Hotel & Motel Management: Recruitment

Best Western International implemented Inside Shopper, which is Global-Distribution-System provider Galileo International's next generation seamless capability that interfaces with the hotel group's central reservation system.

Vantis International Corp., a marketing and revenue management consulting company, was launched from VIP International and Lexington Services.

Safemark Systems, a provider of in-room safes, appointed Robert Eamer regional sales director covering the East Coast, Bermuda and the Caribbean.

Micros Systems, a provider of enterprise applications, was selected by Forbes magazine as one of the 200 best small companies for 2004.

The Home Depot Supply opened a distribution center in Atlanta. The 380,000-square foot facility is the largest in the company's supply network.

Avendra launched Avendra Services Group, which provides specification development services, purchasing information and analysis, quality-assurance audits and services, customer support and services, operational and best practices consulting and custom contracting.

Scitec, an IP telephony systems provider, added Wi-Fi indoor/outdoor high-speed Internet access network and IP-PBX and IP-Centrex Voice-over-IP systems. The company also added Ming Parng as president of Scitec Computer, Communications and Consumer Electronics Technologies and J.T. Wood as senior director of sales and marketing.

Pegasus Solutions, a provider of hotel reservations-related services and technology, added Dennis E. Law as senior v.p. of product management.

Sycuan Resort & Casino in San Diego installed the Revelation point-of-sale system from InfoGenesis in 15 profit centers.

General Mills Bakery & Foodservice announced that it will make all of its Big G breakfast cereals with whole grain. This includes such brands as Trix, Golden Grahams, Lucky Charms and Rice Chex.

Better Life Media, a multimedia company focused on the life improvement industry, formed Better Life On Demand, which will be distributed through an agreement with LodgeNet Entertainment Corp. to about 425,000 hotel rooms in the United States.

Alliance Data Systems reached an agreement to acquire Epsilon Data Management, a provider of integrated direct marketing, customer management and loyalty systems. The deal is expected to close in the fourth quarter for about $300 million.

Telkonet, a provider of commercial powerline communications, announced that its PlugPlus system passed tests for EN 60950 safety certification for the European Union markets.

Magnolia Hotels selected the SynXis reservation service to manage its distribution. All three Magnolia properties in Dallas, Denver and Houston will be consolidated onto one chain code.

The Wall Street Journal named San Francisco-based Telegraph Hill robes as the best overall and best value in the industry.

Brown Jordan International, a designer, manufacturer and marketer of luxury and outdoor contract furnishings, reconfigured its contract hospitality and commercial sales divisions. Josh Goldman was named v.p., eastern region sales. Eric Parsons was named v.p., central region sales. Kenny Henry was named v.p., western region sales. Benay Unger assumed the role of director of contract brand management. Amy Forseth, Natasha Funk and Kari Baker were named brand managers.

SoftBrands, a provider of manufacturing software, announced that Randy B. Tofteland, president and c.o.o. was elected to its board of directors.

Key executives of Seattle-based Acorto, a manufacturer of automatic espresso machines, acquired assets of the company and formed Concordia Coffee Systems.

Global Distribution System trends
2004 GDS monthly reservations

Percent change year-over-year

Jan.      1.1%
Feb.     10.5%
March    15.6%
April    11.6%
May       8.1%
June      9.0%
July      2.6%
August    8.4%

Source: TravelCLICK. Bookings from SABRE, Galileo, Worldspan and
Amadeus GDSs.

Note: Table made from bar graph.