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LodgingNews October 2013 Vol. 10 No. 8
c a n a d a ’ s
l o d g i n g
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Wyndham plans Howard Johnson reinvigoration By Colleen Isherwood, Editor LAS VEGAS—A massive ramp opened on the stage and Eric Danziger, president and CEO of Wyndham Hotel Group, emerged as Iron Man.
Eric Danziger as Iron Man, Superman and himself.
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WYNDHAM COVERAGE CONTINUES ON PAGE 6
The theatrics were not without precedent—at past conferences Danziger has landed in a space shuttle and climbed Mount Everest. Reaching into his extensive “Halloween closet,” Danziger appeared as characters from Superman, Spiderman, The Lone Ranger, Sherlock Holmes, Lincoln, and—in line with this year’s conference theme, Together 2013—some of The Avengers characters. One of the highlights of the opening session of the conference, held at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas last month and attracting 6,000 owners and GMs, was the announcement of a marketing campaign to be launched on U.S. television in 2014, that would encompass all 15 Wyndham brands. The other highlight is what Wyndham calls the “reinvigoration” of Howard Johnson. When Danziger came to Wyndham four years ago, one of his priorities was improvement of the iconic HoJo brand. “Howard Johnson is a brand that for millions of travellers conjures fond memories of ice cream cones and family vacations,” said Danziger. “It’s a name that carries with it incredible equity. Reinvigoration is about growing the brand and restoring it to its rightful place within the industry by inspiring that same type of brand loyalty and affinity from a new generation of consumers.”
As part of the unveiling, the brand shared conceptual interior and exterior designs that will begin appearing at yet-to-be-announced test locations throughout the U.S. as early as the end of next year. Best described as clean, fresh, fun and timeless, the designs showcase a new Howard Johnson that, while modern in look and feel, offers a playful nod to its past. As an example, HoJo used to be famous for its 28 flavours of ice cream, and the brand is looking at ways to bring select flavours of ice cream back as a signature offering at all of its hotels. Also unveiled were early details around a new service training initiative that will launch as part of the larger project, an effort the brand believes will play an integral role shaping the overall guest experience at hotels. “We want people to celebrate its rich history without becoming too retro,” said John Valletta, president, Howard Johnson. “We want to focus on memories—ice cream and the colour orange.” He also wants HoJo to compete in the midscale segment once again, as the brand has often been competing in the economy sector. “It’s for kids at heart of every age. The design is fun and shows we don’t take ourselves too seriously.”
Have you had your banana today?
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Fairmont Le Château Montebello has a unique program that encourages staff at all levels to put on a smile.
Spotlight on new convention centres
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It’s hard to remember a time when there has been so much building and revitalizing of convention space, with much of the focus on Atlantic Canada.
Fortis’s attention to health and safety pays off ST. JOHN’S, NL—Nora Duke, president and CEO, Fortis Properties, came to the hotel and commercial real estate company from Fortis’ parent, which is in the electrical utility business. “Due to the nature of that business, there was a fair amount of safety, and I came from that background,” Duke told CLN. At Newfoundland Power, a utility company primarily
involved in power distribution, she was responsible for HR, safety and customer satisfaction. While hotels and commercial buildings don’t have many of the obvious dangers of a utility company, there is certainly potential for risk, with plenty of trips, slips, falls and soft-tissue injuries, Duke noted. When Duke came to Fortis Properties 10 years ago, she brought that
focus with her. “At that time, there was a growing concern about workers’ compensation claims, and we had to get our heads around that,” she said. Fortis Properties started formally tracking health and safety just over a decade ago. The company has 23 hotels, 2.7 million square feet of commercial real estate and 2,400 employees spread over eight provincial jurisdictions. “When we realized we had an
issue with worker heath and safety, we had a big ship to turn,” said Duke. “We realized it would not be a quick fix, but a shift in culture that would mature over time. We have to keep focusing on this, making it a priority every single day.” Fortis’ goals are not financial targets, but expectations and responsibilities. Continued on page 7
Four Seasons Pavilion comes to Canada
It’s a snow-covered ski canteen, a fruit market or a fine-dining restaurant. And Egon von Foidl seeks a demonstration site.
Build with the Brand that’s Building. We’re proud to welcome our newest G2 Prototype Days Inn hotels in Winnipeg, MB and Yorkton, SK. Want to be next? Days Inns - Canada 416.966.8387 daysinn@realstarhospitality.com A Division of Realstar Hospitality
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