Remington News

"Remington Hotels is rolling out a multi-pronged approach to address necessary safety and cleaning measures in response to COVID-19. These measures include enhanced cleaning and safety protocols across all 87 hotels, a revised training program for all Remington Hotels associates and a revamped approach to food & beverage," says Rob Carl, Remington Hotels' VP of Facilities and Capital Planning and appointed lead for the company's COVID-19 Response Committee. 

 

As part of the company's response, Remington Hotels aligned with an industrial hygienist to develop a COVID-19 mitigation program for all hotels that outlines procedures in the event of a guest or associate being infected. As well, each Remington Hotels property is now utilizing EPA-registered disinfectant products with proven efficacy in killing respiratory viruses, including COVID-19. Additional steps taken to enhance cleaning procedures include:

 

• Public Areas: All hotels have increased the frequency of cleaning and disinfecting public spaces, with an emphasis on disinfecting protocol focused on "high touch" areas including door handles, public bathrooms, reception, stairwells, lobby furnishings/hard surfaces, guest laundry facilities, elevators and push buttons, corner pantries and bell carts.
• Food & Beverage: Food offerings have been converted to prepared grab and go bags not to be consumed in public areas of hotels.

• Guest Rooms: In addition to thoroughly cleaning and disinfecting rooms between guest departures and arrivals, Remington Hotels utilizes OpenKey as a "contactless" digital entry tool that limits guest and employee contact. The brand also offers Pure Rooms at all properties, to promote wellbeing in the guest rooms by providing purified air, hypoallergenic environments and allergy-friendly options.

 

The health, safety and knowledge of Remington Hotels' associates are imperative to an effective cleaning program. To meet these criteria, the company has adopted the following heightened protocol:

• Enhanced Protocols for Operation and Training: With the new procedures and protocols in place, Remington Hotels has developed an updated training program to ensure associates are well versed in the new cleaning and guest interaction protocols.   
• Well Being Checks: Remington Hotels is instituting mandatory temperature checks of all associates when the associate starts their shift and additional times spaced out throughout the remainder of the shift.
• Handwashing and Protective Gear: Associates are mandated to wash their hands a minimum of every two hours, following the CDC guidelines. Additionally, associates are required to wear gloves and masks at all times. 

 

Remington Hotels is supplying each of its 87 hotels with the proper protective gear to ensure associates can safely welcome guests and work together, including reusable masks from fellow Texas-based company, Dallas Wear Uniforms. The company, which traditionally makes uniforms for sports teams, has repurposed its factory to manufacture PPE due to COVID-19.

 

Further, company leadership, including Rob Carl, COO Stan Kennedy and Senior VP of Operations Joe Masi, represent Remington Hotels on several leading industry committees who are collaboratively working towards determining best practices moving forward, including AHLA's Stay Safe Advisory Council, Hilton's CleanStay and Marriott's Global Cleanliness Council. In turn, Remington Hotels leadership is implementing key learnings from these committees across the company's hotels.

 

"We hope that these enhanced measures will help provide both our staff and guests with a sense of ease in these difficult times," says Stan Kennedy, COO of Remington Hotels. "We look forward to continue welcoming our valued guests to our properties across the country thus allowing us to bring our associates back from furlough."

 

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ABOUT REMINGTON HOTELS

Remington is a dynamic and growing hotel management company providing top quality service and expertise in property management. Founded in 1968, the hospitality group has grown into a strong, industry-leading service provider and today manages 87 hotels in 26 states across 17 brands, including 12 independent and boutique properties. At Remington, we believe that our people are the ultimate source of our competitive advantage. We are proud of our reputation for consistently delivering outstanding results to owners and investors, as well as to our brands, guests, and associates. As a result of our success, Remington has become the place where passionate people thrive. For more information, call 972.980.2700 or visit www.remingtonhotels.com. #RoomToThrive

Seeking an explanation, he says, "We began looking at ways to draw down turnover and to also help with career pathing, because the feedback from the field—for example, mid-level and first-time managers—was ‘Hey I'm a front office manager and I want to be a general manager, but I can't jump the canyon. I don't know how to get there.'"

