Noble Investment Group Announces Leadership Team for New Raleigh Marriott City Center Hotel
ATLANTA, GA, July 2,2008. Privately held Noble Investment Group ("Noble"), a leading sponsor of private equity real estate funds and an integrated lodging and hospitality operating and development organization, today announced the appointment of an award winning team of hospitality professionals that have been selected to oversee the day to day operational leadership of the Raleigh Marriott City Center Hotel. The 400-room luxury Marriott hotel, opening late this month is located at 500 Fayetteville Street in downtown Raleigh. This premier meetings and convention hotel, connected to the new 500,000 square foot Raleigh Convention Center, features 15,000 square feet of event and meeting space; an indoor pool and fitness center; an authentic, fine dining Italian restaurant, Posta Tuscan Grille, an expansive bar and lounge, Bar Posta, and a quality retail coffee store.
Steve Keup has been named general manager of the Raleigh Marriott City Center. Steve has over 25 years of experience in the hospitality industry and is a veteran general manager of full-service luxury branded properties. He will be responsible for the opening and daily operations of this landmark city center hotel. Most recently, Steve was as the general manager of The Westin Embassy Row in Washington, D.C. before relocating to Raleigh. Under his leadership, he and his teams have been recognized by ownership groups and franchisors for various awards including Hotel of the Year, Marriott's Hotel Opening of the Year Award and Successful Meetings magazine's prestigious Pinnacle Award. Steve is a graduate of Saint John's University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration and Management.
Michele Bevevino has been named director of sales and marketing and will be responsible for the Raleigh Marriott City Center's sales and marketing leadership and strategies. Michele has over 17 years in the hospitality industry and is a graduate of Lock Haven University.
Douglas Barger has been named director of group sales for the Raleigh Marriott City Center. Prior to joining the Marriott team, Douglas was the manager of event services and development for the Duke Clinical Research Institute at the Duke University Medical Center. He has lived and worked in the Research Triangle for over ten years, and brings 20 years of valuable meeting planning and hospitality marketing experience to his new role. A graduate of West Virginia University, Douglas has an executive certification with the International Association of Convention & Visitors Bureaus' Marketing.
Ann Nelson has been named director of catering and convention services for the Raleigh Marriott City Center Hotel. Ann is a Marriott Certified Wedding Planner and brings many years of catering and meeting service expertise to the Raleigh Marriott team. Ann is graduate of Florida State University.
Jennifer Baehm is the Food & Beverage Manager for Raleigh Marriott City Center. Prior to this position Baehm was the culinary relations & events manager for Johnson & Wales University in Florida. Baehm brings an impressive amount of culinary experience to her new role having worked in various catering leadership roles. Jennifer is a graduate of Rochester Institute of Technology, and is a certified instructor by the National Restaurant Association for Serve Safe Food and Alcohol, and a Certified Foodservice Management Professional by the National Restaurant Association.
About Noble Investment Group
Noble is a leading sponsor of private equity real estate funds and an integrated operating and development organization that specializes in making value-added investments in hotels and resorts throughout North America. An award winning operator of more than 8,000 hotel and resort guest rooms, convention and conference centers with approximately 1 million sq. ft. of meeting space, as well as championship golf, day and resort spas, upscale restaurants, and branded retail coffee stores, Noble and its predecessors have realized superior risk-adjusted returns while acquiring and developing over $2.5 billion in lodging and hospitality assets. Noble's current discretionary private equity fund represents $310 million of equity commitments, which provides the organization the ability to invest more than $1 billion in lodging-related assets. For more information, visit www.nobleinvestment.com.
Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) is a global leading lodging company based in Bethesda,Maryland, USA, with more than 4,200 properties in 80 countries and territories. Marriott International reported revenues of nearly $14 billion in fiscal year 2014. The company operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership resorts under 19 brands, including: The Ritz-Carlton®, BVlgari®, EDITION®, JW Marriott®, Autograph Collection® Hotels, Renaissance® Hotels, Marriott Hotels®, Delta Hotels and Resorts®, Marriott Executive Apartments®, Marriott Vacation Club®, Gaylord Hotels®, AC Hotels by Marriott®, Courtyard®, Residence Inn®, SpringHill Suites®, Fairfield Inn & Suites®, TownePlace Suites®, Protea Hotels® and MoxyHotels®. Marriott has been consistently recognized as a top employer and for its superior business ethics. The company also manages the award-winning guest loyalty program, Marriott Rewards® and The Ritz-Carlton Rewards® program, which together surpass 50 million members. For more information or reservations, please visit our website at 
