The Torgerson Properties hotels celebrated International Housekeepers Week (September 11-17) with lots of

creative ways to recognize their hard-working and invaluable housekeeping teams. Each of the hotel teams
created their own unique way to say thank you. Here is an example of just a few of the actual events that took
place throughout the TPI hotels during International Housekeepers Week:
- Potluck lunches were organized
- Gift bags were distributed to each housekeeper
- Thank you cards were presented to housekeepers
- An afternoon ice cream social was held in the lobby
- An afternoon cupcake party was organized in the lobby
- One General Manager washed each housekeepers car
- One property presented an appreciation lapel pin to each housekeeper
- One property recognized the housekeepers as princes and princesses for the day
- Individual hotel departments took turns making lunch for their housekeeping team
The creativity of each hotel team and their genuine appreciation for the housekeepers made for an enjoyable week
company-wide. Dennis Wallenta, Vice President of Hotel Operations, said, I think this is a great way to show
appreciation. You should have seen the fun and laughter in the lobby this morning while they were taking pictures!
What a fun time!!
The week-long celebration was a great opportunity for each hotel to show appreciation for the fine housekeeping
teams that work so hard day in and day out to provide a great experience for the guests of TPI. No department
company-wide has a greater impact on the TPI experience.
As a follow-up to International Housekeepers Week, CEO Tom Torgerson and President Mitch Peterson spent an
entire week visiting all 28 of the TPI housekeeping departments. Beginning on a Monday morning at 8:00am and
finishing up at 1:00pm on Friday morning, Tom and Mitch enjoyed the opportunity to meet new housekeeping
associates and catch up with those they had not seen for a while. During their visits, Tom and Mitch expressed
their great appreciation to each of the housekeeping teams for their hard work and commitment. They
communicated that the housekeeping department was not only the largest department within TPI, but the most
impactful to providing a memorable guest experience. Mitch used an analogy by saying Our housekeeping teams
are like the engine of a car. Without the engine, a car cannot operate. At TPI, without our amazing housekeeping
teams, TPI could not operate. Tom followed up by stating, For too long our housekeeping teams have not been
recognized for the immense impact they have on the guest experience. Thats not right, and were determined to
change that attitude.
During the meetings, Tom and Mitch also announced that TPI will be converting a current guest room to a
housekeeping break area at each of the Austin, Willmar and Fairmont Holiday Inn locations. These rooms will be
bright, airy and spacious enough to have nice furnishings and will include lockers, a bathroom, cabinets, a full-sized
refrigerator, a sink and a microwave. The housekeeping teams at these locations will now have a place to secure
their personal belongings and sit down together to enjoy their lunch breaks.
In addition to spending time with the housekeeping teams, Tom and Mitch also brought along box lunches and
beverages for each housekeeper to enjoy. Almost 300 box lunches were distributed throughout the week. The box
lunches were just a small token, as the ultimate intent of the visit was to simply say THANK YOU!
Fall/Winter 2011-2012
TPI recognizes their housekeeping teams
Mitch Peterson identifies the housekeeping teams as the engine that runs the car
I NNSI DE
TORGERSON
PROPERTIES
Constant personal improvement is necessary to effectively compete in todays fast paced world of
business. Each of us individually needs to hold up the mirror and review what we are doing and
how we can change for the better. TPI as a company also needs to hold up that same mirror on
a routine basis. Recently when we did so, we saw a lot of things we liked, but we also saw some
things we didnt like. During the process of our annual associate engagement survey we heard a
lot of very positive things. On the other hand, we uncovered some themes or messages, said in
various ways and scattered around the company, which indicated that we could do better. I would
like to talk about one of those themes with you at this time.
We are a hospitality company through and through. We deliver services to our guests when they
are away from their homes. Our most frequent services include serving meals and providing
meeting or lodging accommodations. When our guests use us as their home away from home,
they are looking for friendly, safe and clean environments. The largest single contingent of
associates within the TPI family is our housekeepers. Our housekeeping associates are smack
dab at the center of guest impact for providing a home away from home in our hotel rooms. I dont
want to diminish the importance of any single job position within TPI, however; I want to share
some thoughts specifically about our housekeeping associates.
Our housekeeping associates tend to be buried deep inside our hotels, away from our front doors
and away from our lobbies, restaurants, bars and other common areas. They are in the
commercial laundry, the corridors and guest rooms of our hotels. Their hard work is often unseen,
other than their finished product that is at the center of our guests experience. They repeat their
work day in and day out, and it is hard work, it is physical work and their finished product is held
to a super high quality bar by our management teams and guests. Their work is essential to the
success of our hotels. Mitch Peterson likes to define our housekeepers as the engine of the TPI
car. You can have a very nice car, but without the engine, it is worthless.
Our annual associate engagement survey communicated to us in varying ways that many of our
housekeeping associates feel underappreciated. I am even more saddened to report that they
sometimes feel like second class citizens. Your TPI operations teams have had a number of
discussions and debates about why this situation exists, and have asked themselves how the
situation can be changed. If you think about it, the sheer fact that our housekeeping associates
are geographically buried deep into our hotels means that you dont interact with them frequently
unless you also bury yourself deep into our hotels. Some time ago, Mike Mulleady was the
General Manger of our Willmar hotels. Some of you likely can remember Mike. Mike was a great
man and he was with TPI for some time, but moved back to his hometown in Wisconsin to join the
family real estate business. Something I have to tell you about Mike is that if I ever wanted to find
him, I needed to walk the hotel. He was routinely not in his office, but in the rooms, corridors and
commercial laundry areas of his hotels. Mike would know most things happening in the lives of
his housekeeping associates and would lend them support and help them to advance. Mike would
constantly tell them how much he appreciated their hard work. Mike was not only their leader, he
was their friend.
In November, Mitch, Pete and I visited all of the TPI housekeeping departments, with the
exception of our Naples, FL hotel which we will be visiting shortly. We made a point of talking to
every housekeeping associate on duty. We apologized for our failure in not consistently
acknowledging their extreme importance to TPI, as well as our appreciation for their hard work.
We made some commitments towards changing and improving this situation going forward. Not
that we needed any further validation, but when we did apologize there were a lot of heads
nodding and body language saying I am so glad you get this. We also had some good laughs
together. After we completed the tour, Mitch, Pete and I reflected upon our visits. We felt the week
of visiting our housekeeping associates was the most important way we could have invested our
time. Each of us felt that the housekeeping associates that we directly touched that week were
good people, proud people, hardworking people, and to sum it up, very special people. We are
committed towards furthering this cause of elevating our housekeeping associates as we go
forward. Lastly, I want to say that our TPI housekeepers ROCK!!!
Tom Torgerson
Chief Executive Officer
Torgerson Properties, Inc.
