MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (May 29, 2002)——- Park Hospitality, parent company of Park Plaza and Park Inn hotels in North America and Asia Pacific, today unveiled a new training program focused on building business leadership skills to enhance the guest experience and empower hotel employees.
“Creative Leadership” training provides general managers with leadership skills to help create an environment that enables staff to use their Park Pride tools in a manner that will meet and exceed guest expectations. Park Pride is the brand`s employee training and recognition program designed to motivate and engage employees in their work, as well as empower them to deliver first-class customer service. Pride is an acronym for Personal Responsibility, Integrity and Dedication to Excellence.

“As everyone in the hospitality industry knows, we are facing a number of challenges and obstacles, but along with those items come opportunities,” said Tom Griffiths, vice president of sales and marketing for Park Hospitality. “This course is designed to help hotel managers and management companies recognize and leverage those opportunities in order to succeed no matter what the business climate.”

The key to the executive training program, which will be launched in June, is exclusive access to award-winning technology and tools made available through Park Hospitality`s powerful parent organization, Carlson Hospitality Worldwide. The training customizes the tools to the specific needs of Park Inn and Park Plaza hotels. General managers will be provided brand-specific information, cross-disciplinary resources, self-study tools and peer mentoring opportunities.

The training will be tied closely to each hotel`s annual Quality Performance Review, which helps ensure quality service at every guest touch point.

The 1 1/2-day seminar will be offered in East and West coast locations in June with additional seminars planned for fall. The Creative leadership training is the crowning touch of the Park Pride employee training program that was launched in April 2001.

p>Park Plaza hotels are positioned in the mid-scale to upscale segment of the full service hotel category. These hotels are generally 150 rooms or larger and located in downtown, suburban and airport commercial locations. With restaurants, meeting rooms, catering, suites and recreational facilities, the hotels serve the travel needs of business guests, meeting attendees and weekend leisure guests.
Park Inn hotels are positioned within the economy to mid-scale segment of the limited service hotel category. Park Inn is primarily a conversion brand that serves a wide range of guests in suburban and leisure destinations. Park Inn hotels offer a free continental breakfast, as well as special amenities and services for both business and leisure travelers.
Park Hospitality, part of Minneapolis-based Carlson Hospitality Worldwide, consists of Park Plaza and Park Inn hotels in North America and Asia Pacific. Park Hospitality works closely with Park Plaza Worldwide LLC and Park Plaza Asia Pacific to build the brand internationally. Park Plaza Worldwide owns and operates Park Plaza hotels in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Africa, Mexico, the Caribbean and Latin America. Park Plaza Asia Pacific is the exclusive master franchisee of Park Plaza and Park Inn hotels in 35 South Pacific and Southeast Asian countries. There are currently more than 100 Park Plaza and Park Inn hotels located throughout the world. For reservations can be made online at http://www.parkhtls.com, through a travel agent or in North America, call 800-670-7275.

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