Marriott International Presents Three Awards to OTO

March 26, 2019 | Awards

OTO Development, part of The Johnson Group, has received three top awards from Marriott International. The Spartanburg SC-based hotelier was named CONNECT Developer of the Year – for the second consecutive year – and was also honored for excellence in brand collaboration and sustainability.

“Recognition from our brand partners is a powerful affirmation,” says Corry Oakes, President/CEO of OTO Development. “Our development team has been honored among Marriott’s best – not once, but twice in a row – and our commitment to brand partnership and community impact has been lauded as well. Earning these accolades proves that ‘Excellent Hotels, Exceptional People’ is more than a tagline and acknowledges solid talent throughout our entire company.”

OTO was named 2018 CONNECT Developer of the Year in the select-service category for its consistent success in bringing new Marriott products to high-barrier-to-entry markets. A leading partner in Marriott’s efforts to launch the AC Hotels brand in the United States, OTO Development has opened four AC properties over the past 18 months – in New York City, South San Francisco, Chapel Hill NC and Spartanburg SC – and has two more AC Hotels under development in Washington DC and Bethesda MD.

OTO Development was tapped as Marriott’s 2018 Best Collaborator for its work on multiple new hotel projects over time, with an emphasis on teamwork and communication throughout development and operations. The Serve 360 Award recognizes the company’s commitment to making a positive and sustainable impact wherever it does business; every Marriott-branded hotel in OTO’s owned portfolio has achieved, or is currently pursuing, LEED Certification.

“We are developing a dynamic portfolio of hotels, but that’s not all,” Oakes says. “We are building the hospitality company of choice – for partners, clients, guests and employees – and these three most recent awards from the Marriott brand confirm our efforts.”

Celebrating OTO Development’s second consecutive CONNECT Developer of the Year Award, from left, are: Dave Grissen, Marriott Group President;  Arne Sorenson, Marriott President/CEO; John Wong, OTO VP/Construction & Design-West; Corry Oakes, OTO President/CEO; George Rutledge, OTO VP/Purchasing & Technology; Mike Gallen, OTO Regional Director of Development-West; Todd Turner, OTO VP/Real Estate; Tom Onken, Marriott Chief Franchise Officer, U.S.; and Liam Brown, Marriott President and Managing Director of Europe.

Photo above right: Members of OTO’s leadership team showing off three recent accolades from Marriott International – CONNECT Developer of the Year, Best Collaborator and Serve 360 awards – from left, are: David Ward, COO; Denise Beers-Kiepper, VP/Human Resources; Charlie King, CFO; Todd Turner, VP/Real Estate; Lisa Giaimo, VP/Sales & Marketing; and Corry Oakes, President/CEO.

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