MINNEAPOLIS—Midscale hotel chain AmericInn celebratec a record year of revenue at its annual convention at the Hyatt Regency Minneapolis April 27-29. With a theme of Stand Out! With Imagination, Heart and Soul, more than 550 franchisees, vendors, and corporate staff gathered to reflect on a banner year and strategize for future success.
During the convention, leadership including Paul Kirwin, CEO and president; Nasir Raja, executive vice president of franchise development and operations; and Mark Masuda, vice president of sales and marketing, delivered a wide-ranging state-of-the-brand address.
2013 was the most profitable year in AmericInn’s 30-year history with record revenues of $200 million and RevPAR growth of 4.2 percent.
On the strength of the highly successful AmericInn Refresh initiative, MarketMetrix customer satisfaction scores of “Most Likely to Recommend” increased 3 percent for the brand over the past two years. The “Most Likely to Return” score grew at 3 percent as well.
The brand’s portfolio of locations has strengthened considerably—particularly in major metropolitan markets like suburban Chicago, suburban Minneapolis, and suburban Omaha. “Adding quality conversions in major markets is a core focus of our growth strategy,” Raja explained. “We are leveraging the current development cycle to build hotels in secondary and tertiary markets. We anticipate expanding the brand by 10 percent over the coming year.”
A broad marketing partnership with the Minnesota Twins was announced, as was a strategic marketing promotion titled “Random Acts of Vacation.” The promotion invites anyone and everyone to nominate a friend or loved one who deserves a vacation to win $400 worth of free nights at any AmericInn. AmericInn will choose two winners per week throughout the summer.
“Becoming the largest midscale hotel brand in the upper Midwest is a great accomplishment for us,” Kirwin noted. “However, to stand out, we cannot stand still. We must continue to stay relevant, execute flawlessly, and deliver the warm, neighborly welcome that is the hallmark of AmericInn.”
Industry guests included AH&LA President and CEO Katherine Lugar, who shed light upon the changes impacting the industry, and Richard Wiegmann, CEO of Trust International, offering a glimpse into the future of hospitality distribution.
Celebrity motivational speakers included Peter Vidmar, captain of the 1984 Men’s Olympic Gold Medal gymnastics team and the highest-scoring American gymnast in Olympic history; and Mike Schlappi, four-time Paralympic Medalist and two-time world champion. Nellie Kim, the highest-medaled female gymnast in Olympic history also attended the event as a guest of Vidmar.
