Awards & Milestones

The roots of True North Hotel Group are planted when Lew Wiens co-founds RHW, comprised of RHW Management, Inc., and RHW Construction, Inc.

Lew establishes Henry Hotels, Inc., to concentrate on hotel development opportunities.

Lew enters into a joint venture with Michael Dubroff and his company, Inn Alpha Management Corporation, to form True North Hotel Group, L.L.C.

A stroke necessitates Mike Dubroff's retirement; Lew teams up with Richard Merkel to reorganize the company as True North Hotel Group, Inc.

True North Hotel Group is awarded its first Partnership Circle Award, presented by Marriott International to salute franchise companies that perform in the top ten percent in multiple categories.

True North Hotel Group is awarded its second Marriott International Partnership Circle Award, and is named a Key Partner for the Hampton Inn and Hampton Inn & Suites brand.

The company is approved as an operator/manager for the Hyatt Place brand.

Joe Andrick, General Manager of the Residence Inn KC Plaza is honored by the Hotel & Lodging Association of Greater Kansas City as 2009 Hotelier of the Year.

Upon opening in September 2009 our 108-suite North Conway, NH Residence Inn by Marriott becomes the upscale extended-stay brand's 600th hotel.

True North Hotel Group is awarded its third Marriott Partnership Circle Award and the Design and Construction Excellence Award for Fairfield Inn & Suites Overland Park, KS.

True North is approved as a management company for IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) and Starwood Hotels.

Kansas City Convention & Visitor Association awards the Pistilli Service Excellence Award to Joe Andrick, Area General Manager. This award recognizes a hospitality manager who started in the trenches of our industry and continues to provide exemplary service, leadership and professionalism while taking care of our visitors.

Residence Inn by Marriott, North Conway, NH receives Opening Hotel of the Year from Marriott International.

Joe Andrick, General Manager of the Residence Inn, Overland Park, KS receives the Residence Inn's GM of the Year award by Marriott International.

True North is awarded its fourth Marriott Partnership Circle Award from Marriott International.

True North opens its 20th hotel in Miami, FL as the Element by Westin Miami International Airport opens its doors in February.

Judy Judkins, General Manager of Residence Inn Portland, and Tim Armstrong, General Manager of Residence Inn Burlington/Colchester receive True North's "Truest North" Award at the company's annual meeting.

True North opens its 23rd hotel in Moscow, Idaho as the Fairfield Inn & Suites opens its doors in July.

True North opens its 22nd hotel in Boston, Massachusetts as the Residence Inn Downtown Boston Seaport opens its doors in June.

True North opens its 21st hotel in Rochester, New York as the Hampton Inn & Suites opens its doors in April.

Residence Inn by Marriott, Colchester, VT reaches Platinum Hotel status from Marriott International for the third time. The prestigious Platinum award is awarded to top 5% hotels within the Brand.

True North is ranked 56th in the Hotel Business Magazine's "Top 100 Management Companies."

Michael Watson, General Manager of Fairfield Inn South Boston receives True North's "Truest North" Award at the company's annual meeting.

The Fairfield Inn & Suites in Leavenworth, KS is named Opening Hotel of the Year by Marriott International at Marriott's CONNECT Conference, held last month in Orlando.

For an unprecedented sixth time, True North Hotel Group receives Marriott International's highest owner/franchisee honor, the Partnership Circle Award. Marriott International President and CEO Arne Sorensen presents the award to True North Chairman and CEO Lew Wiens, President and Chief Operating Officer Richard Merkel, and Executive Vice President and Chief Development Officer Brad Wiens at Marriott's CONNECT Conference, held in Orlando.

Michael Watson, General Manager of Fairfield Inn South Boston receives True North's "Truest North" Award at the company's annual meeting.

The Fairfield Inn & Suites in Moses Lake, Wash., was also singled out by Marriott International, Inc., as Opening Hotel of the Year among approximately 125 new Fairfield Inn & Suites hotels that opened in 2017.

Recognized by Marriott International, Inc., as a Diamond Hotel for exceptional financial and guest service is the Fairfield Inn & Suites in Leavenworth, KS. The hotel, open just four years, is one of three Fairfield Inn & Suites hotels, out of 899 globally as of year-end 2017, that achieves the top-echelon Diamond status.​​​ The Leavenworth Fairfield Inn & Suites is also named national Hotel of the Year, winning the Truest North Award from True North Hotel Group, at the company's annual General Manager Conference held recently in Marlborough, MA. True North Hotel Group also sends Leavenworth home with awards in Top Overall Guest Satisfaction, Staff Service and Financial Performance.

