IRVING, Texas (Nov. 5, 1999) -- Following four years of extensive company-wide
renovations,
Omni Hotels is preparing to unveil a new and improved version of itself
just in time for the new
millennium. The nearly half a billion dollars allocated in 1996 for
a corporate capital improvements program has produced a lavish portfolio
of hotels and resorts unmatched within the upscale hotel market. From painstakingly
refinished ceiling reliefs in Boston to silk sofa cushions in Charlotte,
NC, Omni Hotels has a whole new look, and it speaks of elegance, luxury
and comfort.
Why the investment? �Our customers expect it,� says Omni Hotels President
Jim Caldwell. �The Omni Hotels customer is a savvy traveler. They want
luxury, convenience, and service and are willing to pay more to get it.
At this pricepoint and at this level of competition, the last thing a hotel
company wants to offer its loyal customers is a below standard and inconsistent
product.
Moving our entire chain to a higher level and making that level consistent
across the board has been an expensive, time-consuming process, and one
we believe well worth the investment.�
Omni Hotels kicked off the massive corporate renovation
effort with a $20 million re-do of the Omni Ambassador East. A Chicago
landmark, the 283-room hotel, located on the cityís prestigious
Gold Coast, was erected in 1926 as a �home away from home� for celebrity
and society guests travelling to the windy city. Restored to its original
grandeur, the hotel features sleek, Italian marble bathrooms and sumptuously
upholstered guestrooms. The new Omni Ambassador Eaststands as a testament
to high style and the sophisticated big city hotel. |
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Omni Ambassador East
Home to the famous Pump Room Restaurant.
One of three Chicago Hotels to be listed among Historic Hotels of America.
Located on Chicago�s exclusive Gold Coast. |
The two-year long, $60 million restoration of the regal Omni Parker
House in Boston, which began in 1997, has repositioned the downtown hotel
as the center of business, political and social activity within the city.
The hotel�s rich, historic legacy dates back to 1886 when the Parker House
was originally built. The lavish renovation effort, which included the
complete upgrade of all guestrooms, guest quarters, restaurant, lobby and
meeting space, showcases the best that artistic and technical design ingenuity
can produce in the 1990s. The newly restored OmniParker House blends lavish,
Bostonian old world style with European standards and Asian-influenced
service to ensure that customers lack for nothing in the way of amenities
and services.
The largest hotel renovation currently underway in North America, the
Omni Shoreham Hotel�s $100 million face lift has been a well-orchestrated
symphony of design, construction, and management.
The two-and-a-half year project has recaptured the elegant
architectural and design touches
characteristic of the 1930s, when the 836-room landmark Washington,
D.C., hotel was constructed. Rich, mahogany furnishings and imperial crystal
chandeliers balance warm, English chintz and imported damask fabrics found
throughout the hotel. Palette-pleasing hues of taupe and celedan create
a regal, yet comfortable setting. The Omni Shoreham Hotel�s 2,000 square
foot presidential suites rank among the finest living spaces inside the
Beltway and the more than 100,000 square feet of newly designed function
space is a meeting planner�s dream. |
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Omni Shoreham Hotel
Luxury hotel nestled on 11 acres in
picturesque Rock Creek Park, in the northwest quadrant of Washington, D.C. |
Other renovations totaling more than $50 million include Omni Hotels
in Montreal, New Orleans, Dallas, Atlanta, Houston, Detroit, Chicago, Charlotte,
Corpus Christi and Austin. In addition to lavish cosmetic upgrades, Omni
Hotels has invested in state-of-the-art technology enhancements to ensure
that all guestrooms and meeting space are wired for the 21st century.
All Omni Hotels rooms feature dual-line speakerphones with dataport
connections or T1 lines for Internet access. Meeting rooms are also wired
for the World Wide Web. In addition, the company has invested nearly $10
million in additional telecommunications switches to ensure that hotel
never have to sorry about receiving busy signals due to increased telephone
and Internet usage.
Along with the mammoth renovation effort, Omni Hotels unveiled a new
$82 million golf resort in Denver, the Omni Interlocken Resort. The majestic
Rocky Mountain views not withstanding, the luxury resort showcases an immaculatelygroomed
27-hole course and European-style spa. The Omni Interlocken Resort�s warm,
regional decor surrounds guests in casual elegance.
A portfolio of luxury hotels is not the only enhancement Omni Hotels
has undertaken. Though not as readily apparent, the company has invested
in new property management, revenue management and food and beverage systems
to the tune of $10 million. Omni Hotels has upgraded its central reservations
center and reservations systems, as well.
