The School of Hospitality Business, Michigan State University (MSU), granted the Distinguished Alumni award to Jack DeBoer, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Candlewood Hotel Company. Presented in Chicago on May 20, 2002, as part of the Annual Gathering of Leaders celebration, the award recognizes distinguished leaders in the hospitality industry who have given time and talents back to The School.
“Today we are delighted to honor Jack DeBoer during our alma mater’s 75th Anniversary Year,” The School Director and Professor Ronald Cichy said at the celebration. “He studied and learned under remarkable faculty, and then went out and not only succeeded, but furthered MSU’s good name and reputation. We thank him for giving back to his alma mater with his time, talents and treasures.”
A 1952 graduate of MSU, Jack DeBoer exemplifies the visionary entrepreneurial spirit of MSU graduates. Widely acknowledged as the father of the extended stay lodging segment, he was first to recognize the value of putting full kitchens into hotel rooms. His founding of Residence Inn in 1975 ushered in the most dramatic innovation in lodging since the introduction of private bathrooms two decades earlier. After selling the 100-hotel Residence Inn Company to Marriott Corporation in 1987, he then founded Summerfield Suites, which was sold to Wyndham in 1993.
Candlewood Hotel Co. was founded in 1995 as the culmination of more than two decades of learning about extended stay guests and what they expect from a lodging experience. Candlewood today owns, operates, and franchises more than 100 locations coast to coast. Other award recipients include James B. Singerling, Chief Executive Officer of the Club Managers Association of America, who was awarded The School’s Industry Leader of the Year award. In addition, Donald I. Smith, noted restaurateur, professor and author, was named Honorary Alumnus of the Year.
Candlewood Suites is an all-suites hotel owned, operated and licensed under Candlewood Hotel Co. (Nasdaq: CNDL). Founded in 1995 by Jack DeBoer, widely recognized as the creator of the extended stay concept, Candlewood Suites has more than 100 properties in nearly every major market coast to coast. According to a recent Market Metrix Hotel Index report, Candlewood Suites is unsurpassed in the extended stay category for customer loyalty and satisfaction. For more information, visit www.candlewoodsuites.com. Founded in 1927, The School is celebrating its 75th Anniversary Year in 2002. The School is recognized as the top-ranked business-based hospitality school in the world. The School has more than 8,500 graduates worldwide, including a number of leading academicians and industry executives. The mission of The School is to be the leader in hospitality business education through teaching, research, and service. The School offers an exceptionally well-crafted curriculum taught by innovative professors who are leading textbook authors, sought-after consultants, and respected researchers.
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