2
Torgerson Properties hidden treasure
Tom Torgerson identifies the importance of TPIs amazing housekeeping teams
Each of us
felt that the
housekeeping
associates
that we
directly
touched that
week were
good people,
proud people,
hardworking
people, and
to sum it up,
very special
people
The past, present and future of Torgerson Properties
Mitch Peterson reflects on his observations of the TPI team
As the year comes to a close it seems like an appropriate time to reflect upon the path we have
travelled over the past twelve months (or the past three years for that matter). I dont know that
anyone could have predicted the duration of the recession that is still impacting us. We continue
to survive due to the tremendous strength and commitment of each of you as TPI associates. We
have travelled a great distance since October of 2008 and have learned much along the way.
As an example, from a bigger picture standpoint, we have:
- Survived!!!
- Put of the franchise mandated renovations we had on our plate at that time behind us.
- Learned to operate much more efficiently.
- Better embraced the need to become engaged across all levels of our company.
- Developed a much greater understanding of the value of our Heart of the House associates.
In the past twelve months we have done everything within our power to honor the commitment we
made in 2008 to restore those things that we were forced to take away in order to survive as a
company. Going back to last fall we have, or will be acting on, the following items: the
reinstatement of performance/wage increases, funeral pay and holiday pay. In addition, we will be
improving upon the current PTO schedule as of the first of the year. Tom, Pete and I have also
had the privilege of two enjoyable companywide property tours this past year. In June we
distributed over 1,000 cookies to all of our Minnesota locations, and in early November we
delivered nearly 300 box lunches to our awesome housekeeping departments! As an aside to our
Naples teamwe havent forgotten about you! Tom and I will be there in early January to treat
you right!! These property tours have proven to be invaluable to us! We have had the honor to
have countless face to face conversations with so many of you who make TPI successful. Many
of these conversations have aided in guiding us with our decisions throughout the year. I have
said it before, and I will continue to say itI would put the TPI team up against any in the
industry. We truly are blessed!
As to whats on the horizon.
There continues to remain great uncertainty in terms of our economic condition. As a matter of
fact, leading economists are at odds over what is ahead of us. There continues to be tremendous
economic struggles across the pond and we are left only to watch their economic condition play
out. Though we dont know what will happen, we do know that we live in a global economy. What
happens elsewhere in the world is certain to impact usboth good and bad. In addition to that,
we have elected officials in place who are more concerned about party politics than addressing
the many major issues that face our country.
I would much rather be in a place of professing optimism versus uncertainty, but thats how I
measure our current condition. There are so many things that are out of our control that we are
left with only one thing to do; that is to control those things we can control. We have the ability to
manage ourselves, our decisions and the way we lead our lives. That is what got us to this point,
and that is what each of us must continue to do. There is one other major thing we can do to
influence the type of change we need. We can vote. Please be sure to pay close attention to what
the politicians are doing over the next 12 months. Take the time to prepare yourself to let your
voice be heard through the simple, yet powerful, act of voting. Take the time to be heard!
The past few years have taught me a number of things. Perhaps the most important thing I have
learned is that, with the right group of people, most obstacles/challenges can be overcome!
From the bottom of my heart, thank you for all of your dedication and effort!!
Mitch Peterson
President of Operations
Torgerson Properties, Inc.
3
3
I have said it
before, and I
will continue
to say itI
would put the
TPI team up
against any in
the industry.
We truly are
blessed!
4
The 2011 Torgerson Properties Awards Ceremony may go
down as one of the most exciting ever! Over 175 members
from the TPImanagement teams were in attendance. The
event was held on October 3rd at the Holiday Inn &
Conference Center in Austin.
The day started out with a general session in the afternoon.
CEOTom Torgerson and President Mitch Peterson
addressed the group by communicating the results of the
2011 TPIAssociate Engagement Survey. Mitch explained
why TPI uses an engagement survey by stating that,
Engaged associates are more productive, more profitable,
more customer-focused, safer, and are more likely to
withstand temptations to leave. He followed up with several
key statistics that clearly measure the value of having
associates who are engaged in their roles. Mitch also
identified TPIs areas of opportunity based on the results of
the engagement survey. Tom reinforced Mitchs findings and
provided a more global view of the engagement survey
results. The general session proved to be a very
enlightening summary of the methodology surrounding the
engagement survey.
After the general session, it was off to a social hour where
everyone had an opportunity to network and catch up with
those people they may not have seen for some time. Again
this year, the social hour included TPIs Great Gift Basket
Challenge. Each property was challenged to create a basket
the could be sold through a raffle or silent auction. There
were all types of cleverly themed baskets. The baskets
contained items such as wine, sports tickets, gift cards,
Webber grills or products local to that specific property. A
couple of notable items were a trip to Florida and a 42 flat
screen TV! About half of the baskets chose to participate in
a raffle, with the remaining baskets using a silent auction to
determine the winner. The bidding and raffle ticket buying hit
a feverish pitch towards the end of the evening. When all of
the money was counted, the TPI team raised over $4,500 for
Give Kids The World (learn more about Give Kids The World
at www.GKTW.com). That raises the TPI teams total GKTW
donation to almost $10,000 over the past two years!
Things were just starting to get warmed up as the TPI team
entered the Austin Conference Center ballroom for dinner.
The Austin team provided a spectacular selection of items,
assuring that no one went home hungry. Now, it was the
moment everyone was waiting for...the 2011 TPIAwards
Ceremony!
The awards ceremony began with a high-energy video
presentation featuring photos of the TPI team in action and
accompanied by the song Born to Run by Bruce
Springsteen. As the ballroom buzzed with anticipation, the
Master of Ceremonies, President Mitch Peterson, kicked off
the awards ceremony by entering to the middle of the
ballroom, surrounded by the TPI management teams.
a t T o r g e r s o n P r o p e r t i e s . . .
On a property level, TPI presents ten different awards that
recognize outstanding performance over the previous twelve
months. Those ten awards include:
Sales Achievement Award
Presidents Award
Top Gun Award
Teamwork Award
Outrageous Guest Service Award
Closer Award
Heart of the House Award
Safety First Award
First Impression Award
Property of the Year Award
You can see all of the 2011 award winners on page 7 of this
newsletter, with this years nominees shown on page 19.
On an personal level, TPI honors only one associate from a
hotel location and one associate from a restaurant location.
The award is entitled the Heart & Soul Award. The Heart &
Soul Award winners are chosen from nominations submitted
by the TPImanagement teams and is presented to the hourly
associate who has demonstrated an amazing ability to do
whatever it takes to create a great experience for the guests
of TPI as well as for fellow associates. These hourly
associates are invited to the annual awards ceremony to be
recognized for their outstanding dedication to TPI. As in past
years, the Heart & Souls Award presentation was a very
emotional moment, with the winners receiving a standing
ovation from the entire TPI team! You can see this years
winners and excerpts from their nomination letters by turning
to page 20 of this newsletter.
New to this years awards ceremony was a recognition of all
associates who have worked at TPI for twenty years or more.