With four years of extensive renovations under its belt, Omni Hotels
is primed to set new standards and expectations in the luxury hotel market.
Omni
Hotels Company History
1958
Dunfey family of New England founds Dunfey Hotels Corporation with
Lamie�s Motor Inn (32 rooms). Rapid expansion through the 1960s and 1970s,
to 8,000 rooms.
1964
Dunfey Hotels obtains Sheraton franchises for existing hotels and motor
inns. Dunfey becomes the largest franchise holder worldwide with a total
of 14 properties.
1968
Dunfey Hotels invents the �Wayferer�s Club,� later to become the prototype
of the hotel industry�s frequent traveler programs, including: preferred
availability, free spouse travel, free travel insurance policy and complimentary
coffee and newspaper.
1969
Dunfey Hotels acquires and renovates the Parker House in Boston, also
invents the �mini vacation� and establishes a toll-free mini vacation reservations
center.
1970
Dunfey Hotels Corporation is affiliated with Aetna Life & Casualty
of Hartford, Conn. The company invents the Good Meeting Guarantee, the
predecessor to Omni Hotels� Gavel Service program for meeting planners,
as well as the Successful Meeting Guarantee.
1972
Dunfey Hotels Corporation creates the first secretaries club, called
the �Colleen Club,� later to become Omni Hotels� Executive Service Plan,
which provides benefits to the corporate travel planner and business traveler.
1976
Company is acquired by Aer Lingus. Growth of Classic Hotels division,
the foundation for the later upscale segment, Omni Hotels.
1977
Chicago�s Ambassador East Hotel acquired.
1978
New York�s Berkshire Place Hotel acquired with partial equity to become
the company�s �flagship� hotel upon completion of a major renovation in
1979.
1979
Shoreham Hotel in Washington, D.C., acquired with partial equity.
1981
Royal Orleans Hotel in New Orleans acquired, becoming the fourth property
in the Classic Hotel Division.
1983
Dunfey Hotels Corporation takes over Omni International Hotels, changing
the names of its classic upscale hotels to include �Omni.� The Netherland
Plaza hotel in Cincinnati is added to the roster of hotels and undergoes
extensive renovation, restoring it to its original art deco grandeur.
1986
Omni Hotels completes its plan to divest itself of its mid-market properties.
The company begins operating its present day, first-class hotels and resorts
and announces its intent to begin selective franchising of the Omni Hotels
brand.
1987
The Omni Richmond Hotel opens in Virginia and the Omni Jacksonville
Hotel opens in Florida. The Omni Europa Hotel in Chapel Hill, N.C., becomes
the chain�s first franchise property.
1988
Omni Hotels is acquired by World International Holdings Ltd. and its
associate Wharf Holdings Ltd. of Hong Kong, in July. In November, Marco
Polo International Hotels, also owned by World and Wharf, are renamed �Omni
Hotels Asia Pacific,� in order to create an international hotel marketing
entity under the Omni Hotels brand. The Omni Cancun Hotel is added, marking
Omni Hotels� entry into Mexico.
1989
Omni Hotels becomes the first major hotel chain to shift the focus
of its frequent traveler program, Select Guest, from awards to immediate
guest recognition and benefits. Omni Hotels added in Durham, N.C., Indianapolis,
Ind., and Newport News, Va.
1990
Omni Hotels establishes a Travel Industry Advisory Board comprised
of key travel agency representatives who advise the company on marketing
and communicating to the travel industry. Omni Hotels adds a property in
Philadelphia and another hotel in Indianapolis.
1991
Omni Hotels aquires the Omni Houston Hotel (formerly the Four Seasons
Inn on the Park).
1992
Omni Hotels acquires the Marriott Mandalay at Las Colinas, Dallas (formerly
a Four Seasons) and adds hotels in Albany, N.Y.; Austin, Texas; Cleveland,
Ohio; and West Palm Beach, Fla.
1993
Omni Hotels announces beginning of construction of the Omni Rosen in
Orlando, Fla. The Chicago Hyatt Regency Suites is acquired and re-named
the Omni Chicago Hotel.
1994
Omni Hotels adds two new properties: the Omni Richardson Hotel in suburban
Dallas and the Omni Colonnade Hotel in Coral Gables, Fla.
