Hospitality Industry Veteran Joins Worldhotels Development Team; Charged with Continuing Global Expansion
Chicago-based Courtney Granger will Focus on Hotel Development in U.S. and Canada
CHICAGO, IL. July 14, 2015 - Worldhotels, a leading group for independent hotels around the globe, today announced that Courtney Granger has joined the organization as director of hotel development. Granger will be responsible for bringing in new hotels from the U.S. and Canada.
“We are excited to have Courtney on our team in this crucial role,” said Tom Griffiths, vice president, Worldhotels-The Americas. “She brings a wealth of skills, contacts and expertise.”
Granger has more than 25 years of experience in hospitality, including management, marketing and development, for Preferred Hotels & Resorts, CARINO Hotel Group, VOILÁ Hotel Rewards, and VacayStay Connect. She has a degree in hospitality and tourism management from Ryerson University in Toronto.
Granger will be based in Chicago and charged with expanding the portfolio for Worldhotels, the Americas, which currently includes 48 hotels in the U.S. and 14 in South America. She will report to Bonnie Somerstein, who leads the Worldhotels development team for the Americas.
“Courtney's skillset will be a great asset to our development team,” said Somerstein. We look forward to using her vast experience and professional expertise for the benefit of Worldhotels and our affiliates.”
Worldhotels makes it easy for guests to book rooms with member hotels via telephone, online or through 450,000 travel agent terminals worldwide—as easily as with hotels and resorts affiliated with large franchise operations. With the group's loyalty program, Worldhotels Peakpoints (worldhotels-peakpoints.com), guests can redeem points for hotel vouchers or collect miles for eligible stays thanks to an extensive list of 25 frequent flyer programs of the world's premier international carriers.
Other advantages include participation in advertising, promotions and public relations campaigns, as well as exposure at industry events and trade fairs attended by Worldhotels. Specific advertising materials include a page in the Worldhotels' hotel/resort directory, a listing on www.worldhotels.com, and inclusion in print ads to capture the atmosphere, amenities and unique essence of each property.
In addition, more than 30 sales and reservation offices staffed by 80 employees worldwide work hard on behalf of all Worldhotels' properties to create and sell special programs for business and leisure travelers.
About Worldhotels:
Worldhotels is a global brand that brings together some of the world's most unique independent hotels. With the tagline “Where Discovery Starts” it targets savvy business and leisure travelers that seek an authentic and local experience when choosing a hotel. Worldhotels now offers nearly 500 hotels in 250 destinations and 65 countries worldwide. With over 40 years of excellence in the industry, the company's mission is to provide access to 4 and 5 star hotels of character and distinction. Each hotel in the Worldhotels portfolio has been carefully selected to ensure it meets the group's strict quality standards. Each hotel is measured against over 1,000 quality criteria every year. Guests can now earn points with the group's loyalty program, Worldhotels Peakpoints (worldhotels-peakpoints.com), and redeem them for hotel vouchers. Alternatively, they can collect miles for eligible stays thanks to an extensive list of 25 frequent flyer programs of the world's premier international carriers. Delta, American Airlines, U.S. Airways, United Airlines, Air France and Lufthansa are just some of the partners that make it easy to earn miles with Worldhotels. Through a comprehensive range of services that includes global marketing, sales, training, e-commerce and state-of-the-art distribution and technology, Worldhotels backs independent hotels with the power of a global brand while allowing them to retain their individual character and identity. In addition to its classic “affiliation model”, the group offers independent hotels a soft franchise branding solution which is the perfect alternative to standard franchise contracts. For more information on all Worldhotels affiliates, including reservations, please visit worldhotels.com.
Media Contact:
Kristi Arndt
On Behalf of Worldhotels-The Americas
[email protected]
(612) 803-0861
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