Saturday, August 15, 2009

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Launches First Dedicated Customer Toll Free Number in Vietnam

SINGAPORE — Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) announced the launch of a dedicated customer toll free number for Vietnam.

Starwood is the first international hotel group to introduce a toll free reservation and enquiry hotline : 1206 5111 for customers in Vietnam.

The calls will also be answered by native Vietnamese associates.

In conjunction with the launch of the toll free number, Starwood Hotels & Resorts also announces that its newest addition to Vietnam : Sheraton Nha Trang Hotel & Spa (top right photo) officially opens its reservation lines today.

“Vietnam is among the fastest growing nation in Southeast Asia and in the world and has been experiencing strong leisure and business travel within and into the country," says Patricia Neo, Senior Director, Customer Contact Centre for Starwood Hotels & Resorts Asia Pacific. "The growing demand presents us with tremendous opportunities to better serve the needs of guests here."

Contact: Hwee-Peng Yeo, Tel : +65 6335 4837; Cell : +65 9768 6087; +65 9248 0424
Fax : +65 6335 4820
http://www.starwoodhotels.com/; http://www.starwoodpressclub.com/

Four points by sheraton kicks off promotional activities in China

SHANGHAI, CHINA – In celebration of Four Points by Sheraton being appointed as the official hotel partner for the upcoming 2009 Asia Euro All Stars Table Tennis Series, Four Points by Sheraton kicks off a series of hotel marketing and promotional activities in China including Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Changshu, Shenzhen and Lhasa.

A series of marketing and promotional activities take place from now until August 27, 2009.

SPG Moments at Four Points by Sheraton Beijing, Haidian (top right photo)

As the host hotel of 2009 Asia-Europe All Star Table Tennis Series, Four Points by Sheraton Beijing, Haidian offers all Starwood Preferred Guest members a once in a lifetime SPG moments opportunity. Table tennis fans will get a chance to play one-on-one table tennis with each of four top world ranked table tennis players.

Contact: Hwee-Peng Yeo Tel : +65 6335 4837; Cell : +65 9768 6087; +65 9248 0424
Fax : +65 6335 4820
http://www.starwoodhotels.com/; http://www.starwoodpressclub.com/

Wyndham Brand Enters Oklahoma with Opening of New Hotel

PARSIPPANY, NJ– Wyndham Hotels and Resorts today announced its continued expansion in North America with the opening of its first hotel in Oklahoma: the 244-room Wyndham Garden Hotel Oklahoma City Airport. (top left photo)

“Oklahoma’s capital continues to be one of the Midwest’s most dynamic travel hubs,” said Jeff Wagoner, (bottom right photo) president of Wyndham Hotels and Resorts.

“With the addition of Wyndham Garden Hotel Oklahoma City Airport to our growing portfolio, we are now able to provide visitors with the personalized service and style that has become a hallmark of the Wyndham brand.”

Owned and operated by Fianna Oklahoma, LLC, the newly renovated hotel underwent a multi-million dollar renovation before joining the Wyndham system.

Guest rooms feature complimentary high-speed wireless Internet access, 32-inch flat-screen televisions, Wyndham signature BeWellTM bedding and granite bathroom countertops.
The property also features a 24-hour airport shuttle, state-of-the-art business and fitness centers, heated indoor pool, game room, laundry service, shoe-shine service, express check-out and more than 7,000 square feet of meeting space, with the largest room capable of accommodating up to 500 guests.
CONTACT: Evy Apostolatos, 973-753-6590, evy.apostolatos@wyndhamworldwide.com

Hotel Pros Martin Armistead and Clyde Guinn Join Wyndham Hotel Group

PARSIPPANY, NJ– Lodging industry veteran Martin Armitstead (top right photo) has joined Wyndham Hotel Group, the world’s largest hotel company with approximately 7,000 hotels and 11 brands, as senior vice president of development for the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region.

Based in Wyndham Hotel Group’s London office, Armitstead is tasked with increasing the company’s EMEA portfolio through further expansion of its Wyndham®, Ramada®, Days Inn® and Super 8® brands through management contracts and franchise agreements.

