CUSTOMER SERVICE & CX
041 | Direct Sales, Customer Satisfaction and Employee Retention with Michael Pleninger
CUSTOMER SERVICE & CX
Mike is co-Founder and President of Newport Hospitality Group (NHG) – a nationally recognized hotel management company with operations across the eastern United States. Since Mike and long time family friend Bill Carey founded NHG in 1990, they have grown their portfolio to 34 properties under management in 5 states.
Last year, Hotel Business ranked NHG #66 in their Top 100 Management Companies of 2014 report.
Mike’s formula of comprehensive reviews, attention to basics, innovative marketing and insistence on quality has produced superior returns for NHG’s clients, as well as gaining recognition and awards from franchisors.
Newport Hospitality Group is the culmination of Mike’s 30 plus years of success in all phases of hotel management. His experience is reflected in the breadth and comprehensiveness of NHG’s management package.
Mike’s background includes ten years as Senior VP and part owner of Victor Management Company of Newport News, VA. He directed all development, operations and finance activities, building the company’s portfolio to 23 hotels.
Mike earned his stripes at Sonesta International where, over ten years, he served in several operational capacities, including Corporate Food and Beverage Staff Specialist, General Manager of Hotel Sonesta, Winnipeg, and as Washington Regional Manager for the company’s motor hotel division. Other experience includes two years with Omni Hotels (then called Dunfey Hotels), four years with Registry Hotels, and two years with Holiday Inns, where he supervised development and operational activities of 130 franchised Holiday Inns.
Mike is a graduate of the School of Hotel Administration at Cornell University, and was a 2002 inductee into the school’s Wall of Fame. Mike is currently an active member of the the American Hotel and Motel Association, the Williamsburg, VA Hotel and Motel Association, and serves as a trustee of the Cornell Hotel School Alumni Association.
In This Episode, Mike Reveals:
- NHG’s strategy for direct sales, their commitment to allocating resources at every property they manage to grow local corporate business, and some impressive stats as to how this effort pays off.
- How they approach training, and not just role-specific training, but customer-focussed training to ensure every employee has the skills, and comfort level, they need to effectively communicate with their guests.
- Strategies for higher employee retention, including several ways they have built a culture that fosters connection, support, and success.
- How they approach online reviews, including relentlessly addressing all reviews, both positive and negative, and how they incentivize their GMs to take this responsibility seriously.
- Several issues he sees are affecting hoteliers these days
Resources & Links
- WaveReview – Online reputation management software that builds reviews and customer loyalty.
Mike Pleninger
- Email:
mlp[at]nhghotels.com
Newport Hospitality Group
Newport Hospitality Group, Inc.
4290 New Town Avenue
Williamsburg, VA 23188
Phone: 1+ 800.644.1032
CUSTOMER SERVICE & CX
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331 | Breaking Away: How to recruit and retain young hospitality professionals in a post-pandemic industry
Nicolas Graf, associate dean, clinical professor and chair of New York University’s Jonathan M. Tisch Center of Hospitality, will soon unveil the school’s new Hospitality Innovation Hub. Departure from the norms of doing business is key to the post-pandemic survival and success of the hospitality industry, says Graf. Companies that offer flexibility in thought and practice among employees will go a long way in leading the industry’s post-pandemic recovery. Episode 331 of Lodging Leaders explores what it will take for owners, operators and others invested in the industry to attract and retain bright young talent who can help build modern and sustainable hotel business models.
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330 | Youthful Perspective: Industry leader Bijal Patel mourns the loss of ‘an entire generation’ of hospitality workers
Bijal Patel, 31, is CEO of Coast Redwood Hospitality and the youngest chair of the California Hotel & Lodging Association. He’s made even more history at CHLA by agreeing to serve an unprecedented second term as the lodging industry emerges from the coronavirus pandemic. Patel is a third-generation hotelier. Being so steeped in hospitality at such a young age is not new for members of the Indian American hotelier community, but Patel fears the pandemic has drained the industry of emerging talent. Lodging Leaders spotlights Patel, who represents a leadership demographic that is fighting for the life of the hospitality industry as they watch their peers veer toward other career paths.