As he told LODGING, his own journey - a relatively quick trip to the top, once he got on the right path - has inspired the "secrets to success" he described and influenced his interest in the concept of career development and applying it at the independent hotel management company Remington, where he recently was named president and CEO.

Located in the Hudson Valley area, this hotel is only 25 miles outside of New York City. Discover historical landmarks, like the Lyndhurst Castle, tour the nearby Fordham University, or see a show on Broadway.

Enjoy newly renovated common areas as well as convenient amenities such an in-lobby Starbucks, indoor heated pool, 24-hour fitness center, and 900 square feet of meeting space. Dine at the on-site restaurant, Toasted Barrel, and savor classic American cuisine. Take advantage of nearby local history and convenient, relaxing accommodations at Sheraton Tarrytown Hotel.

The promotions and recent and future hires include the following:

• Promotion of Sloan Dean from COO to CEO/president
• Promotion of Stan Kennedy from SVP, operations to COO
• Appointed of Jarrad Evans as chief investment officer
• Creation of a chief commercial officer role

Located on Old Town's King Street steps away from the Metro Station, this downtown hotel is just a short walk or drive away from shopping and dining options along the Potomac River. The beautiful lobby and spacious guest rooms offer a modern and stylish twist from the historic district of Old Town Alexandria.  

The on-site gastropub, KingStreet Tavern, offers an extensive menu of all-American comfort food. Enjoy sightseeing in the bustling historic district with bicycle rentals available on-property. Guests can take advantage of being on a short metro ride away from Washington D.C. and explore all of the history in our country's capital. With 13,000 sq. ft. of meeting space available including a 500-seat Grand ballroom, this hotel is the ideal venue for events of all sizes. 

Evans will lead the strategic growth, development, and investment initiatives for Remington's growing portfolio of third-party managed independent, soft-branded, and hard-branded hotels and resorts. He is a hospitality industry veteran, and most recently served as Senior Vice President of Business Development and Strategy for Benchmark, a global hospitality management firm, where he leveraged his deep industry relationships to drive company growth. Evans earned an MBA from the W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University and a BS from the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism at Ohio University.

The EVOLVE theme for the conference this year - held at the beautiful Hilton Orange County/Costa Mesa - was fitting as Remington highlighted three large hotel acquisitions in the past six months and a leadership team stacked with impressive accomplishments. The company revealed plans that respect the foundation of the past while creating impressive, forward-thinking future goals.

With stunning surrounding views, the Veranda offers the ideal venue for outdoor events, or take the party inside to the Forest ballroom accommodating up to 300 guests.Located in a mountain retreat setting, it's an ideal base for visiting Silicon Valley, the wine route, and the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk.  The spacious rooms and suites feature views of the forest, hill country or city and upgraded rooms offer a fireplace or private balcony along with a separate living area - providing a relaxing home away from home. The on-site restaurant, Stonehouse Bar and Grill, offers Californian cuisine from brunch until dinner. Swim laps in the heated outdoor pool, bordered on three sides by the redwood forest or recharge with a workout in the fitness center with modern cardio equipment and fitness studio.

Soaring 39 stories with supreme views over the iconic New York City skyline, the Embassy Suites by Hilton New York Midtown Manhattan is the place to see and be seen. The hotel's studio suites are elegant spaces featuring semi-private living areas with sofa bed, complimentary WiFi, a 42-inch HDTV, desk, mini-fridge, microwave and coffeemaker with some rooms offering a balcony or city view. Located in the heart of Midtown South, this Manhattan hotel is steps from famous Fifth Avenue shops and blocks from Times Square attractions like the Empire State Building, Grand Central Terminal, Rockefeller Plaza, Radio City Music Hall and the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). Guests can choose to dine in at the two available on-site restaurants: The Heist Lobby Bar, or the Skylawn Café (open seasonally), which includes a one-of-a-kind outdoor social space to meet friends, hold events, and dine outdoors. This property also offers 575 square feet of indoor meeting space and 3560 square feet outside. Other amenities include a 24-hour fitness center, business center, and the Suite Shop.

