Changing management of Marriott hotels will "maximize operations," Matthews says
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- Published on Monday, 05 May 2014 16:56
- Written by Paul Gordon
Changing management companies for the Marriott Hotel Pere Marquette and the soon-to-open Marriott Courtyard is a simple matter of proximity and convenience, project developer Gary Matthews said Monday.
There is nothing wrong with the Marriott management style but changing to a third-party company that is closer and thus more knowledgeable of the region ̶ in fact, it already manages another Peoria hotel ̶ “will improve the management of both, in my opinion. It’s really a win-win situation,” said Matthews, president of EM Properties and owner of the Pere Marquette.
EM Properties is asking the Peoria City Council to approve Rosemont-based First Hospitality Group as the manager of the hotels, which still would carry the Marriott name and amenities for 30 years. The council must approve the change because of the redevelopment agreement it has with EM Properties that governed the multi-millions renovation of the Pere Marquette, including some public funding.
The council is likely to discuss the issue and possibly vote on the request May 13.
Matthews said he discussed the matter with Peoria City Manager Patrick Urich on Monday. Urich had not yet talked with Matthews when he was contacted by the Peoria Journal Star on Saturday and wasn’t clear on the reason for the change in management of the hotels.
Matthews said he wants the city and public to realize it will be a positive situation.
“Think about it: We have two beautiful hotels that carry the Marriott name and quality that would be operated by an experienced management company that knows this region very well. How can that not be good,” Matthews asked.
Noting First Hospitality Group’s location, he asked, “What would be better? Fly all the way to Washington, D.C., where Marriott is based, when we need to meet or attend a seminar, or drive three hours to Chicago? What we are doing is maximizing the performance of the hotels.”
The Pere Marquette reopened last summer and the Courtyard, which is joined to the Pere Marquette and will share some amenities, will open in late June, Matthews said. Both properties are joined to the Peoria Civic Center by a skywalk that also is near completion as well as a new parking deck that has available retail opportunities.
Matthews said he thought this was the best time to seek the change, before the Courtyard opens. He said Marriorr officials not only are fine with this move, “Marriott prefers it. I think people would be very surprised to know how many hotels have its name but that are owned or managed by somebody else. Third-party management is very common and First Hospitality Group is experienced. They have 55 properties they manage,” he said.
The move would not affect existing employees of the hotels, he added. Upper management brought in by Marriott would be given the choice to stay or be moved to another Marriott property. “They’re all great people. I hope they stay. But they also were brought here from out of town, so I don’t know what they will do,” he said.
Matthews said construction of the Courtyard is on schedule and has gone smooth despite the harsh winter. “When people see it, I think they will be very pleased,” he said.
