Candlewood Hotel Co. (Nasdaq: CNDL) has named Gary Misczak as general manager for the new Candlewood Suites on the Michigan State University campus in Lansing, Mich. Ryan Stewart is the new director of sales. The hotel is the state’s seventh Candlewood and is set to open in early March.
Misczak brings nearly 20 years of hotel experience to his new position. Most recently, he was general manager of the Detroit, Southfield Candlewood Suites. Under his leadership, the Southfield hotel won Candlewood’s 1999 and 2000 gold awards for exceptional quality assurance and other top performance factors, including revenue and occupancy. Misczak was personally honored in 1999 as outstanding general manager for his region. Prior to Candlewood, Misczak held management positions for Hampton Inn and Residence Inn, where he also was recognized for increasing revenue. Misczak has also been an instructor for Oakland Community College’s (Farmington, Mich.) hospitality degree program. Stewart joined Candlewood last spring, working with the directors of sales at two other Michigan Candlewood Suites.
Stewart also held sales account executive positions for CBS Radio in Detroit. Along with his sales experiences, Stewart brings to the job an in-depth knowledge of the area business market.
The new Candlewood Suites is part of the University Park complex, serving business professionals continuing their education. It is conveniently located at 3545 Forest Road across from the University Research Park (a separate office facility), and adjacent to the existing University Club facility. The hotel will feature 128 suites: 104 studios and 24 one-bedrooms.
Candlewood Hotel Co. (Nasdaq: CNDL) owns, operates and franchises Candlewood Suites; and operates and franchises Cambridge Suites. Both concepts serve travelers on short- or long-term stays. Chairman and CEO Jack DeBoer founded Candlewood Suites in 1995 and Cambridge Suites in 1998. DeBoer previously founded Residence Inn and co-founded Summerfield Suites and is the creator of the extended stay concept. There are currently 90 Candlewood Suites open coast to coast.
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