A Letter From Our President 

       As we look towards the new year I want to thank each and every MHI team member who made 2006 a success.  We excelled at improving service levels to our guests and upgrading our hotels, all the while the financial position of the company continued its positive momentum.  Although we had to say goodbye to two properties who had been in the MHI family for many years, Holiday Inn-Williamsburg and Holiday Inn Select-Fredericksburg, there are new and exciting projects on the horizon.

      Through our strategic partner MHI Hospitality Corporation (MDH) we have acquired two management contracts.  The first is the Crowne Plaza Hollywood, Florida, a 300-room condo-hotel.  The scheduled opening of this project is January 2007.  The second project is the Ramada Riverfront in Jeffersonville, Indiana, a suburb of Louisville, Kentucky.  This hotel is closed for a major renovation and will re-open in September 2007 under a new name to be announced.  

   In order to better diversify MHI Services business model we opened our first freestanding Ledo Restaurant in Gaithersburg, Maryland in 2006.  The Ledo brand has a strong local following and we hope to open an additional store in the third quarter of 2007. 

          PKF Consulting, a national hotel industry expert, predicts that U.S. hotels will enjoy their fourth consecutive year of profit growth in 2007.  The growth will occur by an increase of average daily rate (ADR), as occupancies will remain flat to 2006 numbers.  I challenge each property to take advantage of the increased revenue while maintaining expense discipline.  I often talk about “expense creep” and how it slowly erodes profitability.  I challenge you to make sure that this does not happen in 2007. 

      And most importantly, let us not forget why we are in the hospitality industry…our customers!  They are the reason we come to work everyday.  They are the ones who give us our paychecks.  So let’s thank them by giving them the best service we can and exceed their expectations. With a focus and commitment to excellence in delivery of every facet of hospitality we will continue to solidify MHI as a name of distinction in our industry.

      MHI is a company of individuals with an important role, working together to provide our guests with unrivaled hospitality.  The next year will bring new challenges and rewards and I am confident as we improve our product and customer service we will all reap the benefits. I wish you a happy and safe holiday season and continued success in the coming year.  

Sincerely,

Kim E. Sims
President

Manager in 
Training Program 
at the 
Hilton Wilmington

        To meet the ever increasing demands of hiring and retaining quality people for their management team, Rick Guttenberger, GM at the Hilton Wilmington Riverside created  a progressive  "Manager In Training" program.   

        The program is designed to attract recent hospitality graduates or current team members who have been recognized as having significant abilities, enthusiasm for the industry, and developmental potential to become a part of the management team.

       Through the Management Training Program, individuals will be provided the knowledge and skills necessary to perform their jobs and provide exceptional guest service.  In addition, the program will help to develop discipline-specific technical skills needed to ensure a successful career in the Hospitality Industry as an Assistant Manager.

        In order to be considered for the program, applicants must meet two criteria:

1.) Either a Bachelor's Degree in a related field or one years experience in the hospitality field.  

2.) A proven track record of leadership abilities.

         Upon being selected to begin the Management Training Program, trainees will begin an eighteen month learning/on-the-job period of rotation between the following departments: 

~ Front Office (Front Desk, PBX, Bell stand, Night Audit, Reservations) – 6 months

~ Housekeeping (Rooms, Laundry, PM) – 6 months

~ Food & Beverage (Kitchen, Banquets, and Outlets) – 6 months

        The Department EC members from each rotation will provide a weekly training schedule for the trainee and will oversee the progress of the training.  The trainee will be expected to keep a weekly log of their progress and submit it to Human Resources, along with a brief summary of their experience, at the conclusion of each 6-month rotation.

        Completion of the Management Training Program prepares trainees for subsequent Assistant Manager positions in one of the previously trained departments or an area of greatest interest to the trainee.  

If appropriate positions are not available at the Hilton Wilmington Riverside at the time of completion, the trainee will be given the opportunity to interview for other Assistant Manager positions within  MHI Hotels Services.  

This program serves the dual purpose of affording a great opportunity to team members interested in developing as a manager as well as creating well-rounded individuals steeped in the MHI culture who can easily transition into management at other locations.  

Kudos to Rick and his team at the Hilton Wilmington for their innovative program.  

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