened in 2007 following a complete renovation and restoration that maintained its historic details, while adding the amenities preferred by today's guests. The reopening was so significant it was designated as an official Oklahoma Centennial event. The hotel features 225 luxuriously appointed guest rooms, including 20 one-bedroom suites, one presidential suite and 18,500 square feet of premiere meeting and pre-function space. It is home to the upscale Park Avenue Grill restaurant and Red Piano lounge.
Last year, the Skirvin was named one of the best hotel meeting destinations and received a prestigious Pinnacle Award from Successful Meetings magazine. The hotel was also once again recognized as one of the 2012 Best Hotels in the USA by U.S. News & World Report, finishing as the #1 hotel in Oklahoma City and the state of Oklahoma. The Skirvin Hilton is a Four Diamond AAA hotel and has received the Hilton Brand Award of Excellence 2012 from Hilton Worldwide.
For more information, please visit www.skirvinhilton.com and follow the company on Facebook (www.facebook.com/TheSkirvinHilton ) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/SkirvinHiltonOK ).
About the Westin Atlanta Perimeter North
Located just 15 miles from downtown Atlanta, the 372-room Westin Atlanta Perimeter North, is an oasis for the busy traveler. Adjacent to the Concourse Athletic Club, the fourth largest health facility in the nation, the full-service hotel includes 20,000 square feet of meeting space, an amphitheater style learning center and boardroom, banquet facilities, restaurant, lounge, fitness center, gift shop, outdoor pool and 338 parking spaces. Undergoing a $14 million renovation, this already beautiful property is about to get even better. Guests can explore the Concourse Corporate Center, a 63-acre, mixed-use complex featuring 2.1 million square-feet of Class A office space, restaurants, retail shops and services. The Westin Atlanta Perimeter North is just a short drive from Atlanta and its major attractions, including the world's largest aquarium, the Georgia Aquarium, as well as Atlanta's new retail and entertainment district - Atlantic Station. The Westin Atlanta Perimeter North is managed by Marcus Hotels & Resorts. The hotel is owned by Carey Watermark Investors, The Arden Group and Marcus Hotels & Resorts. For more information on the hotel, visit http://www.starwoodhotels.com/westin/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=1022 and find the hotel on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/westinatlnorth).
Marcus Hotels & Resorts
Marcus Hotels & Resorts, a division of The Marcus Corporation (NYS: MCS) , owns and/or manages 20 hotels, resorts and other properties in 11 states. A force in the hospitality industry, Marcus Hotels & Resorts provides expertise in management, development and historic renovations. The company's portfolio includes a wide variety of properties including city-center meeting hotels, upscale resorts and branded first-class hotels. For more information on the latest news and updates, please visit: http://media.marcushotels.com and follow the company on Facebook and Twitter (@MarcusHotels).
Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available:http://www.businesswire.com/multimedia/home/20130906005531/en/
Vollrath Associates
Jessica Vollrath
(414) 221-0218
jvollrath@vollrathpr.com
KEYWORDS: United States North America Georgia Oklahoma Wisconsin
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