TPItakes great pride in an associate tenure that far
surpasses the industry average. In all, there are currently
twenty-seven associates who have been on the TPI team for
twenty or more years. What really makes this statistic
intriguing is that twenty years ago, only eight of the current
twenty-eight TPIlocations even existed! Each of these
twenty-seven associates was invited to the awards
ceremony to be recognized. They were each introduced
individually, and as a token of thanks were presented with
personalized TPI glassware containing ten, one-hundred
dollar bills! It was just a small token of thanks for those
associates who have made TPI what it is today.
After the awards presentation concluded, everyone was
invited to continue the celebration at Torges Live by dancing
the night away to the sounds of Chester Bay
Wow! It was an amazing evening for everyone in
attendance. High-energy and emotionally charged...we cant
wait to see what next years celebration offers!
5
we K n o w H o w T o C e l e b r a t e !
The old saying, Theres more to life than money applies to retirement as well. Although having enough to live comfortably
obviously is important, how you live your later years may be even more important. You want to assess all the factors that will
affect your retirement strategy, and the tradeoffs you may have to make between them.
Research has identified six key priorities most retirees need to think about. In no particular order, because that is for you to
decide, they are: your current lifestyle, your retirement lifestyle, your risk tolerance, your retirement date, unknown risks and
benefiting others. Ranking these six priorities will help you determine if youre on course and, if not, what adjustments might
be indicated. Think in terms of a list with extremely important/not willing to sacrifice at the top and less important/willing to
sacrifice at the bottom, and see how these priorities line up for you.
There are no right or wrong answers or optimal order to how you rank your priorities. The point is to think about how each one
impacts the others and what tradeoffs might be necessary. Your rankings may change over time, as your financial condition or
life situation evolves. Thats all up to you the key is to think about what really matters to you as you approach and enter
retirement. Here are six key elements to consider when planning your retirement.
Retirement Lifestyle
We all want a certain amount of comfort and discretion in our later years. How do you envision your retirement lifestyle,
what does an average day look like? What do you want to be able to do? Once you picture this, youll have a better
idea of how it ranks.
Retirement Date
Assuming its within your power to decide, whats your ideal retirement date? If youre not on track financially and have
to work longer, whats an acceptable retirement date? Do you need to take another look at your current lifestyle or
expected retirement expenses?
Investment Risk
Understanding your tolerance for risk is a critically important piece of retirement planning. Your age, years to
retirement, income needs in retirement, and your ability to accept losses all factor in here. If you are determined to
avoid losses, that has definite implications for achieving the level of assets you need to fund your retirement. This is
an individual matter, and one you should definitely discuss with your advisor.
Current Lifestyle
How important is it for you to maintain your current lifestyle until you retire? Are there expenses you could reasonably
eliminate? Are you saving enough? Its OK if you dont want to change things so long as you understand this might
impact other priorities.
Unknown Risks
We cant know the future, but its a good bet you will have some
unexpected expenses in retirement. Do you have a cash reserve
or insurance policy set aside for these? If push came to shove,
would you dip into this to achieve your other priorities?
Benefiting Others
Do you plan to help the grandkids with college?
Is there a favorite charity you want to support?
Is someone relying on you for financial assistance?
How much money does all this involve, and
where does this rank on your list of priorities?
As one of the largest wealth management firms in southern
Minnesota, Sweet Financial Services, Inc. can help you prepare
for the type of retirement you want based on what is important
to you. For questions regarding the Torgerson Properties
Retirement Savings Plan, give Sweet Financial Services, Inc.
a call at 800-658-2507 and experience the difference yourself.
What are your priorities in planning for retirement?
Sweet Financial offers some ideas that may help your retirement goals
6
7
2011 TPI Award Winners
Hotels
Holiday Inn Express
Eagan
Holiday Inn Express
Eagan
Holiday Inn
Arbor Lakes
Hampton Inn
Shoreview
Courtyard
Rochester
Holiday Inn
Arbor Lakes
Country Inn & Suites
Willmar
Hampton Inn
Arbor Lakes
Staybridge Suites
Arbor Lakes
Staybridge Suites
Bloomington
Sales
Achievement
Presidents
Top Gun
Teamwork
Outrageous
Guest Service
Closer
Heart of the
House
Safety First
First
Impression
Property of
the Year
Restaurants
Torges Live
Green Mill
Willmar
Green Mill
Willmar
Perkins
Austin
Perkins
Austin
Green Mill
Willmar
Green Mill
Shoreview
Torges Live/The Bistro
Austin
Green Mill
Shoreview
Perkins
Austin
Whatever it takes for outrageous guest service...
A letter mailed to IHG Corporate Headquarters in reference to Staybridge Suites Arbor Lakes...
I realize you hear from me almost annually, but then again, it appears I am here that much as well and for good reason. Once
again, your staff at the Staybridge Suites in Maple Grove has been stellar. My wife needed to be in Blaine earlier this year
for two family funerals and she would not consider staying anywhere else other than the Staybridge. Her reasons were valid
for the very reasons I cited previouslyyour personnel. They discovered why she was in Maple Grove alone and quickly
surrounded her with hospitality. They even provided a sympathy card for her, signed by the many service providers you have
here. You cant imagine the impact that had on my bridethe decent and benevolent spirits of these people to think of
something like thatbut then to act on it! WOW! The room remodels were an added bonus when she arrived.
Then, it was my turn to visit about a week later. I noticed some new faces and the great ones that are still present. You did
very well with your Chief Maintenance Engineer replacement since Chuck moved. Chris is always happy, bearing a very
pleasant demeanor and customer service way above the call. Tom Rost is always fun and energizes his team to stay
focused and engaged. He, too, bears a very pleasant and welcoming demeanor, frequently taking on the duties of his staff
to assist them in any way he can. The transformation he, Bob and a few others made to the courtyard was done very well
and compliments anyones stay with a sense of beauty and solitude. The gardens are great and make one feel even more
at home with a sense of quiet and rest. The entire management and front desk teams are quite adept to getting and keep-
ing customers as you could ever hope for, simply because they get it! They understand the value of a customer and go out
of their way to make everyone as warmly welcomed and invited as possible.
Housekeepingif one word could be used to sum them up as a group it would be AWESOME! They pull together and place
the needs of the customer as a priority to everything else they do, and as you are aware, they bear no easy task.
You know you have something going in the right direction when you have repeat customers that simply have to be on the
road and do not want to leave this hotel for another, only because they know they will not receive what they experience
herefamily! Congratulations on your success in an industry that by norm is customer-service driven, but rarely achieves
that statusyou have, and you do it extremely well.
A letter received at the Austin Holiday Inn & Conference Center....
I would like to recognize Jeremie Slagle and the entire Holiday Inn Conference Center team
for their outstanding work this weekend. The team in Austin hosted our daughters wedding
reception for nearly 300 attendees. Jeremie and Jayna went out of their way to make sure
the day was spectacular. My daughter was thrilled and our project manager (my wife
Martha) was really pleased with all of the help and great ideas. Our first wedding was truly
a blessed and wonderful event.
