Distinguished International Appoints Director of European Development
ROCKVILLE, MD, April 30, 2008. Bill Burruss, President of Distinguished International Hotels, Residences and Resorts, LLC. is pleased to announce Paul Follows as Director of European Development. Distinguished International (R) develops, manages or markets independently owned luxury, upscale, highly unique resorts, private residences, and hotels around the world.
Part of Bill Burruss' decision to personally pursue his original vision and launch Distinguished International (R) after he had licensed the name to a European company which defaulted on the agreement and went bankrupt, came from the outpouring of encouragement from former European members of the previous Distinguished Hotels banner.
Already well known and trusted among these former members, Paul Follows (pictured here) based out of the UK, will be instrumental in sourcing further opportunities for development throughout the UK and Europe.
Highly respected within the hotel industry for his success in bringing hotels into a higher quality market sector, Paul is particularly recognised for his many accomplishments with the Thistle Hotels Group, including bringing their Manchester hotel to the top, and making it the most profitable of the group.
As Director of European development, Paul will be developing the Distinguished(R) brand in Europe through membership from boutique-hotels, luxury residences, private estates and inns. His extensive experience working with small independent hotels, of which the Grim's Dyke Hotel in Harrow, North/West London has won numerous recognitions and prestigious awards under his management, will be key in his role at the head of the European branch of the Distinguished(R) portfolio.
"There is a wealth of exquisitely beautiful hotels and inns throughout England and Europe, as much in city centres as in the countryside," explains Bill Burruss "and I've been watching the demand from the North American traveler for a more intimate, tailored European experience, increase year after year. These independent hotels need effective affordable marketing programmes to reach the right customer. Both Paul and I are fellow hoteliers and know from experience what works and what doesn't. I am very excited about the opportunities that lie ahead and working with Paul, whom I value as a truly wonderful man beyond his many successes."
The Distinguished International(R) portfolio is quickly expanding and includes so far: Le Grand Lodge Mont-Tremblant in Mont-Tremblant, Qu'ebec, Canada; Allure and Bar Harbour, private residences on Hatteras Island in North Carolina, USA ; Windswept, a private residence in St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands; plus a number of US and European hotel and residence applications under revision.
Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) is a global leading lodging company based in Bethesda,Maryland, USA, with more than 4,200 properties in 80 countries and territories. Marriott International reported revenues of nearly $14 billion in fiscal year 2014. The company operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership resorts under 19 brands, including: The Ritz-Carlton®, BVlgari®, EDITION®, JW Marriott®, Autograph Collection® Hotels, Renaissance® Hotels, Marriott Hotels®, Delta Hotels and Resorts®, Marriott Executive Apartments®, Marriott Vacation Club®, Gaylord Hotels®, AC Hotels by Marriott®, Courtyard®, Residence Inn®, SpringHill Suites®, Fairfield Inn & Suites®, TownePlace Suites®, Protea Hotels® and MoxyHotels®. Marriott has been consistently recognized as a top employer and for its superior business ethics. The company also manages the award-winning guest loyalty program, Marriott Rewards® and The Ritz-Carlton Rewards® program, which together surpass 50 million members. For more information or reservations, please visit our website at 