Armitstead is an accomplished global executive with over three decades of experience and has executed development deals in more than 50 countries. He previously served as director and head of hospitality, EMEA, for DTZ Hospitality Group, a London-based real estate and investment banking firm.

Clyde Guinn Appointed President of Days Inn

PARSIPPANY, NJ – Thirty-five-year hospitality professional Clyde Guinn (bottom right photo) has joined Wyndham Hotel Group, the world’s largest hotel company with approximately 7,000 hotels and 11 brands, as president of the Days Inn® chain.

Guinn will be responsible for the growth and performance of the brand, which currently has a portfolio of more than 1,850 hotels and nearly 150,000 rooms around the world, and will work closely with the brand’s operations and property openings, design and development, franchise services, quality assurance, training, development and marketing teams.

He comes to the company after serving more than nine years as senior vice president of operations for Stanford Hotels Corporation, a San Francisco-based hotel company specializing in the development and management of full-service hotels spanning various brands.

Contact: Rob Myers, Communications, 973-753-6590, rob.myers@wyndhamworldwide.com

Marcus & Millichap Names New VPs

KENT WILLIAMS PROMOTED TO SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT IN SAN DIEGO

SAN DIEGO, CA– Marcus & Millichap Real Estate Investment Services, the nation’s largest real estate investment services firm, has promoted Kent Williams (top right photo) to senior vice president, according to Harvey E. Green, president and chief executive officer of Marcus & Millichap.

“Kent is a tremendous resource for our investment professionals and investor clients in San Diego and throughout Southern California,” explains Green. “Under his leadership, the San Diego office has consistently ranked as one of Marcus & Millichap’s top-producing offices nationwide.” Williams joined Marcus & Millichap in 1991 as an agent in the Ontario office.


AARON BOVE MOVES UP TO VICE PRESIDENT INVESTMENTS IN SAN DIEGO

SAN DIEGO, CA-- The board of directors of Marcus & Millichap Real Estate Investment Services has named Aaron Bove (middle right photo) to the position of vice president investments. Kent R. Williams is senior vice president and regional manager in the firm’s San Diego office. Bove began his career with Marcus & Millichap in 2001, specializing in the sale of multi-family properties.

THREE AGENTS NAMED TO VICE PRESIDENT INVESTMENTS IN SACRAMENTO

SACRAMENTO, CA – The board of directors of Marcus & Millichap Real Estate Investment Services has named Scott Crowle, (middle left photo) Ryan DeMar (middle right) and Robert “Bobby” Loeffler to the position of vice president investments. Robert B. Hicks is senior vice president/regional manager in the firm’s Sacramento office.

Scott Crowle began his career with Marcus & Millichap in 2002, specializing in retail properties. Ryan DeMar began his career with Marcus & Millichap in 2003, specializing in the sale of multi-family properties. Robert “Bobby” Loeffler began his career with Marcus & Millichap in 1999, specializing in multi-family properties.


DOROTHY JACKMAN STEPS UP TO VICE PRESIDENT INVESTMENTS IN TAMPA

TAMPA, FL– The board of directors of Marcus & Millichap Real Estate Investment Services has named Dorothy Jackman (middle left photo) to the position of vice president investments. Bryn D. Merrey is regional manager in the firm’s Tampa office. Jackman began her career with Marcus & Millichap in 2003. She specializes in the sale of student housing properties.



MICHAEL EARLY PROMOTED TO VICE PRESIDENT INVESTMENTS IN SOUTHERN VIRGINIA

WILLIAMSBURG, VA – The board of directors of Marcus & Millichap Real Estate Investment Services has named Michael Early (bottom right photo) to the position of vice president investments. Gary R. Lucas is regional manager in the firm’s Southern Virginia office. Early joined Marcus & Millichap in 2000. He specializes in retail and net-leased investment sales.


ALVIN MANSOUR PROMOTED TO SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT INVESTMENTS IN SAN DIEGO

SAN DIEGO, CA – The board of directors of Marcus & Millichap Real Estate Investment Services has promoted Alvin Mansour (bottom left photo) to the position of senior vice president investments. This achievement is one of the highest levels of recognition the firm awards to its investment specialists.