I look forward to returning again to work with your team some day in the future if my
youngest daughter also decides to marry here in the Austin area. Thank you again to
Jeremie and to the entire staff at the Holiday Inn Conference Center. Our event was
extraordinary and we felt like we were at the Ritz-Carlton in this friendly small town in
southern Minnesota.
A phone call message received at the Green Mill Corporate office...
Mark,
A woman (Sally Gutierreuz) who had dinner at Green Mill Fairmont at 7pm last night just called our office to let us know how
wonderful her experience was. She asked me to write this as her email was down. She dined with a friend with two small
kids. She recently moved to Fairmont and had never been to the Green Mill. Her first visit was fantastic thanks to Tena,
Sara, and Jimi. They really enjoyed our great menu, nice dcor, and the inviting ambiance along with your great staff. It
was Kids Eat Free Night and they chose Green Mill because they had a coupon from the kids day care (awarded for
reading books). To top it off the managers and server sang happy birthday to the birthday girl and then gave each of the
kids a free sundae! She said they will definitely be back again!
We felt like we
were at the
Ritz-Carlton in
this friendly
small town in
southern
Minnesota
8
...YOU have the power!
A guest comment received at SpringHill Suites Rochester...
My family and I visited Rochester, but not for medical care. We stayed in your beautiful city during our cross country trip.
During our trip, the SpringHill Suites was the best hotel we have ever stayed at. It was better than any of the other three
Marriott hotels in other places. The room was clean and big, the hotel staff was very friendly and helpful. Breakfast had
many kinds of food. We can easily see that the manager and the staff are running the hotel with great pride. I think even if
I was going there for a medical issue that I would get great comfort by staying at the Rochester SpringHill Suites. Thank you
for everything!
A guest comment received at Staybridge Suites Bloomington...
I would like to extend compliments regarding my current stay at your Staybridge Suites in Bloomington. Due to a relocation,
I have been staying here since May and plan to continue my temporary housing through the end of August. My family will
be joining me in July. The staff has treated me in an extremely friendly manner since day one, and they make me feel at
home, especially Assistant General Manager Paul Carlson and front desk agent Heather LaFrance. They take good care of
me with sincere and special attention. Up to the room change, and down to laundry, they really put in a great effort to serve
me on a personal level. Even my wife was impressed through her phone contact with the hotel. Excellent front desk
service!!
As mentioned, Paul, Heather and Katie have been extremely helpful, knowledgeable, prompt and friendly in serving all my
needs during my stay. They exceed my expectation!! I am typically very selective and aim for professional service. Pauls
and Heathers help and performance made my stay an impressive one. I would definitely come back and refer my colleagues
and company to this special hotel. As my stay continues with my family joining me this coming weekend, they all look
forward to staying at this friendly place as temporary housing.
Please do pass on my appreciation and acknowledgement to the individuals indicated above. Many thanks!
...your staff
played a huge
part in her
recovery and
her ability to
enjoy her 96th
birthday. Larry
and his staff are
more than
great, they are
true heroes!
A letter received at Perkins Austin...
My name is Brian Larson from Dover, Delaware. I was born in Austin, MN and
frequently return. My mother is now 95 and she had lived in Austin until August of this year.
At 95 she really didnt want for anything, but she always enjoyed Perkins. Over the years,
with the help of General Manager Larry Eisenberg, I frequently had Larry deliver a Perkins
meal on weekends. He was always very understanding and, well, just NICE. He enjoyed
helping me with my mother. He would frequently make the delivery himself and take a
moment to chat with my mother.
In May of this year I got a call from the hospital. My mother had experienced a heart attack.
The doctor said we needed to fly in right away because she was probably not going to make
it. We made arrangements for the next morning and I called my mom. She sounded
terrible. As my wife and I prepared to leave for Austin, I thought that if she could have one
good thing before she passed she would enjoy a piece of Perkins Wildberry pie. I asked
the doctor if that would be alright and she said at this point nothing would hurt her. I called
Perkins at 8:30pm (Larry was off) and spoke with Candice. She had already heard about
my mother from Larry. She agreed to take my mother a piece of pie. Ten minutes later she
was at the hospital and my mother had her Wildberry pie. The doctors later told me a
miracle had occurred as my mother was seen sitting up and talking to the lovely lady from
Perkins!
My mother is now in a nursing home in St. Ansgar, Iowa. We were back in Austin
yesterday and promptly took Mom to Perkins. Although her stomach wouldnt allow for pie,
she enjoyed the soup and salad. She turned 96 on October 19th, and Im sure your staff
played a huge part in her recovery and her ability to enjoy her 96th birthday. Larry and his
staff are more than great, they are true heroes!
9
Whatever it takes for outrageous guest service...
A letter received at the Austin Holiday Inn & Conference Center....
On behalf of my entire FEMA team, I want to thank you and your staff at the Homewood Suites in New Brighton for making
our stay here a true pleasure. As disaster workers we often find ourselves on the road, but I can truly say that we rarely find
a hotel as welcoming as this place is. From the desk manager to the housekeeping staff and the food preparers, everyone
was friendly and proactively helpful. Your good spirits were infectious, and while our work is many times very challenging,
being surrounded by your compassionate staff nurtured us and made our deployment here a success.
An excerpt from an e-mail received at Hampton Inn Shoreview...
Everyone was very happy with the hotel and accommodations. The outside courtyard was PERFECT for us. We cooked
out four meals and saved a ton of money. It is hard to get everyone happy in a large group, but you did it! Your staff was
so gracious and met all of our requests and needs. Thank you doesnt seem enough. We hope you enjoy your bag of
goodies from Ohio! The Buckeye candies were hand made by a team family member, and the Bath & Body Works
corporate office is here in Columbus.
All in all we had a wonderful experience and your hotel was our home for five days and a great place for our team. Thank
you again!
An e-mail received at Holiday Inn Express Eagan...
After a late night return from a trip to the Bahamas, I wanted to be sure to send you
another sincere thank you for setting up Park & Fly arrangements for me and my travel
agent colleague Sarah.
Kudos to your remarkable staff! From the moment we checked in on Sunday night to the
time we drove out of your parking lot last night, your team treated us with the utmost respect
and enthusiasm. Our first impression was of your front desk agent, Jennifer. How
refreshing to be welcomed by someone who made strangers feel like friends. She was truly
impressive and obviously passionate about taking great care of your guests. Returning
from our dinner, she was joined by your Front Desk Supervisor, Angie, who was also
extremely welcoming as she shared her homemade treats. No doubt she will be missed
when she opens her new restaurant as she sure seems loyal to you and your property.
