Minneapolis Hotel is the First to Fly the Graves Hotels.Resorts. Flag
Graves Hospitality Corporation, a Minneapolis-based hotel ownership, development and management company, today announced that it will rebrand the Le Méridien Minneapolis to the Graves 601 Hotel Minneapolis. The hotel, located at 601 First Ave. N. in the heart of downtown, will be the first to fly the Graves Hotels.Resorts. flag, a new brand being launched throughout the Unites States. The hotel's name change will take effect on August 1, 2005.
James J. Graves, owner of Le Méridien and CEO of Graves Hospitality Corporation, made the announcement, unveiling the hotel's new signage before local business and civic leaders gathered at the hotel.
'Since 1979, our portfolio has steadily grown through development, franchise and management contracts with leading hotel brands,' said Graves. 'With nearly 25 successful years of working in all areas of this business, my entrepreneurial spirit is once again fueled by a desire to grow within the industry - to introduce a new brand to the market. I believe this Minneapolis hotel perfectly reflects the essence of the Graves name, and is the ideal location to launch our new brand. As Minneapolitans, we are proud to launch our new brand in our hometown.'
Benjamin Graves, President of Graves Hospitality Corporation and managing director of the Graves 601 Hotel Minneapolis, said that despite the name change, all other aspects of the hotel - from its employees, ownership and management, to its unique design and service excellence - will remain the same.
'While we are unveiling a new brand, the Graves 601 Hotel Minneapolis will continue to provide the same sophisticated modern luxury that guests have come to expect, said Benjamin Graves.'
Benjamin Graves added that as a newly independent hotel, the Graves 601 Hotel Minneapolis has contracted with WORLDHOTELS, a leader in the global hotel sales, marketing and distribution industry.
'As a member of the WORLDHOTELS consortium, our hotel will be part of their Deluxe Collection of hotels, and will be as easy to book via telephone, online or through 600,000 travel agent terminals worldwide as hotels affiliated with large franchise operations,' said Ben Graves.
In addition, guests of the hotel can earn frequent flier mileage points through Graves Preferred Guests Program. Airline partners include Asiana Airlines, American Airlines, ANA, Delta Airlines, Lufthansa, Northwest Airlines, United Airlines, Varig and Thai Airways.
At the conclusion of his remarks, James Graves said the next Graves-branded hotels are planned for downtown Chicago, Manhattan, Coronado California., and Costa Rica.
About Graves Hospitality Corporation
James Graves founded Graves Hospitality Corporation in 1979 as a real estate development and management company. Within the first two years, the company founded AmericInn(R) Lodging International and, under Graves Hospitality direction, grew that brand to more than 40 properties in 10 years.
In the mid 1990's, Graves Hospitality narrowed its focus and began cultivating niche markets of development in upscale urban core and leisure destination markets. Propelled by success and experience developing major brands such as Marriott, Radisson and Holiday Inn, in 2003, Graves Hospitality's opened the sophisticated modern luxury hotel that is today branded the Graves 601 Hotel Minneapolis. This flagship hotel has earned Graves Hospitality many awards, including Best Roll Out Concept Hotel by Hospitality Design, the Gold List Reserve of Top Hotels in the World by Condé Nast Traveler, and three Gold Key awards from Interior Design and Hospitality Design.
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