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SUMMER 2014
INNSIDE
Hello Team! Im glad to be talking with you at this time as the prolonged winter has finally
faded into the sunset and summer is in full swing!
As always, there is a lot going on in the TPI Hospitality world. Most importantly, we have
shown tremendous growth in guest satisfaction over the past six to twelve months, and have
been awarded an unprecedented number of TripAdvisor Excellent Ratings as well as other
awards and acknowledgements. This is just more evidence of the great job you are all doing
with our guests. I commend you on your dedication to satisfying every guest every time, and
if we happen to drop the ball, we make it right before they get out the door. Your efforts are
very impressive to say the least!
Tom Torgerson
Chief Executive Officer
TPI Hospitality
There are so many things going on in the TPI Hospitality world, including repositionings, new
constructions and major renovations. All of these projects have their own stories and lives,
including a lot of enthusiasm by TPI associates for each one. Obviously, there are a lot of
balls to keep in the air, and with that, everyone needs to do their part to pull these projects off
with exceptional success. These are true team efforts! There are so many to review, it might
be easier to just list them in this simple format:
Mitch Peterson shares his perspective concerning TPIs greatest opportunity for success
Having just completed our Leadership, Values, Vision rallies company-wide, it feels like a
great opportunity to do a recap of what we shared. First and foremost, I would like to thank
all of the TPI associates who participated in these events. Your interaction, engagement and
feedback were essential to the process and aided greatly in creating successful outcomes. To
align the entire TPI team with the critical message of these rallies, I would like to share some
thoughts with you.
As TPI continues to compete in an increasingly more competitive environment, it is imperative
that we continue to find ways to set ourselves apart from our competition. We feel that there
are three distinct, competitive advantages that we as a team can leverage to insure that TPI
continues to outperform our competition. Those three items are; Leadership, Core Values and
Vision. The following are some thoughts on how these three opportunities can set TPI apart
from our competitors.
Leadership: Perhaps the best description that we shared pertaining to leadership was a
quote by the 6th President of the United States, John Quincy Adams. President Adams
stated, If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more,
you are a leader. It is a deeply held belief within TPI that each of us, without regard for the
position we hold, have the ability to be a leader. It is simply a choice that each of us must make. Whether its helping a
co-worker, going out of our way to assist a guest or simply in the manner in which we conduct ourselves, we can lead. In our
opinion, the primary characteristic of a leader is that the leader always has the best interest of others in mind and is focused
on selfless acts rather than selfish acts. In addition, effective leaders are humble, not arrogant. In this sense, a leader is not
concerned with self-promotion, but rather promotes others. Simply put, leaders are servants first. If you really look at this
simple explanation, it is clear that each of us can leadits simply a matter of choosing to lead. In the end, leadership is less
about words, and more about actions!
Mitch Peterson
President of Operations
TPIHospitality
Core Values: TPI has long lived by a simple set of core values, and we recently realized the importance of memorializing
them and sharing with everyone within TPI. Essentially, in their simplest form, core values are the basic principles that guide
our conduct within TPI as well as with everyone we interact with, including guests, clients and vendors. They are the
cornerstone to how we make decisions and how we act in the workplace. Our core values are represented in the simple
acronym, STAY SHARP.
Set the example for others to follow Be a Leader, do whats right, and inspire others to act in a similar manner.
Tenure is reinvented Whether any of us has been with TPI for 10 months or ten years, we earn what we receive.
None of us are entitled to anything other than opportunity.
Accountability first Without regard for any situation we find ourselves in, whether we created it or not, we own it.
There are no victims.
You before me Simply put, we serve before being served and have the best interest of others in mind before our
own.
Service and guest satisfaction This is the cornerstone to what we do. We serve each other and our guestsit is the
only reason that we are in business.
Honest and straightforward Integrity is the strongest asset each of us possesses. There is no substitute for being
honest and direct in a respectful way.
Autonomy is earned We promote certain freedoms to how each of us approach our roles. We earn these freedoms
only by living our core values and vision statement.
Respect one another The golden rule: Treat others as you wish to be treated.
continued on page 20...
Vanguard Target Retirement Date investments are available in the TPI Retirement Savings Plan
Target Retirement Date investments are designed to address a particular challenge facing many retirement investors;
constructing a professionally diversified portfolio. Many investors lack time or interest when it comes to investment or
retirement planning. They can become overwhelmed by the choice of investments available in a retirement plan lineup. Target
Retirement Date investments are designed to help long-term investors achieve their goals and overcome these challenges.
They are constructed on a number of investment best practices; the principles of asset allocation, diversification,
transparency, and maintaining a balance among risk, return, and cost.