Finally, Bob, your kind and chivalrous shuttle driver who generously made a special
schedule adjustment to accommodate our crazy morning agenda. Then again upon our
exhausting arrival last night when the airline damaged my luggage and caused additional
delays getting out of the terminal. Boy, were we happy to see Bobs smiling face when he
courteously returned to get the two of us who couldnt make his original pick up time. Sarah
and I enjoyed chatting with him. I am happy to communicate his continued gratitude to the
AGM of Austins Holiday Inn, Sherri Stencil, for allowing him complimentary parking to leave
his truck in the Holiday Inn parking lot while he ventured out for a recent traditional deer hunt
in Wyoming.
Perhaps you have already heard from Sarah from Certified Travel out of Albert Lea? She
was equally impressed with your team and is looking forward to discussing rate options and
plans with you as she is hoping to steer a great deal of clients in your direction. Her agency
has significantly more clientele than my little home based operation, but I will absolutely be
doing the same!! Keep in mind though, that Sarah may bring more business to your
property but I, your fellow TPIan, brought Sarah to you. So, when seeking travel services,
book with me, book with me (HeeHee)!!!
Seriously, Emmett, thanks so much to you and your top notch team for making our pre- and
post-Caribbean travel such a smooth and enjoyable experience!!
From the
moment we
checked in on
Sunday night to
the time we
drove out of
your parking lot
last night, your
team treated us
with the utmost
respect and
enthusiasm.
10
...YOU have the power!
A guest comment received at Holiday Inn & Suites and Waterpark Arbor Lakes...
I am writing to say thank you to all of your staff who went above and beyond for us and our
family last weekend. One of our daughters and her family live in Cokato, Minnesota. The
other daughter and her family live in Salisbury, Maryland. She and her two daughters were
in the Twin Cities to help celebrate our twin granddaughters 8th birthday last Sunday.
I called your hotel about two weeks ago and wanted to make a reservation for a room for
us and the Maryland crew, as well as use your water park and pool for a little family
birthday party for Addison and Bailey. I spoke to Maggie and she worked so hard to make
this happen for all of us. I really appreciated her hard work, but I still had a little bit of a
concern that we would get to the hotel on Sunday at noon and there would be a problem.
When we arrived I went to the front desk and the lady (Im sorry, I didnt get her name)
working the desk couldnt have been nicer! She made it possible for us to get enough
wristbands for all of us to use the waterpark, and the girls had a blast! We had five
children using the waterpark, one child under a year old who just sat and watched and five
adults to supervise the group. We all had a very nice time! After the waterpark closed we
still used the pool and had it all to ourselves! It was great!
From all of the front desk people to the housekeeping staff who brought us extra towels, to
the lifeguards, kudos to all! Your staff is not only helpful, but they do it in a very pleasant
manner. This must be an attribute to their training which comes from above.
From my family to all of the Holiday Inn Maple Grove staff, thanks very much for a totally
enjoyable experience! You made not only the birthday girls happy, but the other three
grandchildren with us also had a great time. Thank you, and continue the great customer
service!
A guest comment received at Hampton Inn Arbor Lakes...
I would like to thank you and your staff for being so hospitable to my family over the last two-and-a-half months. My
daughter was playing fifth grade AAU basketball for the Minnesota Suns. Having the Hampton Inn as our home away from
home not only made it convenient for practices, but it was always reassuring to know where we were staying each night.
Your staff was always welcoming with a smile and extremely helpful when questions arose. The breakfast staff always
provided great service and a nice variety of foods to get her ready to play basketball for the day. The rooms and
accommodations were always clean and tidy.
Without saying, you have won a customer for life. Living in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, coming to the Twin Cities is always
a question on where to stay. That question has been answered, the Hampton Inn in Maple Grove!
We will be visiting again at the end of summer and look forward to staying again. If my daughter plays AAU basketball next
year (I dont think I could stop her if I wanted to), Hampton Inn Maple Grove will be our home away from home again. Thank
you again from the bottom of our hearts!
From all of the
front desk
people to the
housekeeping
staff who
brought us
extra towels, to
the lifeguards,
kudos to all!
Your staff is not
only helpful,
but they do it in
a very pleasant
manner.
An e-mail received at Courtyard Arbor Lakes...
I just wanted to let you know that I stayed at your property the week of July 25, 2011. I travel a lot for work, and I travel all
over the country. Your staff was amazing! Absolutely exceptional customer service! Trevor at the front desk, along with
Maureen was great. My server every morning, and Anthony who made my omelets every day, was great. It was a fabulous
stay. The hotel was clean and accommodating. When I come back to Minnesota, I am definitely staying at the Courtyard in
Maple Grove. Thank you, and please let your staff know that they really made my trip a pleasure!
11
Whatever it takes for outrageous guest service...
A guest comment received at Holiday Inn Express Golden Valley...
My fianc and I would just like to express our utter delight with our stay at the Holiday Inn Express in Golden Valley. We had
breakfast, used the workout room, the whirlpool and the swimming pool. Everything was pristine, including the room, and
the bedding was superb. The breakfast was healthy and delicious. The staff was accommodating, courteous and helpful.
It could have been the timing of our stay, but at certain points we actually felt like the entire hotel existed expressly for our
pleasure alone! Thanks for a perfect experience.
A guest comment received at Staybridge Suites Eagan....
My wife and I just completed a July and August stay at the Staybridge Suites in Eagan. This is an annual stay for us from
Arizona. Once again, Scott and his team provided us with outstanding service and accommodations. It is also nice to see
the same employees with a positive attitude and desire to serve the guest. Thank you!
A guest comment received at Staybridge Suites Bloomington...
We recently stayed at Staybridge Suites Bloomington with our four year old and one year old children, which can be a
challenge. We would like to commend the most excellent service of Pramela in the dining area for running such a tight
ship. She was courteous, kept everything running smoothly and still had time for a smile. My kids eat slow so we had
time to see how hectic it gets as people run in and out and attempt things with waffle makers that I would never imagine.
Pramela is just wonderful and is truly an asset to your facility!
A letter received at Holiday Inn Austin....
I want to thank you again for the rooms over the Memorial Day weekend. I dont think I would have ever brought my Mom
if it wasnt for knowing how great of a staff you have and the thoughtfulness and caring they provider her. She loved every
minute of the stay and said she would love to go back again, so hopefully, her health will allow it. I would like to personally
thank April and Mike as they went out of their way more often than once for my mom. The entire staff was great also, but I
dont remember all of their names. We hope to come back again later this summer of fall and will be back for sure with
hockey this winter. Keep up the great work; and thanks again!
A letter received at Holiday Inn Willmar and Green Mill Willmar...