This prestigious award honors twenty-five of the hotel and travel industry's most innovative thinkers, deemed the ‘best and brightest', recognizing their contribution to the industry and their success in delivering exceptional results. Jay, who has in the past held the position of Chair of HSMAI's Digital Marking Council and advised on the organization's Revenue Management Advisory Board, will be recognized for this achievement at the HSMAI Adrian Awards Gala, held at the New York Marriott Marquis early next year. In the words of President and CEO of HSMAI, Robert A. Gilbert, Jay and his fellow honorees "fuel advancement and inspire innovation across our industry, in addition to contributing to the success of [their] own hospitality, travel, and tourism organizations". Jay has been with Remington since 2013 and is an active leader in cultivating the future of Digital Marketing in the hospitality industry.

Nestled near the bottom of the Santa Cristo Mountains and just off Santa Fe's Historic Plaza, La Posada de Santa Fe, A Tribute Portfolio Resort & Spa offers a rich history dating back to the 1880s. Each of the beautifully restored 157 rooms and suites offer something just slightly different like the original adobe walls, traditional viga (exposed beam) and latilla (exposed wood slat) ceilings. Located on 6 acres, the resort has many amenities to please all types of travelers. With multiple restaurants and bars on-site honoring the original owner's wife who haunts the property, guests can chose from Julia - A Spirited Restaurant & Bar, The Stabb House, Patio Restaurant and Julia's Social Club. The hotel's Spa Sage was ranked 4th in USA Today's Best Hotel Spa rankings. Groups can utilize 4,500 square feet of indoor meeting space and over 2,000 square feet outside for unique Southwestern social and corporate events. Other amenities include a year-round saline outdoor pool and hot tub, and 24-hour fitness center.

Stan Kennedy, an 11 year leader on the Remington team, stepped into the newly created role of Senior Vice President of Operations. The General Manager of Hilton Boston Back Bay, Dominque Marty, who joined Remington in 2011, took over Mr. Kennedy's former position as Divisional Vice President of Operations supporting Remington's Hilton hotels.

Sileshi Mengiste, who has an excellent track record and a long history of managing Remington's luxury properties has been promoted to DVP of Operations and will add the Silversmith Hotel Chicago Downtown to his division.

Jale Hashimi, a rising star in Remington in the Luxury Division, was also promoted to DVP of Operations and added the WorldQuest Orlando Resort, Le Pavillon Hotel, and the Lakeway Resort and Spa and to her division. 

To round out the Luxury and Independent portfolio, multiple GM and Hotel of the Year winner Joe Dantoni has also been promoted to DVP of Operations, with Remington's two Annapolis hotels added to his division.

Divisional Vice President Jerry Galligan, due to his continued strong contribution to Remington, has been tasked with managing three additional hotels; Hilton Parsippany, Hampton Inn Parsippany, and Hilton Garden Inn Virginia Beach Town Center.

Finally, Chandler Vadhera, has been promoted to Vice President/General Manager, managing the Dallas/Ft Worth Airport Marriott and the Dallas Marriott Suites Medical/Market Center. 

On these promotions, COO Sloan Dean said, "I am excited to announce promotions and enhancements to the Operations leadership team.  The catalyst for the changes is to add depth and scale to our organization, as well as to recognize and lift up talent.  Remington recognizes the dedication and hard work of its associates and will continue to look for opportunities to promote from within, so please join me in congratulating Stan, Dominique, Sileshi, Jale, Joe, Jerry and Chandler."

Attendees participated in thought leadership workshops, keynote presentations, exhibits by vendors, a golf outing, as well as a volunteer opportunity to assist the local Angel View Resale Store which supports children and adults with disabilities. The conference black tie gala celebrated the dedication of our associates and recognized the winners of Remington's Achievement Awards.

The Renaissance Palm Springs, the host hotel for the event, earned Hotel Renovation of the Year. The multi-million dollar renovation included public space, guest rooms, restaurant and meeting space.