Myron Peterson, Assistant General Manager of Home2 Suites Kansas City Downtown, wins the Greater Kansas City Hotel & Lodging Association's Mid-Level Manager of the Year award. Mid-Level Manager of the Year recognizes superior leadership qualities and exemplary performance as a department head or mid-level manager. Examples are improved financial activity, reduced personnel turnover, civic involvement that brings credit to the industry, or creativity that shows a passion for the industry.

For the seventh time, True North Hotel Group receives Marriott International's highest owner/developer honor, the elite Partnership Circle Award. Of the 800-plus ownership groups representing Marriott's Select Brands, only the top three percent – roughly 26 – receives the Partnership Circle Award for 2018. True North Hotel Group's prior Partnership Circle Awards were received in 2004, 2006, 2009, 2012, 2014 and 2016. Of True North's 24 open hotels, 17 are Marriott-branded.

True North Hotel Group proudly accepts Marriott's Opening Hotel of the Year award for Fairfield Inn & Suites Boston/Marlborough Apex Center.

Lisa Brady, General Manager of Residence Inn/SpringHill Suites Fishkill, is awarded Diamond GM of the Year and Service Excellence GM of the Year for Residence Inn 2019.

True North Hotel Group is the only company to receive Marriott's Local Culture Council of the Year award in 2020. The Local Culture Council concept was developed a few years ago to promote and encourage the RI culture – celebration, community service, growth.  Typically, groups of Residence Inn hotels in a common geography get together and create their own “grassroots” effort. True North is unique because the company created it for themselves and had to “band together” hotels across several states and time zones. Together, True North volunteered a total of 279 hours, raised over $7500 in cash donations, and also took leadership initiative to host a training on the book “Yes Is the Answer” to make their hotels better and stronger for each guest and associate. 

Marriott awards Jessica Ferrantino of Residence Inn/SpringHill Suites Fishkill both Residence Inn Team Member of the Year and SpringHill Suites Team Member of the Year . She is the only associate receiving recognition for two different brands.
 
Hilton presents Eddie Bednarczyk, Assistant General Manager of Hampton Inn & Suites Rochester/Henrietta, with the Hilton Hospitality Hero award. Eddie was selected as one of only 55 honorees out of over 1,300 nominations. This award is for those who have performed inspiring acts of strength, kindness and generosity for Hilton guests, communities, and one another. Eddie single-handedly extinguished a fire during a 12-hour night audit shift.

Residence Inn by Marriott, Nashua, NH reaches Platinum Hotel status from Marriott International. The prestigious Platinum award is awarded to top 5% hotels within the Brand.

Residence Inn by Marriott, Fishkill, NY reaches Diamond Hotel status from Marriott International. 

SpringHill Suites by Marriott, Fishkill, NY reaches Gold Hotel status from Marriott International. 

Marriott names True North Hotel Group as a Marriott CONNECT 2022 Developer of the Year. The Developer of the Year award honors companies with a proven ability to grow with Marriott's portfolio in the U.S. True North Hotel Group is one of 13 companies receiving the CONNECT 2022 Developer of the Year award out of over 1500.
 
True North Hotel Group is proud to be named as a top performer in the first and fourth quarters of 2022, coming in at #2 in “Intent to Recommend” among all Marriott franchise management companies operating 11-20 “Select Brand” hotels.

True North 2022 Marriott Award Winners:

Fairfield Inn
Silver Circle Award | Fairfield Inn & Suites Boston/Marlborough Apex Center

SpringHill Suites
Gold Circle Award | SpringHill Suites Fishkill
Gold Circle Award | SpringHill Suites Wrentham

Residence Inn
Diamond GM of the Year | Residence Inn Nashua | Libby Cole
Operations Manager of the Year Award | Residence Inn Fishkill | Jennifer Minners
Platinum Circle Award | Residence Inn Fishkill
Gold Circle Award | Residence Inn Nashua

TownePlace Suites
Silver Circle Award | TownePlace Suites Leavenworth
Silver Circle Award | TownePlace Suites Hays