I want to send a personal note of thanks to you, Chef Monty and all of the staff at the Willmar
Holiday Inn & Conference Center for hosting our Annual Event featuring Louie Anderson on
November 5th. The Annual Event was a huge success and we have received numerous
comments on how good the food was and how well the entire event was planned, of which,
you and the staff played an important part. Your willingness to accommodate our needs is
very much appreciated. You and your team are a valuable resource to the Willmar Holiday
Inn & Conference Center as well as the Willmar Area Chamber and Convention & Visitors
Bureau. The team has been very accommodating of our needs and is always willing to
go out of their way to make sure our events are top notch. The team knows that the facili-
ties, food and arrangements are not only a reflection of the Conference Center and staff, but
also is important to any Chamber or CVB event held at the Willmar Holiday Inn Willmar
Conference Center.
I am looking forward to the continued support and involvement in the Chamber by you and
the Willmar Conference Center. I hope you will post this letter for all employees to show
them how much the Chamber appreciates their support. All of the Torgerson Properties
employees are valuable members of the Chamber and the community. Again, I want to
thank you and the team for helping us make the Willmar Lakes Area an even better place
to live, work, play, learn and do business through a total team effort to be the best.
The team has
been very
accommodating
of our needs
and is always
willing to go out
of their way to
make sure our
events are top
notch.
12
...YOU have the power!
A guest comment received at Perkins Austin...
When dining at the Perkins restaurant next to the Days Inn in Austin Minnesota, we received EXCELLENT service. Cassie
was the manager and Meghan and Melissa were our hostess and server. They were very helpful and were a great
example of a perfect employee. They returned several times to make sure our needs were met. They were extremely kind
and extremely caring. We also noticed that all of the employees displayed these same qualities. This is by far the best
Perkins we have dined in, and we will recommend this location to others. The food was also excellent! Anyone can give
friendly service, but these employees showed that they really cared.
A guest comment received at Staybridge Suites Naples...
Hold on, strap yourself in for safety with regard to the Staybridge Suites in Naples, Florida. Most lodging experiences are
one-night stays...arrive, shower, sleep and then leave with nothing worth coming neither back for nor staying again for. A
stay at the Staybridge Suites in Naples is the exception.
Its not often one looks forward to a nearly 1,500 mile trip to stay at a particular hotel. This hotel is impeccably tidy, warm,
welcoming, and is the nicest and most pleasant hotel property we have ever visited. It certainly must be if we eagerly
await our return each year. What makes this property stand out most is a devoted, caring, attentive staff lead by General
Manager Tracy Neumeyer. We have met her entire staff, including but not limited to standouts Lindita and Julie, and we
can attest to their commitment to guest satisfaction. Along with all the amenities offered here, who could ask for anything
more? The Staybridge Suites in Naples, Florida has it all...period, exclamation point!!!
They could not
be any nicer
here. Every
single person.
They practically
treat you like
royalty. Our
experience
from check in
to check out
was great.
A letter received at Holiday Inn & Suites and Venetian Waterpark Maple Grove...
I just wanted to drop you an email to let you know what a wonderful experience we had this
weekend at the Holiday Inn and Suites at Arbor Lakes in Maple Grove. I know people tend
to only share the negative feedback, so I wanted to be sure you heard the good too.
We stayed there Saturday night for my sons 10th birthday. He brought along a friend so
they could swim in the water park (which they loved). My husband went ahead of us to
check in and his first comment to me when we arrived was They could not be any nicer
here. Every single person. They practically treat you like royalty. Our experience from
check in to check out was great.
The front desk was friendly and more than accommodating, not short and to the point like
many hotels. We had asked to reserve adjoining rooms since my sister and her kids were
coming from Madison and the cousins wanted to be together. We were told we could not
reserve guaranteed adjoining rooms when we called two weeks ahead, but they would do
the best they could. When my husband checked in they made sure to tell him right away
he had adjoining rooms, which we really appreciate since the hotel was fully booked that
night. The rooms were very nice and clean. We loved the variety of pillows and the extra
towels in the bathroom (we never seem to have enough wherever we stay). The beds were
very comfortable.
The in-room coupons for discounts at the water park and for drinks and dining were a great
surprise and added to the experience. Even the gentleman collecting the laundry, which I
know as a former hotel maid is not the funnest job, was extremely nice and friendly and
seemed happy to be there. I love that there were lifeguards at the water park, that they
watched the kids but also allowed them room to have fun.
When I asked my son if the experience was as fun as he expected he said way funner.
So I just wanted to be sure to commend your staff and let you know what a great job they
were doing and how wonderful they made my sons birthday. We live in town and hope to
return there again for a weekend getaway.
13
Holiday Inn New Ulm has been honored with the 2011
Property of the Year award by the Minnesota Lodging
Association. The award was presented at the Minnesota
Lodging Associations annual holiday party and awards
ceremony held at the Hilton Minneapolis on December 8th.
Holiday Inn New Ulm is a unique property in that it
combines the old world charm of the German heritage of
New Ulm with the modern conveniences travelers expect,
said Mitch Peterson, president of Torgerson Properties.
Our management and staff truly represent outstanding
hospitality as well as a strong commitment to their
community. We are honored that the Holiday Inn New Ulm
has been recognized as one of the best of the best in
Minnesota.
Rick Neumann, General Manager of the New Ulm Holiday
Inn said, This is such an honor for our entire staff. As a
team, we work to provide an excellent experience for each
guest who chooses to stay with us and at the same time we
strive to be a good corporate citizen within the city of New
Ulm.
The Holiday Inn New Ulm features 124 guest rooms. Hotel
amenities include Ottos, a full service restaurant and
lounge serving German and American cuisine, and over
4,000 square feet of flexible meeting and event space.
Ottos and the entire banquet facility are under the capable
direction of restaurant General Manager Marti Bennnett.
The property also offers a spacious indoor swimming pool,
complimentary wireless and wired internet, and an
executive business center.
New Ulm is located in south central Minnesota along the
Minnesota river, with the Holiday Inn is just a short drive
from the popular August Schell Brewery and Morgan Creek
Winery, the only underground winery in Minnesota.
Additional area attractions include the iconic Glockenspiel
Clock and Flandrau State Park. Jackpot Junction Casino is
a favorite stop among adults, while the entire family can
enjoy mini golf, biking trails and the Herman Monument in
New Ulm. In addition, Holiday Inn New Ulms annual
Oktoberfest celebration was recognized by USA Today as
one of the top ten Oktoberfest celebrations in North
America.
Honorees for the Minnesota Lodging Associations Property
of the Year award serve as a model of stability for other
hotel operations. The award honors lodging properties that
provide outstanding customer service, continually exceed
guest expectations and distinguish themselves as leaders
in the industry as well as in their community.
The entire TPI team takes great pride in recognizing
Holiday Inn New Ulm for their outstanding execution. We
are proud to have them as part of the TPI family!
Holiday Inn New Ulm earns prestigious recognition
The TPI hotel is chosen as the Minnesota Lodging Associations 2011 Property of the Year
14
His Name was Stanley Szymanski, but the Staybridge Suites
Naples team referred to him as Stan The Man. He stayed at
the Staybridge while his house was being built, even though
his daughter and son-in-law lived in Naples. His new house
was being constructed right next to theirs. Right after he
closed on the new house, Stan passed away. He was legally
blind and was a diabetic.
