Microtel Inns & Suites Brand Brings New National Sales Team In-House

By: Microtel® by Wyndham | 2 Shares 119 Reads

February 22, 2008 // Franchising.com // Atlanta-based US Franchise Systems, Inc. (USFS) has announced a new and expanded national sales team led by industry veteran Rachel Tyler, CTTE and Vice President of National Sales, and dedicated to its Microtel Inns & Suites and Hawthorn Suites hotel brands. In addition, the department has been brought in-house to deliver increased support to the hotels. Microtel Inns & Suites is the all-newly constructed chain of economy/limited service hotels, and Hawthorn Suites is the mid-tier all-suites, extended stay hotel brand.

"This new team structure and dedicated sales force underscores our commitment to ensure that the Microtel and Hawthorn Suites business and group markets are fully developed," said Roy E. Flora, Chief Operating Officer of USFS. "Under Rachel Tyler's leadership, the team will achieve much success in helping franchisees build RevPAR and their bottom line."

The department, divided into two groups – Group & Tour Sales and Business Travel Sales – provides franchisees with corporate and group accounts assistance, both nationwide and globally. Key areas of focus include transient and extended stay national accounts, government, travel agency, transportation and group/tour accounts.

For business travel sales, for example, each Microtel and Hawthorn Suites hotel has been assigned a national account team member to help facilitate the RFP process and ensure that properties not miss out on the once annual RFP season with valuable revenue opportunities.

Several new programs on tap include "Surprise and Delight" dinners to develop clients in key markets; a new Corporate National Rate; cross-selling among the brands for increased results, and expanding both brands' presence in the lucrative government business travel segment. For Hawthorn Suites, the emphasis is on building awareness of the brand's new design and bedding initiatives and how the brand can better serve long-term travelers with its all-suites hotels. For Microtel Inns & Suites, efforts are aimed directly at corporate travelers on a tighter budget.,/p.

The team attends numerous travel-related trade shows across the country including the Society of Government Travel, Association of Corporate Travel, National Travel Forum, Employee Relocation Forum, National Business Travel Association and Society for Accessible Travel, Hospitality and the Mature.

The National Sales Team includes:

Group & Tour Sales -

Tim Watters – Director of Group & Tour Travel Sales Targeting groups in all segments with 10 or more rooms, Watters' focus is on driving group revenues by cultivating relationships with key accounts such as professional tour operators, travel agents and online group accounts, and social, collegiate and sports team groups.

Meredith Picket - Group & Tour Sales Coordinator Picket serves as liaison between clients seeking to book 10 or more rooms and the General Managers and Directors of Sales, obtaining discounted group rates and coordinating group blocks at clients' choice hotels.

Sandra Caamano – Group & Tour Sales Coordinator Caamano handles group sales leads that come through the internet and phone, and also handles Hispanic inquiries including reservations and questions from the Spanish website and toll-free Spanish phone lines.

Business Travel Sales

Jennifer Effendi – Director of National Accounts Effendi heads up business travel sales for the midwest region.

Faye Deloso – Director of National Accounts Deloso heads up business travel sales for the western region.

Beth Busch – Director of National Accounts Busch heads up business travel sales for the northeast region.

Lauren Jones – Director of National Accounts Jones heads up business travel sales for the southeast region.

Brook Moody - Transportation, Inventory & Crew Accounts Representative Moody's focus is on acquiring additional airline crew, restaurant and store opening crew business. He works with major logistics and transportation companies, and restaurant groups.

Rebecca Steeves – Manager, Consortia & Travel Agency Sales To build travel agent and consortia sales, Steves presents USFS hotels to thousands of travel agents per year, visiting agencies nationwide to build relationships for greater property level sales and brand awareness.

Book your online hotel reservation today at one of Microtel Inn and Suites' hotels for your next business or leisure trip.