Each year six General Managers and six Sales team members are nominated for annual awards. This year's winner of Sales Person of the Year was Mike Edwards from the Las Vegas Embassy Suites and William Gheen from the Fremont Marriott took home the coveted General Manager of the Year award.

The honor of Hotel of the Year was presented to the iconic Historic Inns of Annapolis. Vice President and General Manager Daryl Strayer accepted the award on behalf of his team.

Additional winners included: Samantha Paull from the Sheraton Bucks County won Controller of the Year, Samara Jones from our One Ocean Resort and Spa received the Human Resources Leader of the Year; and a noteworthy win for the category of Revenue/eCommerce Manager of the Year went to Traci Boklage, eCommerce Director who oversees all eCommerce and Digital Marketing initiatives for the Luxury and Independent hotels.

 

Sloan comes to Remington from sister company Ashford, where he held the position of Senior Vice President of Revenue Optimization & Underwriting. He brings over 20 years of experience in Business Development, Revenue Management, and Sales and Marketing to Remington.

At Remington Hotels, Sloan is tasked with overseeing the operations, management, and success of over 85 hotels across 16 different brands and several independent hotels. He will report directly to CEO Monty Bennett.

On his new role, Sloan remarked, "I'm honored to have the opportunity to lead Remington into the next phase of our future, continuing our strong Five Driver and Leading Principles culture, while renewing our focus on our associates, our guests, and delivering superior results."

Prior to Ashford, Sloan served as Vice President of Business Development & Acquisitions at Interstate Hotels & Resorts. Before Interstate, Sloan was Senior Vice President of Revenue & Market Strategy for Alliance Hospitality Management, Corporate Director of Revenue Management for Noble Investment Group, as well as positions at IHG, and Oliver Wyman.

Mr. Dean was honored by HSMAI as one of the "Top 25 Most Extraordinary Minds in Sales and Marketing" in 2012. He was also recently highlighted in HOTELS Magazine's inaugural People Issue.

The Hotel Yountville was originally built in 1998 and in 2011 underwent an extensive expansion and renovation that upgraded all guestrooms, including 29 newly-built guestrooms, and added a restaurant, spa, meeting space, outdoor pool, and lounge patio.  The hotel offers exceptional amenities, including large, well-appointed guestrooms and suites with private patios/balconies, the acclaimed Hopper Creek Kitchen restaurant and bar, in-room dining service, complimentary wine tastings, an on-site spa and over 4,400 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting space.  The property's outdoor amenities include a resort-style outdoor heated pool and lounge, lush landscaping and water features, and the availability of complimentary bicycles for guest use.  Nestled in the heart of Napa Valley, the Hotel Yountville offers luxury accommodations at the crossroads of delectable wines, epicurean delights and outdoor adventures.

Sitting pretty just across the Intracoastal Waterway from Jacksonville, One Ocean Resort & Spa refuses to fit conventional Sunshine State stereotypes, offering instead a bucolic beach retreat alternative that strikes a simultaneous balance between comfort and luxury.

Haute Living recently paid a visit and claims a trip to Yountville simply to dine at Lucy is well worth the trip. From the relaxed yet elegant ambiance, to Chef Nate Lindsay's creative farm-to-fork fare, to the "I Love Lucy" inspired cocktails, Lucy will certainly inspire the casual Napa visitor and the experienced epicure alike.

Lucy Restaurant & Bar is located in Yountville's famed Bardessono Hotel & Spa, one of only 7 LEED Platinum certified 'green' resorts in the world. Set in the heart of Napa Valley, where wine lovers and food-savvy travelers make their way yearly to discover what the season has to offer, Lucy perfectly pairs seasonal delights with local wines.

Haute Living recently paid a visit and claims a trip to Yountville simply to dine at Lucy is well worth the trip. From the relaxed yet elegant ambiance, to Chef Nate Lindsay's creative farm-to-fork fare, to the "I Love Lucy" inspired cocktails, Lucy will certainly inspire the casual Napa visitor and the experienced epicure alike.