Stan was such a neat man and had such a positive affect on
our team that we attended his funeral to pay our respects.
While sharing stories, we even had is family refering to him as
Stan the Man. Stans daughter still stops in occasionally to
visit, and on his anniversary date of checking into our hotel she
sprinkled his ashes in the spots that Stan like to sit...outside by
the chickee bar and outside under the canopy. Laura, Stans
daughter, said that he loved the Staybridge so much that she
believed it broke his heart when he had to check out.
The Staybridge Suites team reinforced the belief that guest
service is not a department...its an attitude! Each day we all
have an opportunity to positively impact our guests lives, but
only if we choose to take that first step...only if we choose to
make a difference.
Care Connections for Heroes answers the call
Local businesses band together to provide assistance to Minnesota military veterans
His name was Stanley Szymanski...
Stan the Man has a place in the hearts of the Staybridge Suites Naples team
Care Connections for Heroes recently completed a
summer-long fundraiser that generated $400 in personal
care items and $1,125 to help Minnesota military veterans
get basic essentials such as employment counseling,
clothes, personal care items, meals and legal assistance.
According to the Wilder Research Study on Homelessness in
Minnesota, on any given night, an estimated 669 Veterans
are without a home. Its also estimated that many veterans
are on the verge of a crisis that could lead to homelessness.
The needs vary, but the fact remains, too many veterans are
struggling, says Jason Engler, market manager for TDS
Telecommunications Corp. More veterans are returning
from Iraq and Afghanistan to face unimaginable challenges.
These are people that protected our country, fought for our
country, they are heroes. Now, they need a little help to get
back on their feet.
Many thanks to the entire community for their amazing
support, especially TPIs own HotHotelDeals.com which
assisted in providing hotel accommodations for the online
auctions. Through various fund-raising efforts, the following
supporting partners really helped to make this initiative a
huge success. The partners included HotHotelDeals.com,
Hilton Garden Inn Eagan, the St. Paul Saints, Clear Channel
Radio, MACV, TDS and Tee it up for the Troops.
15
Stan the Man Stanley Szymanski celebrates his 87th birthday with Lisa Walker and Tracy
Neumeyer. Stan became part of the Staybridge family during his extended stay.
Karin Borgerink has joined the
Staybridge Suites Naples team as their
new Director of Sales. Karin has a
diverse background in the hotel industry
with a majority of it being in extended
stay sales. Karin was the Sr. Sales
Manager for the Homewood Suites and
the Hilton Garden Inn prior to joining our
team. Karins pride and joy are her two
children Beckum and Kassandra, seven-
year old twins, and her passion is sales.
The Staybridge Suites Naples feels very
fortunate to have Karin as part of their
team. Welcome aboard Karin!
For the fifth consecultive year, Perkins
Austin has been honored with the Gold
Flag Award. This award is presented by
Perkins Corporate to recognize the
Perkins locations with the best overall
guest service scores. The Austin team
won their first Gold Flag Award in 2007
and they just keep on getting better!
Kudos to the entire Austin team for their
amazing execution.
Jayna Fett has been with Austin Holiday
Inn & Conference Center for about five
years. She started out as a banquet
server and then transitioned into the
Banquet Manager position and was
recently promoted to the Director of
Catering (and loving it!) When not at
work Jayna enjoys spending time with
friends and family. She is engaged and
will soon to be the proud mother of three
step children! Jayna also has a child,
her name is Simba. She can brighten
anyones day by just the wag of her tail!!
In June, Karla Olson began working for
Torgerson Properties as the Assistant
General Manager at Holiday Inn New
Ulm. She graduated with honors from
Southwest Minnesota State University in
May of 2011 where she completed the
Hospitality Management program with a
concentration in Hotel Administration.
Karla says she loves working with the
New Ulm team. She also loves animals.
Karla and her fianc have two
salamanders, an iguana, two kittens,
and a miniature pinscher in their
three-bedroom apartment. When they
get a house theyre sure they will end up
with a whole zoo!
Nellie Riles worked at the Austin
Holiday Inn for the first time back in 2003
as a prep cook in the kitchen. She loved
her job and her team members back
then, but had to finish school and focus
on more income. Nellie decided to come
back to the Holiday Inn as a banquet
server to reconnect with the public. She
says I love my job and the people I work
with so much! I enjoy helping others and
making every event a success. Seeing a
guest walk out the doors with a smile on
their face makes my day fantastic!
Nothing makes me happier than music,
my children and putting smiles on our
guests faces!
Inn the news at Torgerson Properties
16
In the photo above, Courtyard Arbor
Lakes shows off their state-of-the-art
LED lighting that crowns the entire
property. The lighting system, which
normally glows in different colors that
fade from one to another, was set to
display an impressive Fourth of July
theme. When the sun goes down, you
can expect the Courtyard by Marriott in
Arbor Lakes to really stand out in the
ultra-competitive Maple Grove area.
There are also computer-generated
themes for other holidays as well. You
can be sure the Christmas season will
provide plenty of green and red to greet
the nearby holiday shoppers!
For Halloween, Homewood Suites New
Brighton transformed their hotel into the
Homewood Hospital. The staff dressed
as nurses, surgeons and doctors with
GM Todd Roy being the Chief Resident!
The Homewood Suites Sales Surgeons
delivered Prescriptions (bags of candy
with prescription labels to take on an
empty stomach and double the dosage
should your sweet tooth start to ache) to
over fifteen companies totaling twenty
nine valued contacts. Front desk nurses
and morning and evening reception
doctors also handed out lots of candy to
guests. It was definitely a very spooky
halloween in New Brighton!
Dan Johnson has worked as a
Maintenance Engineer at Holiday Inn
Express Eagan since January of 2011
and was recently promoted to Eagan
Campus Maintenance Engineer for the
Holiday Inn Express, Hilton Garden Inn,
and Staybridge Suites. He received a
Bachelor of Design in Architecture from
the University of Minnesota in the spring
of 2011. Before working for Torgerson
Properties, Dan worked for eight years
at Elko Speedway as the Lead
Maintenance person and the Tire Sales
Manager. Dan and his wife Bri were
married in August 2011. Congratulations
on your promotion Dan!
Ashley Kiefert joins Homewood Suites
New Brighton as the Director of Sales.
Ashley comes to us from Fargo, North
Dakota where she previously held the
position of Senior Sales and Convention
Manager at The Hilton Garden Inn.
Ashley enjoys spending time at her
family cabin near Ottertail, Minnesota,
vacationing with friends and enjoying all
of the shopping options in the twin cities.
Welcome to the New Brighton team
Ashley!
Arbor Lakes Hotels is very pleased to
welcome Lisa Haley to their sales team.
Lisa is a graduate of the University of
Minnesota Carlson School of Business.
