USA, Dallas, Texas. February 08, 2022

Gillis Sales, a remote sales and training organization for hoteliers and a Platinum Allied Member of the IHG Owners Association (IHGOA) announced today a partnership with the Association that includes reduced pricing for members on the Gillis Dynamic Sales Solution (DSS), a full-service, turnkey remote sales program, as well as other resources to help hotel owners solve the ongoing sales staffing crisis.

The hotel industry is experiencing an unemployment rate that is three times higher than the workforce of the rest of the United States. Operational challenges of recruiting, hiring, training, and managing sales personnel continue to be an issue. Gillis provides solutions to address these challenges by providing hoteliers with a responsive, knowledgeable, and scalable solution that is more affordable than building expertise from within.

• Dynamic Sales Solution (DSS) - The Gillis sales solution provides remote sales support that is 100 percent focused on revenue generation. In 2021, Gillis' sales team generated $23M (8x ROI) across its client portfolio.
  
• IHGOA membership offer - Association member discount pricing for the DSS program and value-added benefits will be provided to participating members. Additional benefits include a sales toolkit for the front desk to help capture incoming inquiries and group leads, a signed copy of the "Room to Grow" sales playbook, and access to Gillis articles, online training, and sales tools through the Association's Member Center.
  
• Gillis' IHG experience - Gillis' staff has extensive IHG-brand expertise. The Gillis sales team is fully versed in Merlin, Meeting Broker, IHG RFP, and working with key account directors. IHG hotels account for 25 percent of the hotels Gillis supports in its portfolio (primarily Holiday Inn Express®, Holiday Inn® and Extended Stay brands).
  

Tammy Gillis, CEO, Gillis Sales, said: "IHG has been the fastest growing brand in the Gillis portfolio for the past two years, and it is such a pleasure to work with IHG-brand hotel owners to provide a much-needed service to help in their recovery. We are thrilled to build upon this great relationship and look forward to continuing to help solve the ongoing staffing crisis through this offer with IHGOA members."

Kurt Furlong, partner at Genuine Hospitality and 2019 chair of the IHGOA, said: "With today's competitive employee environment, using a third-party sales company is becoming much more of a necessity. Resources like these can help hotels stay focused on revenue and not be pulled into operations and other distractions. Additionally, with the high turnover rate all hotels are facing right now, using an outside sales partner like Gillis helps us keep a steady eye on our revenue goals without having to worry about gaps between hires."

Nathan Polny, director, Partnerships and Member Programs at the IHGOA, said: "Gillis Sales has been a part of the Allied Member program for several years now, and each year we have seen the value of their program grow with our membership. Gillis' business model has filled a need on many levels for our members. We are excited to be able to offer this discount program as another great membership benefit."

About IHG Owners Association

The IHG Owners Association, originally established by Holiday Inn® founder Kemmons Wilson in 1955, was the first association of its kind in the hotel industry. The global organization currently represents the interests of more than 4,000 owners and operators of nearly 3,000 IHG® (InterContinental Hotels Group) properties around the world. The Association is a voice for its members and plays an integral role in communicating with IHG leadership on issues related to franchised hotel operations. The IHG family of brands includes Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas, Regent® Hotels & Resorts, InterContinental® Hotels & Resorts, Kimpton® Hotels & Restaurants, Hotel Indigo®, Vignette™ Collection, EVEN® Hotels, HUALUXE® Hotels and Resorts, Crowne Plaza® Hotels & Resorts, voco™, Holiday Inn® Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn Express®, Holiday Inn Club Vacations®, avid™ hotels, Staybridge Suites®, Atwell Suites™ and Candlewood Suites®. For additional information, visit www.owners.org.