2008-05-28 23:32:18 -

www.jqhhotels.com - John Q. Hammons Hotels & Resorts' Renaissance Tulsa Hotel & Convention Center (www.marriott.com/tulbr) in Oklahoma stole the awards spotlight at the recent Marriott Western Region Full-service General Managers Conference in Long Beach, Calif., attended by more than 350 hoteliers. The 300-room, upscale hotel received five honors, more than any other full-service Marriott property in the western region. The

five accolades bestowed on the Tulsa property include:

-- Market Excellence - General Manager John Klukan was recognized for highest RevPAR Index of the Renaissance Brand 2007.

-- Sales Leadership Excellence - General Manager John Klukan assembled the right strategy/tactics with a strong, focused team to accomplish an aggressive transient and group business strategy that yielded great results.

-- Food & Beverage Excellence - General Manager John Klukan led the team to achieve impressive improvement versus last year and to provide an outstanding customer experience in its food and beverage operations.

-- Spirit to Serve our Communities/Community Service Award - General Manager John Klukan was recognized for his excellent handling of associates and key customers during ice storm; use and focus of community resources in HR recruiting, including special needs associates.

-- Revenue Manager of the Year/Franchise Full-service Hotels - Stephanie Walsh, a five-year employee of John Q. Hammons Hotels & Resorts, limited discounting and provided guidance and strategy to both transient and group segments that brought great results.

Led to success by General Manager John Klukan, CHA, the top performing hotel was recognized from among Marriott's full-service brand portfolio spanning JW Marriott Hotels & Resorts, Marriott Hotels & Resorts, and Renaissance Hotels & Resorts properties throughout the western United States. The Renaissance Tulsa Hotel & Convention Center is owned by Mr. John Q. Hammons and operated by Springfield, Mo.-based John Q. Hammons Hotels & Resorts, the nation's leading independent builder, developer, owner and manager of upscale, full-service hotels, resorts and suites (www.jqhhotels.com).

"John and his team have done a remarkable job of leveraging Tulsa's premier hotel, but having the finest facility isn't enough. John invested the time and resources to ensure he had the best talent, and kept the best talent, for consistently delivering on the outstanding experience at the hotel, and in the community, that people expect from a John Q. Hammons property and a Renaissance branded hotel," said Mr. Hammons, founder, chairman and chief executive officer of John Q. Hammons Hotels & Resorts.

Prior to joining the Renaissance Tulsa Hotel & Convention Center two years ago, Klukan served as director of market sales for Marriott, representing large corporate accounts. "With the softening of the economy it's even more critical that we be at the top of our game to maintain our number one position. Our people are the key. We don't hire, we select our staff, and invest in their proper orientation of best practices. They are the face of our hotel and the heart of our brand," Klukan said.

About Renaissance Tulsa Hotel & Convention Center

The AAA Four Diamond designated Renaissance Tulsa Hotel & Convention Center provides exceptional service to a discriminating clientele and features rich colors and textures, paying homage to Tulsa's cattle baron and oil industry roots. Designed with the signature atrium style of John Q. Hammons Hotels, the unique decor of the nine-story hotel is vibrant and inviting. Keeping convenience top-of-mind, the hotel is ideally situated just 10 miles south of the Tulsa International Airport and is easily accessible from Highway 169 and the Creek Turnpike.

The more than 50,000 square feet of flexible meeting space, including a 28,800-square-foot grand ballroom, the largest ballroom in Oklahoma, makes the Renaissance property ideal for a variety of events from lavish weddings and celebrations to corporate meetings and conferences. The hotel's staff caters to a group's specialized needs and provides a full range of event planning assistance and catering. Guests can dine at the Cyprus Grille, which is the hotel's full-service restaurant featuring steak and seafood with a Mediterranean flair, or relax at Merlot's Wine Bar and Lounge. The hotel is complete with a health and fitness center, indoor pool, whirlpool and sauna.

To make a hotel reservation or to book a group function at the Renaissance Tulsa Hotel & Convention Center, contact the sales and catering department at (800) 264-0165 or call your travel agent. The Renaissance Tulsa Hotel & Convention Center participates in Marriott Rewards(R), Marriott International's award-winning frequent travel program, where meeting planners and travel agents can earn points toward free vacations for booking meetings at Marriott properties.

About Renaissance Hotels & Resorts

Renaissance Hotels & Resorts is an upscale brand providing full-service accommodations with local flair to discriminating business and leisure travelers at more than 140 properties in 28 countries. The brand's presence is strong in the U.S. and worldwide, with approximately half of its properties in North America and half throughout Europe, South America, the Caribbean, the Middle East and Asia.

About Marriott International, Inc.

MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL, Inc. (NYSE:MAR) is a leading lodging company with more than 3,000 lodging properties in the United States and 66 other countries and territories. Marriott International operates and franchises hotels under the Marriott, JW Marriott, The Ritz-Carlton, Renaissance, Residence Inn, Courtyard, TownePlace Suites, Fairfield Inn, SpringHill Suites and Bulgari brand names; develops and operates vacation ownership resorts under the Marriott Vacation Club, Horizons by Marriott Vacation Club, The Ritz-Carlton Club and Grand Residences by Marriott brands; operates Marriott Executive Apartments; provides furnished corporate housing through its Marriott ExecuStay division; and operates conference centers. The company is headquartered in Bethesda, Md., and had approximately 151,000 employees at 2007 year-end. It is ranked as the lodging industry's most admired company and one of the best companies to work for by FORTUNE(R), and has been recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with the 2007 Sustained Excellence Award and Partner of the Year since 2004. In fiscal year 2007, Marriott International reported sales from continuing operations of $13 billion. For more information or reservations, please visit our web site at www.marriott.com.

About John Q. Hammons Hotels & Resorts

Springfield, Mo.-based John Q. Hammons Hotels & Resorts is the nation's leading independent builder, developer, owner and manager of upscale, full-service hotels, resorts and suites, including: Embassy Suites Hotels, Renaissance, Marriott, Radisson, Residence Inn, Homewood Suites by Hilton, Holiday Inn and Courtyard by Marriott brands. With 76 hotels strategically located near demand generators, such as state capitals, universities, airports, corporate headquarters or office parks in secondary and tertiary markets, John Q. Hammons Hotels & Resorts' properties are dominant in their markets. Over the course of his impressive career in the hotel business, Mr. Hammons has developed 199 hotels. For more information about John Q. Hammons Hotels & Resorts, please visit the company's Web site at www.jqhhotels.com.

John Q. Hammons Hotels & Resorts
Scott Tarwater, 417-873-3591
scott.tarwater@jqh.com
or
Publicis PR for JQH Hotels & Resorts
Sheri Smith, 972-628-7766
sheri.smith@publicis-pr.com
or
Kari Streiber, 972-628-7757
kari.streiber@publicis-pr.com