Overland Park, KS - December 21, 2020
True North Hotel Group today proudly announced that it has received two outstanding national awards for 2020 from Marriott International, Inc.: the first-ever Residence Inn Local Culture Council of the Year award; and, also, a Team Member of the Year award, presented to Front Office Supervisor Jessica Ferrantino for her outstanding service delivery at both the SpringHill Suites and Residence Inn hotels in Fishkill, NY.
True North was the only hotel development and management company to receive the national Residence Inn Local Culture Council award, and Ferrantino was the only associate to win the award for two different brands. Both awards were presented virtually in mid-December by Marriott.
Lew Wiens, chairman of True North Hotel Group – who this month was also named one of only six “Local Heroes” by Ingram’s Kansas City – said that the philosophy of giving back has been an established core value of the company since its founding three decades ago. “In our communities and hotels, making sure people are taken care of has been our number one priority for all of our 30 years,” he said.
John Lapeire, vice president, Marriott International, said, “The Residence Inn Local Culture Council of the Year was awarded to the Council that worked as a team to positively impact the hotels in their group and participate in community service. That the members of True North Hotel Group’s Council are in different cities did not prevent them from being productive in 2020. Together they volunteered a total of 279 hours and raised over $7,500 in cash donations. These winners also took leadership initiative to host a training on the book ‘Yes Is the Answer’ to make their hotels better and stronger for each guest and associate. They clearly thrive on each other’s success and passion to be leaders in their hotels and communities.”
Referring to Ferrantino’s awards, Lapeire added, “The fact that Jessica received the recognition for two different brands is also remarkable.”
Jerry Culkin, True North’s vice president of operations, added, “It should be known that Jessica’s general manager, Lisa Brady, is also the the committee leader for the Local Culture Council. I am proud of the examples set by Lisa, Jessica, and our company founder Lew Wiens, and even more proud to know that they represent hundreds of True North associates around the country who truly embrace what it means to serve.”
True North Hotel Group’s core strengths as an established, pioneering developer of extended stay and select service hotels, and its expertise in third-party management, have long placed the company at the forefront of major brands and investors that recognize the company’s ability to deliver innovative solutions, best-in-class results and exceptional guest experiences. A proud seven-time recipient of Marriott International’s Partnership Circle Award, True North’s portfolio will by the second quarter of 2021 include 30 hotels within the Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt and Holiday Inn brands. Another Home2Suites is slated to break ground in the second quarter of 2021, along with additional sites identified for ground-up opportunities and acquisitions.