As a resident of Maple Grove, Lisa
brings a wealth of information about the
community and surrounding areas to the
team. Lisa enjoys spending time with
friends and family and is anxious to
welcome a Teacup Yorkshire Terrier to
her family over Thanksgiving. Please
welcome Lisa to the Arbor Lakes team
as the Group & Catering Director!
Sculptor Michael Jernigan (right) is on a
mission to prove that the U.S. military
still has a friend in the American people.
He is creating an exhibit that will consist
of twenty-one bronze portrait busts. Mr.
Jernigan recently spent some time at
Staybridge Suites Naples to finalize
one of his sculptures. One day in April
2008, I got the idea in my head that I
should go to Iraq and sculpt the troops,
Jernigan said. I thought maybe by doing
this I could create sculptures that would
symbolize Americas support for the
military. The Naples team was proud to
provide a home for Mr. Jernigan. Learn
more at www.honoringthetroops.com.
Inn the news at Torgerson Properties
Steve Bates has joined the Staybridge
Suites Naples team as their new
Assistant General Manager. Steve has
worked in the hospitality industry for the
past seven years, two and a half
which have been in an extended stay
environment with Residence Inn in
Marlborough, MA. He has just recently
relocated to the Naples, Florida area.
Steve has a sister in the hotel industry in
Bonita Springs, so it runs in the family.
By the way, Steve says he has never
worked at the Bates Motel, in fact, he
has never seen the movie Psycho!
Welcome aboard Steve.
17
The Spirit of Pride reigns at Hampton Inn Arbor Lakes
Angie Buchholz is honored as a 2011 Spirit of Pride award winner
In July, Hampton Inn Arbor Lakes Guest Service Agent Angie Buchholz was recognized by the Hampton Inn brand as a 2011
Spirit of Pride recipient. The Spirit of Pride award is the Hilton Hotels Corporations highest honor to an individual employee
within each brand. It is presented quarterly to one employee from each brand within the Hilton family of brands. The nomina-
tions are submitted by the employees fellow staff members. Below is the nomination letter that the Hampton Inn Arbor Lakes
team submitted to Hilton.
Sunday, December 26th started out as a normal day at the Hampton Inn in Maple Grove, MN.
But the series of events that transpired changed everyones life who was involved. In an
instant, it was clear that it was definitely not a normal day!
Around 4:45pm, a guest came running to the front desk saying, Call 911! A man is down on
the treadmill!
Angie Buchholz, the guest service representative on duty at that time, quickly moved into
action. She called 911 and ran to the fitness room. She saw the guest face down on the
treadmill. With the 911 operator giving her instructions on the phone, Angie carefully rolled
the guest over onto his back. He was not breathing and had no pulse.
Angie quickly started CPR. When the police arrived shortly thereafter, Angie helped them to
move the guest outside of the fitness room to the pool area. The police officers resumed CPR
and used the AED. The police took over the care of the guest and Angie returned to the front
desk to continue assisting other guests.
Due to her quick efforts and clear thinking, Angie helped prevent a terrible tragedy that Sunday
afternoon.
An excellent team member, Angie showed her sense of hospitality and caring go far beyond
a friendly smile and helpful service. General Manager, Mark Maves says, While carrying a
full time job, Angie still finds time to work for the Hampton Inn Maple Grove on a part time
basis at the front desk. She is excellent with our guests. She is very flexible when we
sometimes need her to work on a very short term notice. She is always early for her shift and
I dont think I have ever heard her complain.
For this reason, we think Angie Buchholz is extremely deserving of recognition with the Spirit
of Pride award.
We never know when a moment may come that demands quick, accurate decision making. Angie met the challenge not
only in an emergency situation, but in her day-to-day actions as well. Congratulations to Angie Buchholz for making the
entire Torgerson Properties team proud. Were glad to be on YOUR team!
18

.
,

'
19
Many of lifes
failures are people
who do not realize
how close they were
to success when
they gave up.
- Thomas Edison
Torgerson Properties would like to provide a special
recognition to all of the locations that were nominated
for an award at the 2011 TPI Awards Ceremony. It is
your hard work and your commitment to excellence
that makes the TPIteam unbeatable!
Country Inn & Suites Willmar
Courtyard Arbor Lakes
Courtyard Rochester
Days Inn Austin
Green Mill Fairmont
Green Mill Shoreview
Green Mill Willmar
Hampton Inn Arbor Lakes
Hampton Inn Shoreview
Hilton Garden Inn Eagan
Hilton Garden Inn Shoreview
Holiday Inn Arbor Lakes
Holiday Inn Express Eagan
Holiday Inn New Ulm
Holiday Inn Willmar
Ottos New Ulm
Perkins Austin
Perkins Fairmont
Perkins Red Wing
Staybridge Suites Arbor Lakes
Staybridge Suites Bloomington
Staybridge Suites Eagan
Staybridge Suites Naples
Torges Live Austin
Torgerson Properties, Inc.
Waters Edge Professional Building
103 15th Avenue NW Suite 200
P.O. Box 1020
Willmar, MN 56201
Phone: 320-235-7207
Check out our web site at www.torgersonproperties.com
At Torgerson Properties, we believe in our associates...
Whatever It Takes For Outrageous Guest Service
...You Have The Power!
20
Torgerson Properties recognizes its Heart & Soul
Martina Garcia and John Larson are honored at the 2011 TPIAwards Ceremony
Martina Garcia, housekeeper at Homewood Suites St. Louis Park since the hotel opened in
January of 2010, was nominated for the 2011 TPIHeart & Soul award because of her
amazing ability to care for everyone she meets. The nomination letter received from the
Homewood Suites team said, Circumstances never hold Martina back from servicing the
hotel and each guest every day. Martina supports her own family, yet will always come into
work even on her days off to help out with unexpected needs, and she does it all with a happy
heart, ready to lend a hand. The nomination letter went on to say, Everyone needs a great
person to make their workplace and hotel feel like home, and Martina is this person. The
Homewoods Suites associates are very proud to have Martina as part of their family, and the
Torgerson Properties team is far better because of the caring, committed attitude that Martina
displays. Thank you, Martina, for being a shining example for all of us to follow.
The Perkins Red Wing team nominated John Larson for the 2011 TPI Heart & Soul award
due to the great pride John takes in everything he does. The nomination letter submitted by
the Perkins Red Wing team said John has been with us for several years and has never
missed a scheduled shift. He arrives early every day, in uniform, with a smile on his face and
ready to work. As far as reliable, John can always be counted on when you need a shift
covered in the dish area, regardless of when or how short of notice. In addition, the letter
went on to say, John is truly one of Red Wings unsung heroes! He takes pride in his work,
and it shows. To sum it up, John puts his HEART into his work and he is the SOUL of Perkins
Red Wing. Wow, what a great testament to Johns outstanding attitude. John Larson has
not only made the Red Wing team better, he has displayed the great attitude and work ethic
that make the TPI team second to none. Congratulations John!