When Meyer Jabara Hotels created its new Senior VP of Architecture & Construction position, they hoped for a seasoned hospitality professional with a great reputation, a dedication to customer service and a spirit to serve owners, guests and associates to fill the post. Today, the East Coast ownership and management company is pleased to announce that George Rendell is now spearheading the effort. As Senior VP of Architecture & Construction, Rendell will lead all areas of project management, including fostering hotel and client relationships and reviewing new projects and opportunities for acquisitions.
Rendell comes to Meyer Jabara Hotels with nearly 30 years of hospitality experience. Most recently, he spent the last decade serving as Vice President, Architecture and Construction for HEI Hotels & Resorts in Norwalk, Conn., where he was responsible for overseeing projects ranging from lobby refreshes to multi-million dollar brand conversions and property repositioning. His expertise spans renovations, property improvement plans, brand approval and design reviews, budget and schedule delegation, general contractor direction and on-site project management. The majority of Rendell’s hospitality career was spent with Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. where he held corporate titles such as Project Director and Project Controller in White Plains, N.Y., and the property title of Controller at Sheraton Hotels in Hartford and Stamford.
“George has an impressive track record of managing multi-million-dollar hotel projects throughout the Northeast,” said Justin Jabara, Meyer Jabara Hotels VP Development and Acquisitions. “The exemplary reputation he holds among his peers is equally impressive and fits well with the Meyer Jabara Hotels culture. We manage our properties by empowering our people to deliver an exceptional, repeatable experience for guests and providing exceptional investment returns for our partners. George does this in spades, and his reputation for being an innovated and talented hospitality professional made him the right choice to drive our new architecture and construction initiative. We welcome him aboard.”
Joining Meyer Jabara Hotels was an opportunity Rendell said he couldn’t refuse.
“Meyer Jabara Hotels is a different type of hospitality company in that they ‘walk the talk,’” Rendell said. “Their approach to hotel management is unconventional and refreshing, and they clearly care about their guests and employees. Not only was I impressed with the people, but it’s an amazing place to work. I am especially excited to be heading my own department and leading all areas of project management, including insuring that policies and procedures comply with the company vision.”
In the short term, Rendell said he is focused on building a Design and Construction department. In the long term, he plans to further develop his team to ensure that everyone is challenged and achieving their personal and professional goals. This is a key reason why Meyer Jabara Hotels is recognized as an employer of choice in several markets around the country.
“One of the biggest challenges that hoteliers face today is meeting the expectations of brands and guests despite finite capital resources that can prevent them from doing everything they want to do,” Rendell said. “Even if budgets restrict a hotel from having the most recent design or amenities, as long as it has great people who care about their guests, it can overcome any limitations. Meyer Jabara Hotels is the perfect example of this. By hiring the right people and investing in their personal and professional development, Meyer Jabara Hotels gain employees who are invested in their jobs. The end result is an interaction between employees and guests that is at a much higher level than what you see elsewhere. I’m honored to join the Meyer Jabara Hotels team.”
Meyer Jabara Hotels has been owning or managing hotels for 35 years. The company portfolio includes 22 hotels, representing 4,000 guestrooms across 10 states. Year over year, the Meyer Jabara Hotels portfolio continues to grow by 15 percent through acquisitions, new construction projects, and third-party management contracts.
