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Benchmark Hospitality Develops Unique Employee
Recognition Program - "Best of the Best"

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THE WOODLANDS (HOUSTON), TEXAS, June 2005 - Benchmark Hospitality International, which manages 28 award-winning resorts, conference centers and hotels in the United States and Japan, has announced the launch of a unique employee recognition program.  Called Best of the Best, the program involves inducting top performing employees into a special "club" that provides ongoing recognition and rewards to this exceptional group of employees - forever -  so long as the individuals remain members of  the Benchmark team in good standing.

"We were looking for a unique employee recognition vehicle that offered more than an occasional 'pat on the back' through traditional designations like employee of the month, manager of the quarter and employee of the year," states Sam Haigh, President and Chief Operating Officer.  "Once recognized as employee of the month, usually that employee is not recognized again for some time, even though he or she continues to deliver exceptional performance.  Best of the Best provides continual recognition to the core group of Benchmark employees - both management and hourly - who consistently demonstrate exceptional performance day in and day out."

Some of the ongoing Best of the Best benefits include extra paid time off each year; annual savings bonds; complimentary dinner or brunch with the employees' family each year; preferred task force committee positions; cash bonus each year the property achieves its annual guest satisfaction, employee satisfaction, and financial goals; and ongoing additional discounts from the already rock bottom rates for employees and their immediate families at Benchmark hotels & resorts company-wide.  Benchmark properties range from the luxurious Turtle Bay Resort on Oahu to the exclusive Lansdowne Resort outside Washington, DC. 

While the core benefits of Best of the Best remain consistent across the company, each property has flexibility in how the program is executed at that location.  For example, each property determines the specific criteria for induction, along with the frequency and number of employees inducted. 

In addition to performance in the job and exhibiting the "whatever-it-takes" attitude in providing great guest experiences, involvement beyond the specific job descriptions is strongly considered.  This might include committee work, mentoring fellow staff members, or actively participating in community service through Benchmark's "Hometown Hospitality" community outreach program. 

Once employees join Benchmark's Best of the Best, they remain members as long as they continue in good standing with the company.  If they move to another Benchmark property, their Best of the Best benefits transfer with them. 

To underscore its importance, Benchmark makes the induction into Best of the Best a celebration.   New members are announced and formally recognized by the property General Managers at all-employee meetings and then announced company-wide.  Each induction is also announced in an advertisement placed in the employee's hometown newspaper. 

Best of the Best was developed by a special Task Force of Human Resource Directors and General Managers from a number of Benchmark properties.  "Success in this business is all about building a great team," concluded Haigh.  "Best of the Best is right on target with this approach." 

To learn more about the Benchmark Best of the Best program, please contact Eileen Santoli, Vice President Human Resources, at 281-367-5757.

Benchmark Hospitality International, an independent hospitality management company based in The Woodlands (Houston), Texas, operates resorts, conference centers and hotels both domestically and internationally. 

Contact:

BENCHMARK HOSPITALITY INTERNATIONAL
The Woodlands (Houston), Texas
www.benchmarkhospitality.com

Ken Ellens
KEN ELLENS COMMUNICATIONS
201-758-2864 / 201-758-2865-Fax
[email protected]

Also See: Jo Kenzel Named Director of Employee Relations and Recruitment for Benchmark Hospitality / March 2004
Benchmark Hospitality Appoints Eileen Santoli Vice President, Human Resources / April 2003


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