GR's Holiday Inn improves guest services, creates six jobs

By: Deborah Johnson Wood

With a new push to improve service, the Holiday Inn Select at 3063 Lake Eastbrook Boulevard SE has created six new jobs. RLJ Companies purchased the property last year and hired White Lodging Services, a nationally recognized leader in hotel management, to manage the facility.

"We're looking to improve service delivery," says Donn Thompson, general manager. Thompson, his wife, and five children relocated to Grand Rapids from Austin, Texas in July.

"In our business, if you're not getting better you're getting worse. We expect our business demand to increase and we want to be staffed accordingly."

The new positions are mainly for restaurant and bar personnel, with one opening in the front office. Thompson says the new employees will help lead the hotel toward its goal of becoming the cleanest and friendliest in Grand Rapids.

This year, the 148-room inn and its Grille 29 restaurant were ranked 26 out of 950 Holiday Inns nationwide for overall guest satisfaction.

"Our associates make the difference," Thompson says.

Source: Donn Thompson, White Lodging Services

Deborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at [email protected].

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