Vanguard Target Retirement Funds are built in accordance with our overall investment philosophy that minimizing costs,
maintaining a long-term outlook, and diversifying across asset classes are key elements of investment success. The glide path
below illustrates our portfolios four core investment strategies:
Stock market exposure includes both domestic and international markets.
Bond exposure increases over time, to reduce volatility and offset diminishing future years of workplace income as the
participant approaches and goes beyond retirement.
Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS) are added to the mix as an inflation hedge.
Moderate stock market exposure is maintained in retirement for diversification and growth potential.
You can find more information on these investment opportunities by logging on to your TPIHospitality 401k Retirement Savings
Plan at www.alerusretirementsolutions.com or by calling 800-433-1685. You can also contact Sweet Financial Services at
800-658-2507 for any of your investment related needs.
Innside TPI has been an important part of the TPI culture for twenty-two years. When Innside TPI was published for the first
time, TPI only operated four hospitality brands...Perkins, Holiday Inn, Days Inn and Super 8. We have come a long way since
then. TPIs longstanding success is directly related to the amazing associates who have been delivering outrageous guest
service in the hospitality industry since 1972, when Tom Torgerson Sr. developed the Holiday Inn of Willmar.
The pictures above identify just a few of the many associates who have helped create so much success since that fateful day
in 1972 that started it all. These people were all featured in Innside TPI at some point between 1992 and 2001, and every one
of them is still part of the TPIteam. Can you identify all ten?
The first person who can identify all ten associates correctly and send those names to pete@tpimn.com will receive a
certificate for two nights of lodging at any TPI hotel. Heres a tip...all of the past editions of Innside TPI are available at the TPI
Hospitality website at www.tpihospitality.com/about/innside-tpi
Good luck to everyone!
It was hard to pick just one category to nominate Carlton Harris for because
he wears many hats here. He works in housekeeping, helps out during the
week as a houseman, helps with banquet set up and then works in the
kitchen not only as busser and dishwasher, but he also cooks for us when we
need help. He is always willing to do any extra projects around the hotel, from
cleaning windows to deep cleaning floors. He is a very dedicated individual
and wants to learn as much as possible. Carltons commute to work, which
includes walking, biking and riding the bus, can often be a challenge, but he
is always on time and ready to get started. Carlton is one of the hardest
working associates at the Hilton Garden Inn Bloomington, and our entire team
appreciates everything he does for us. Thank you Carlton!
Cathy Heuring, Rayisa Shvarts and the Hilton Garden Inn are recognized as the best of the best
TPI Hospitality was presented with multiple awards
exemplifying hospitality excellence during the Eagan
Convention and Visitors Bureaus Hospitality Heroes Awards
program which took place March 27, 2014.
In order to qualify for an Eagan Hospitality Heroes Award,
candidates must exhibit service above and beyond their
normal job description through outstanding qualities such as
leadership and consistently adding to the general well-being
of guests and patrons.
TPIs Hilton Garden Inn of Eagan was awarded one of the top
honors, Eagan Property of the Year. This award was given to
Hilton Garden Inn not only for its superior caring of guests, but
also for its active involvement in the community through
organizations such as the Dakota County Regional Chamber
of Commerce and the Eagan Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Hilton Garden Inn of Eagan surpassed the criteria that were
necessary to win the Eagan Property of the Year award with
outstanding customer service, community involvement,
cleanliness and a never ending determination be to a better
establishment for its guests and its associates.
Two TPI Hospitality associates also had the honor of
receiving an award for their outstanding individual
performance. Cathy Heuring of Staybridge Suites was
nominated by her General Manager, Bill Godbe, who believed
she more than fit all the criteria of this award. The Eagan
Front Desk Associate of the Year is one that shows admirable
qualities such as over-the-top guest service, leadership and
consistency with every guest. Cathy is known by her
manager and staff as one person who greatly impacts her
team members and is constantly viewed as an inspiration by
her co-workers and guests. In one situation, Cathy made a
special trip to the store to get medications for a guest who had
been experiencing a terrible cold. She even delivered some
hot chicken soup!
The Hilton Garden Inn team accepts their award from the Eagan Convention
and Visitors Bureau recognizing the hotel as Eagans 2014 Property of the Year
Cathy Heuring of Staybridge Suites accepts the Eagan Convention and Visitors
Bureau award recognizing her as Eagans 2014 Front Desk Associate of the Year.
Rayisa Shvarts of Holiday Inn Express accepts the Eagan Convention and
Visitors Bureau award recognizing her as Eagans 2014 Housekeeper of the Year.
Dave Feist offers his thanks to those who helped make the Willmar Legacy Project a success
As most everyone knows, the Willmar campus has been in a
state of construction and renovation for over a year. As we
near completion, I would like to issue my gratitude for the help
that we received over the past several months. Thank you to:
Tom Torgerson, for having a vision for the future of the Willmar
campus, as well as investing in that vision to make it a reality.
