(Jacksonville, FL 07/15/08)  For the staff of the Crowne Plaza Jacksonville Riverfront, success seems to come in threes. Three sales team members brought home top honors from the recent Eagle Awards sponsored by InterContinental Hotels Group. The hotel also achieved one of the three highest CROWNE-ometer scores among all Crowne Plaza Hotels in the US and Canada for the first quarter of 2008. 
 

The CROWNE-ometer ranking is established based on hotels’ performance on the guest satisfaction survey, the meeting satisfaction tracking survey and the audit score from secret shops and quality inspections. As a result of this impressive score, the hotel was named the Bronze Brand Citizen of the Quarter and received $500 from Crowne Plaza to host an employee celebration. 

Of 146 eligible Crowne Plaza Hotels who participate in Eagle Awards, 30 nominations were submitted and 14 awards given. The Jacksonville sales managers recognized at the IHG Eagle Awards were Angela Kurczewski, Karen Howell, and Christine Payne.

Angela Kurczewski, assistant director of sales received the IHG Eagle Award for “Building Relationships.” Ms. Kurczewski joined the MHI Hotels team in 2004 as Assistant Director of Sales. She has been an active member in Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) since 1993. Her roles in HSMAI have included Treasurer and Vice President of Membership. Angela is also an active member with the Society of Government Meeting Planners (SGMP), the Florida Society of Association Executives (FSAE), and the Tallahassee Society of Association Executives (TSAE).

Angela Kurczewski began her career in the hospitality industry after receiving a Bachelor of Business Administration from Roanoke College in Salem, Virginia. Her career began with Promus Hotels in 1994 at the Hampton Inn Jacksonville as Assistant General Manager. 

Karen Howell, Group Sales Manager was named IHG’s “Rookie of the Year.” Ms. Howell began her career at the Cloister on Sea Island in Georgia after receiving a Bachelors Degree in Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Administration (RHI). She joined MHI Hotels in 2005 and was promoted to Group Sales Manager in 2007 with a strong focus on the SMERF markets.  Ms. Howell is an active member in Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) and Religious Conference Management Association (RCMA).

The Eagle Award for Most Creative Sales Strategy was earned by Christine Payne, senior sales manager. The award recognizes the person who creates and executes a unique and creative sales strategy to win an account.

Christine Payne has an established record of 18 solid years within the hospitality industry. She started at the Marriott Sawgrass Resort in Ponte Vedra, Florida at the age of 15. Ms. Payne began her career with MHI Hotels in late 2003 as Corporate Sales Manager. Christine has exceeded the Corporate Group goal each year over the past five years and was promoted to Senior Sales Manager in 2007.

Over her tenure in the hospitality industry, Christine has received several coveted awards including the J. Willard Award of Excellence, the Alice S. Marriott Award for Community Service, and was recognized as the one of the top three sales managers within the Crestline Family in 2003. At the Crowne Plaza, she has been awarded Sales Champion of the Quarter, 2006 Building Relationships Eagle Award, and was awarded MPI Supplier of the Year for 2007.

Opened in 1964 as the Hilton Jacksonville, the hotel became the Crowne Plaza Jacksonville Riverfront in March 2006. In 2007 the hotel completed more than $4 million in renovations and became the first Green Certified hotel in Jacksonville. The 292-room property boasts private walk-out balconies, many overlooking the St. Johns River, 12,000 square feet of flexible meeting space, a fitness center, and an outdoor pool and sundeck.

The Crowne Plaza Jacksonville Riverfront is owned by MHI Hospitality Corporation, a self-advised hotel investment company organized in August 2004. As a REIT, MHI owns hotel properties operating under well-known national hotel brands such as Hilton, InterContinental Hotels Groups and Starwood Hotels and Resorts.

InterContinental Hotels Group PLC (IHG) of the United Kingdom [LON:IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)] is the world's largest hotel group by number of rooms. IHG owns, manages, leases or franchises, through various subsidiaries, hotels in nearly 100 countries and territories around the world. IHG owns a portfolio of well recognized and respected hotel brands including InterContinental® Hotels & Resorts, Crowne Plaza® Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn® Hotels and Resorts, Holiday Inn Express®, Staybridge Suites®, Candlewood Suites® and Hotel Indigo®.