La Quinta Inns & Suites Names David Longenecker as Director of Development
Irving, TX - March 3, 2015 - La Quinta Inns & Suites hotels, a leading select service hotel brand that provides business and leisure travelers a comfortable, affordable and refreshing experience, today announced the appointment of hospitality industry veteran, David Longenecker, as Director of Development.
Longenecker, who brings more than 30 years experience in hotel franchise sales to this role, will be based in Denver and responsible for the growth of the La Quinta brand in parts of the Central and Southwestern U.S. He joins La Quinta after more than three decades of senior level franchising experience.
"We are happy to welcome a professional with David's extensive franchise sales experience with major hotel brands and a deep understanding of the needs of franchise owners in a dynamic marketplace," said David Wilner, Senior Vice President, Franchise Development for La Quinta Inns & Suites. "La Quinta has seen tremendous franchise growth in the past decade and we are looking forward to great results from David as we continue to see the brand grow and flourish."
Longenecker has worked for a number of hotel brands, beginning his career at Intercontinental Hotels Group in 1991, where he managed the franchise development and sales organization in the Eastern U.S. He later became Eastern Regional VP of franchise sales for Wingate hotels and most recently served as Director Franchise Sales at a large hotel franchising company. He holds a Certified Hotel Administrator degree from the Educational Institute of the American Hotel & Lodging Association.
"I am thrilled to join La Quinta at this important time in the growth of the brand. I look forward to making an immediate impact and working closely with David and the entire franchise development team in the months ahead."
About La Quinta
La Quinta Holdings Inc. (LQ) is a leading owner, operator and franchisor of select-service hotels primarily serving the upper-midscale and midscale segments. The Company's owned and franchised portfolio consists of more than 850 La Quinta Inn & Suites™ and La Quinta Inn™ branded hotels representing more than 85,000 rooms located in 47 states, as well as Canada and Mexico. La Quinta's team is committed to providing guests with a refreshing and engaging experience. For more information, please visit: www.LQ.com.
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