“Alvin has earned a reputation as one of the most knowledgeable investment specialists in the nation,” says Kent Williams, senior vice president and regional manager of the firm’s San Diego office.

Mansour began his career with Marcus & Millichap in 2003 as an agent in the San Diego office. He specializes in retail and single-tenant net leased investments and serves as a director of both the National Retail Group and Net Leased Properties Group.

Press Contact: Stacey CorsoCommunications Department(925) 953-1716

National Retail Properties Declares Dividend for Its Series C Preferred Stock

ORLANDO, FL /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Board of Directors of National Retail Properties, Inc. (NYSE: NNN), a real estate investment trust, declared a quarterly dividend on its Series C Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock of 46.09375 cents per depositary share payable September 15, 2009, to shareholders of record on Aug. 31, 2009. The dividend represents an annualized rate of $1.84375 per depositary share.

For more information on the company, visit www.nnnreit.com.
Contact: Kevin B. Habicht, Chief Financial Officer, +1-407-265-7348

Grubb & Ellis Selected to Market 654 Acres on South Padre Island

SAN ANTONIO, TX– Grubb & Ellis Company (NYSE: GBE), a leading real estate services and investment firm, announced that Cameron Acquisitions LLC has selected the company to market 654 acres of land for sale on South Padre Island, (bottom left photo) located on the Gulf of Mexico.

The property will be jointly marketed by Kit Corbin, (top right photo) an executive vice president in Grubb & Ellis’ San Antonio office, and Mary Phillip of SPI Coastal Properties, which is located on South Padre Island.

Located approximately seven miles from the Queen Isabella Causeway, the land offers more than 1.5 miles of beach frontage along the Gulf of Mexico, as well as 1.4 miles of frontage on Laguna Madre Bay. It is within two miles of the South Padre Island Convention Center.

“We believe that the site will be attractive to mixed-use developers and owners who are interested in creating a beach resort near the popular South Padre Island resort community,” Corbin said.

“With excellent frontage on a beach with water that’s crystal clear, the land is in an excellent location for a hotel, retail, condo or residential development.”

Contact: Julia McCartney, 714.975.2230, julia.mccartney@grubb-ellis.com

New Faces at Grubb & Ellis

Andrew Hitchcock is Vice President, Industrial Group for South Puget Sound market

SEATTLE, WA– Grubb & Ellis Company (NYSE: GBE), a leading real estate services and investment firm, announced that Andrew Hitchcock has joined the company as vice president, Industrial Group, effective immediately. Hitchcock will focus on industrial leasing and sales throughout the South Puget Sound industrial marketplace.

“Andrew provides his clients with a level of professionalism that is unmatched,” said Bill Condon, (top right photo) vice president and managing director of Grubb & Ellis’ Seattle office. “His passion, work ethic and knowledge of the industrial market have made him successful as a brokerage salesperson. He will be a valuable addition to our team.”

Hitchcock joins Grubb & Ellis from Colliers International.

Contacts:

Erin Mays, 312.698.6735, erin.mays@grubb-ellis.com
Julia McCartney, 714.975.2230, julia.mccartney@grubb-ellis.com

Andrew Dornbusch Joins Grubb & Ellis Securities as Regional Vice President

SANTA ANA, CA – Grubb & Ellis Securities, Inc. announced that Andrew Dornbusch has joined the company as a regional vice president. In his new role, Dornbusch is responsible for raising equity in the states of Colorado, Kansas and Nebraska for the various real estate investment programs sponsored or advised by the investment subsidiaries of Grubb & Ellis Company (NYSE: GBE).

These programs include Grubb & Ellis Apartment REIT, Inc. and Grubb & Ellis Healthcare REIT, Inc., both publicly registered non-traded real estate investment trusts.

“Andrew is an accomplished sales professional with an exceptional reputation and thorough understanding of the industry and his markets,” said Richard Arnitz, executive vice president of sales with Grubb & Ellis Securities.

Dornbusch joins Grubb & Ellis from Inland Securities Corp., where he served as first vice president. Prior to entering the securities field, he served as an attorney with Dorsey & Whitney LLP.

Contact: Damon Elder, 714.975.2659, damon.elder@grubb-ellis.com