Our esteemed leadership team, specifically Dennis Wallenta
and Kathy Aamot for helping hammer out all the details and
working with all the vendors, contractors and subcontractors
and keeping us on task and on budget.
Sheryl Walton and Marlene Kubasch for keeping all of the
purchasing contracts, invoices, and agreements organized
and questioning the ones that we missed or may have been
duplicated.
Fellow GMs and AGMs (Todd Roy, Emmett Lincoln, Lucas
Smith, Jason Hall) and all of the associates who took a day
away from their properties to come to Willmar, roll up their
sleeves, and help get us cleaned up and ready for our Best
Western Conversion. Again, our leadership team jumped in
here as well. Special thanks to the furniture assembly crew of
Pete Bromelkamp and John Cox.
Bob Smith for his constant support and help with getting our
banged up furniture looking good, and for helping coordinate
other maintenance personnel from other locations to come
and help us out on this endeavor.
Tina DeLeo, our Executive Housekeeper, for staying on top of
so many challenges, coordinating room sets, tear downs,
resets, interpreting brand standards and GM requests,
constantly cleaning the ever-settling dust and keeping our
housekeeping crew directed and on task.
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Celebrating
Success!
10
Since the last edition of Innside TPI was published six months ago, TPI teams and individual associates have been recognized by many local, national and brand affiliations for their outstanding performance. This unprecedented execution is only
made possible by first-in-class associates working together to create an outrageous experience for their guests and fellow
associates. Congratulations to all of these properties and associates for setting the example for others to follow!
TPI Hospitality - Top Hotel Management Company by Hotel Business Magazine
Hampton Inn Fairmont - Highest Guest Satisfaction among all Hampton Hotels worldwide
Courtyard Rochester - TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence Award
Staybridge Suites Naples - IHG South Regions Top Heartbeat Score
Hampton Inn Fairmont - TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence Award
Ashley Morgan, Homewood Suites New Brighton - Director of Sales of the Year Award of Merit
Hampton Inn Arbor Lakes - TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence Award
Cathy Heuring, Staybridge Suites Eagan - Front Desk Agent of the Year by the Eagan Convention & Visitors Bureau
Hampton Inn Shoreview - TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence Award
Staybridge Suites Naples - IHG South Regions Highest IHG Rewards Club Recognition Score
Hilton Garden Inn Bloomington - TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence Award
Jason Subbert, Fairmont Hotels - Honored as General Manager of the Year by Hospitality Minnesota
Hilton Garden Inn Eagan - TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence Award
Staybridge Suites Naples - IHG South Regions Top RevPar Increase
Staybridge Suites Naples - TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence Award
Rayisa Shvarts, Holiday Inn Express Eagan - Housekeeper of the Year by the Eagan Convention & Visitors Bureau
Hilton Garden Inn Shoreview - TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence Award
Days Inn Willmar - Days Inn Chairmans Award
Hilton Garden Inn Eagan - Property of the Year by the Eagan Convention & Visitors Bureau
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Eagan - TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence Award
Courtyard Arbor Lakes - Marriotts Gold Circle Award
Holiday Inn & Suites Arbor Lakes - TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence Award
Carlton Harris, Hilton Garden Inn Bloomington - Best Busser/Dishwasher by the Bloomington Convention & Visitors Bureau
Holiday Inn Austin - TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence Award
Homewood Suites New Brighton - TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence Award
Homewood Suites New Brighton - Hiltons Connie Pride Award
Homewood Suites St. Louis Park - TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence Award
Perkins Austin - TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence Award
Staybridge Suites Arbor Lakes - TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence Award
Todd Roy, Homewood Suites New Brighton - General Manager of the Year Award of Merit
Staybridge Suites Bloomington - TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence Award
Staybridge Suites Eagan - TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence Award
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How nice! I
mean, who does
that these days?
We felt so
grateful. I could
rave even
longer!
Oh my, where do I start? We had such a great experience working with Chelsey Walerak
and Penny Karsjens. These two women and the rest of the staff that night were
outstanding. The ballroom looked so beautiful after they decorated. Penny even went out
and got some powdered snowflakes to add to our table centerpieces after she noticed our
wedding cake was a birch bark cake. She thought it would add to the outdoor winter theme!
How nice! I mean, who does that these days? We felt so grateful. I could rave even longer.
Call me if you need more compliments!
18
We were on our
way home from
a depressing
Mayo visit,
Mariah and the
whole staff were
exactly what we
needed.
19
TPIHospitality
WatersEdgeProfessionalBuilding
10315thAvenueNWSuite200
P.O.Box1020
Willmar,MN56201
Phone:320-235-7207