"Both of these areas play key roles in our future growth," said Bill Otto, president & chief operating officer of Marcus Hotels and Resorts. "In the area of acquisitions, we see the pipeline expanding as hotel real estate pricing becomes more attractive and the gap between buyers and sellers narrows. Diane's experience and expertise will allow us to be fully prepared to take advantage of the growing number of opportunities. 

"Sales and marketing in today's environment is especially important," he noted. "We wanted to add bench strength to this critical area, and Peter brings a unique skill set to this position." 

Diane Tanner joins Marcus Hotels and Resorts from Lend Lease Real Estate Investments, Inc., where she was responsible for the acquisition and disposition of the investment firm's hotel real estate assets. In her new role as vice president of acquisitions and development, she will source new acquisitions and oversee new hotel development. Previously, she was with the Georgia Institute of Technology, where she conducted economic impact analysis on manufacturing and tourism development projects and worked with greater Atlanta organizations to attract new businesses to the area. Tanner earned a master's of public administration degree from Cleveland State University. 

Peter Rockwood joins the company as vice president, sales and marketing, from Olympus Hospitality Group, which owns Rock Resorts and Unique Hotels, where he held a similar position. Rockwood will be responsible for all sales activities at Marcus Hotels and Resorts' 12 managed properties, with a special focus on the company's electronic distribution management and customer relationship management functions. Prior to his tenure at Olympus, Rockwood spent the majority of his career with the Marriott/Renaissance Hotel Group as director of sales & marketing for individual properties and as director of the national sales office in Los Angeles. He holds a bachelor of science degree in Hotel Administration from the University of Massachusetts. 

Marcus Hotels and Resorts is a division of The Marcus Corporation, a leader in the lodging and entertainment industries headquartered in Milwaukee, Wis. The company's limited-service lodging division operates or franchises 182 Baymont Inns & Suites in 31 states, seven Woodfield Suites in Illinois, Wisconsin, Colorado, Ohio and Texas and one Budgetel Inn in Wisconsin. Marcus Theatres owns or manages 493 screens at 47 locations in Wisconsin, Ohio, Illinois and Minnesota, and one family entertainment center in Wisconsin. Marcus Hotels and Resorts owns or manages 11 hotels and resorts in Wisconsin, California, Minnesota, Missouri and Texas, and one vacation club in Wisconsin.