The Hotel Indigo Midtown is a historic hotel located in the heart of Atlanta Midtown. Our soul-infused hotel design is influenced by the Fox Theatre, located directly across the street. The hotel offers well-equipped rooms as well as approximately 950 square feet of meeting space. Amenities include on-site concierge services, pet friendly accommodations, 24 hour fitness center, complimentary high-speed internet access and Midtown Bar and Bistro. The Hotel Indigo Atlanta Midtown is no ordinary hotel with its vibrant, colorful hues, elegant furnishings and inspiring, artistic flair.

Ashford Hospitality Trust, Inc. announced that it has completed the acquisition of the 142 room Hotel Indigo Atlanta Midtown and has officially selected Remington Hotels to manage the property.

The Hotel Indigo Midtown is a historic hotel located in the heart of Atlanta Midtown. Our soul-infused hotel design is influenced by the Fox Theatre, located directly across the street. The hotel offers well-equipped rooms as well as approximately 950 square feet of meeting space. Amenities include on-site concierge services, pet friendly accommodations, 24 hour fitness center, complimentary high-speed internet access and Midtown Bar and Bistro. The Hotel Indigo Atlanta Midtown is no ordinary hotel with its vibrant, colorful hues, elegant furnishings and inspiring, artistic flair.

Bardessono is located in the heart of Yountville, California, just minutes away from renowned Napa Valley restaurants and vineyards. The LEED Platinum Certified property features large, lavish guestrooms with in-room spa services, organic linens, private courtyards, expansive bathrooms, fireplaces, and many sustainable luxurious features. In addition to the guestrooms, the hotel includes the acclaimed Lucy restaurant, which focuses on local field-to-fork dining and organic ingredients. Amenities include a full-service spa, rooftop swimming pool, hand-crafted bath products and artisan-inspired coffee.

Located in the heart of downtown New Orleans, Hotel Le Pavillon sits adjacent to the historic French Quarter and is only five short blocks to the famous Bourbon Street. This grand property has 219 exquisitely appointed guest rooms, 7 uniquely designed suites and 12 versatile meeting rooms. Hotel amenities include a rooftop heated pool, an executive fitness center, the Gallery Lounge bar, and an award-winning restaurant, the Crystal Room.

 

Located in the heart of East Memphis, the Memphis Marriott East hotel is minutes away from upscale restaurants and shopping and is an ideal choice for guests visiting nearby attractions such as Elvis' Graceland, Beale Street and Historic Downtown Memphis. The property has 232 well equipped guestrooms and 6 meeting rooms with approximately 8,960 square feet of meeting space. Hotel amenities include an indoor pool and whirlpool, 24-hour fitness center, the Delta Grill restaurant, and complimentary on-site parking.

Featuring a sleek, modern facade, the hotel offers 357 well-equipped guestrooms and approximately 15,000 square feet of meeting space spread across 19 flexible meeting areas including a 7,590 square-foot Grand Ballroom. The hotel's amenities include an indoor pool and whirlpool, 24-hour fitness center, the GREATROOM restaurant and lounge, and complimentary on-site parking.  

The Ashton Hotel currently features a variety of luxury guestrooms, approximately 4800 sq. ft of event space and the SIX 10 GRILLE, a popular restaurant in Fort Worth. The hotel has been home to many celebrities as well, including Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, Warren Buffett and Bill Gates. CBRE Hotels under the CBRE Group represented the seller during the transaction.

The conversion will include an extensive product improvement plan, estimated at $25 million, to include an upgrade of the Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system, an extensive renovation of the guestrooms and public areas, including a transformational lobby renovation, and exterior improvements which will enhance the sense of arrival for guests. The newly-minted Marriott Beverly Hills will continue to be managed by Remington Lodging & Hospitality following the completion of the conversion.

Additionally, the Company also announced that on May 31, 2013 it completed the transfer of management from Marriott to Remington Lodging & Hospitality at the full-service Marriott Suites Market Center Dallas hotel as well as six of its select-service hotels: Residence Inn Phoenix Airport; Residence Inn Newark Silicon Valley, CA; Courtyard Oakland Airport; Courtyard by Marriott Newark Fremont, CA; Courtyard Palm Desert; and Residence Inn Palm Desert; and . All of the franchise agreements include PIPs.