1995
Omni Hotels expands to the West Coast with the addition of the Omni
Los Angeles Hotel & Centre. The newly renovated Omni Berkshire Place
in New York opens following a more than $50 million restoration. Construction
completed on the Omni Rosen Hotel in Orlando, Fla.
1996
TRT Holdings, Inc. of Corpus Christi, Texas, acquires Omni Hotels�
nine upscale U.S. hotels, management contracts and/or franchise agreements
on 26 other hotels and the rights to the Omni Hotels brand name worldwide,
excluding Asia Pacific. Bob Rowling appoints himself chairman and names
Jim Caldwell president. A new senior management team is established.
1997
Omni Hotels relocates its corporate office from Corpus Christi, Texas,
to Irving, Texas, in suburban Dallas.
1998
Construction begins on three new hotels - the Omni New Haven Hotel,
New Haven, Conn., the Omni Interlocken Hotel outside of Denver, Colo. and
the Omni San Francisco Hotel. Omni Hotels announces a $70 million renovation
of the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, D.C., a $50 million renovation
of the Omni Parker House in Boston, Mass. and a $14 million renovation
of the Omni Ambassador East in Chicago, Ill. Omni Hotels acquires the Omni
Majestic Hotel in St. Louis, Mo., as well as another Mexican resort franchise,
the Omni Puerto Aventuras Beach Resort in Puerto Aventuras, Mexico.
In 1998, the company acquired new Omni Hotels in San Francisco,
Denver, Detroit, Charlotte, New Haven, Conn. and Puerto Aventuras, Mexico.
The company made its first foray into Canada in Jan. 1999, with
the acquisition of the Hotel Omni Montreal, formerly the Westin Mont-Royal. |
Omni Hotels Company Profile
Omni Hotels is a privately owned management company headquartered
in Irving, Texas, operating 43 first-class and luxury hotels and resorts
throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The company's portfolio is comprised of 30 owned and managed
properties and 13 franchised properties.
The typical Omni Hotel is a 350-500 room, upscale hotel.
Omni Hotels properties offer four-diamond amenities and
services including marble guest bathrooms with complimentary terry robes;
in-room speaker phones with dual lines and voice mail, in-room dataport
/ modem connections; gourmet dining; guest room service; on-site business
and fitness centers; children's activities and express check-in and check-out
services.
The primary customer focus is on the corporate business
traveler and the upscale leisure traveler.
Omni Hotels operates eight national sales offices in Los
Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Chicago, Austin, Dallas, Atlanta, and
Washington, D.C. The company's ratio of sales offices to hotels is one
sales office for every five and a half hotels. Omni Hotels' national sales
office network was directly responsible for booking more than 12,000 room
nights for each Omni Hotel in 1998.
Omni Hotels' central reservation center is located in
Omaha Nebraska. In 1998, Omni Hotels' central reservation center
contributed approximately 35 percent to Omni Hotels' total rooms revenue.
Omni Hotels' company-wide, Y2K compliant, multi-million
dollar technology structure includes a wide area network, newly developed
Windows-based property management system, updated central reservation system
and customer database and state-of-the-art integrated revenue management
system.
In 1997, J.D. Power & Associates and Frequent Flyer
Magazine rated Omni Hotels one of the top five hotel chains for customer
satisfaction among upscale domestic hotel chains. In 1998, they rated Omni
Hotels among the top three upscale hotel chains for price and value. |
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James D. Caldwell
President
Jim
Caldwell was named president of Omni Hotels in February 1996, when TRT
Holdings, Inc. purchased the company. As president, Caldwell directs the
efforts of Omni Hotels� senior management team including operations, finance,
marketing, human resources and development.
From 1991 to 1996, Caldwell served as vice president and
general counsel for TRT Holdings, Inc. In addition, he served as president
of its real estate subsidiary, TRT Development Company, and its management
subsidiary, Shoreline Operating Company. He led TRT in a hotel acquisition
program which eventually led to the purchase in 1996 of Omni Hotels from
Hong Kong based Wharf Holdings. Omni Hotels is now comprised of 42 first-class
and luxury hotels and resorts throughout the United States and Mexico.
Caldwell received a BBA in accounting with highest honors
from The University of Texas in 1977 and practiced with Peat Marwick
as a CPA in Houston and Corpus Christi. After leaving Peat Marwick,
he received his law degree with honors from The University of Texas School
of Law. Prior to joining TRT,
Caldwell practiced commercial law for 10 years as a partner
in a large South Texas law firm. Caldwell lives in Plano, Texas, with his
wife and three children and is active in the business and civic community. |
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