Waterford Holds 16th Leadership Conference, Names 2005 Top Performers

. October 14, 2008

WATERFORD, CT, January 26, 2006. More than 60 hotel general managers and directors of sales from Waterford Hotel Group-managed properties recently gathered at the Mystic Marriott Hotel & Spa in Groton, CT for an extensive two day conference. This marks the 16th annual conference held by Waterford Hotel Group, which operates 30 properties nationwide. The management company hosts the conference annually to share ideas, set goals, and foster the team spirit that are the hallmarks of Waterford's consistently high performing hotels. The theme of this year's conference was "Leading in a Changing World" and managers were educated in ways to think creatively when managing their teams and in competing in the ever-changing hospitality industry.

Len Wolman, chairman and CEO of Waterford Group, provided a welcome address to the participants. Wolman highlighted company successes of 2005 including the opening of three new properties: the fully refurbished 392-room Hilton Hartford, the 550,000 square foot Connecticut Convention Center, and the 409-room Marriott Hartford Downtown. "We were able to achieve significant milestones in 2005 and this can only be achieved through the commitment of a hard working, dedicated team. We should all be proud of our accomplishments," Wolman told participants. "We've had some outstanding growth," Wolman added. "We need to make guests' experiences something so unique and so different and special that they will keep coming back."

Robert K. Cooper, a New York Times bestselling author, addressed attendees during the leadership conference. Cooper is a renowned expert on how exceptional leaders and teams liberate untapped capacities and excel under pressure. He is the author of The Other 90%: How to Unlock Your Vast Untapped Potential for Leadership and Life, and will soon release a new book entitled Get Out of Your Own Way: The Five Keys to Surpassing Everyone's Expectations. "What you need to be an exceptional leader is inside you. Today you learned some of the practical science and most effective tools to bring out more of the best in yourself and others," Cooper told participants. "The time is now - the leader is you," he added. Waterford recognized its 2005 top performers during an awards ceremony.

2005 Top Performance Award Winners

Associate of the Year

George Gavitt, Van Driver

Courtyard by Marriott - Norwich, CT

Hotel Team of the Year

Courtyard by Marriott & Grappone Conference Center - Concord, NH

General Manager of the Year

Sue Longo

Courtyard by Marriott - Warwick, RI

Director of Sales of the Year

Carrie Burleson

Residence Inn by Marriott - Norman, OK