Marcus Hotels Press > Press Coverage

11.10.14

Hotels Magazine: Think Pink


Think Pink

The color pink abounds in October for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, but some staffers at InterContinental Milwaukee decided to look for ways to extend the goodwill yearround. The results are two Pink Rooms that recently celebrated their fifth anniversary. A portion of the proceeds from each stay in the rooms is donated to a local breast-cancer-support organization — a total of approximately $50, 000 since the rooms’ inception.

Read more here.

think pink

10.31.14

Part curator, part manager, Smith steps in at Pfister: Tim Smith


Almost 30 years ago, Tim Smith stepped into the general manager’s office at The Pfister Hotel to interview for his first job with Marcus Hotels & Resorts.

In mid-October, Smith returned to the office as general manager, continuing his prominent role in downtown Milwaukee, a 27-year history with The Marcus Corp., the hotel’s Milwaukee-based parent company, and work in the industry that started as a dishwasher at age 13.

Smith comes to Marcus Hotels & Resorts’ most historic and iconic location from one of its most modern — downtown Milwaukee’s InterContinental Hotel.

His favorite spot — so far — is a second-floor balcony that overlooks the lushly appointed, Victorian-style lobby, where he can watch guests come and go.

Smith fills the shoes of Paul Ohm, who moved from California to take the role in early 2013 after general manager Joe Kurth‘s departure. Ohm left to become general manager at Loews Chicago O’Hare Hotel.

Smith served as general manager at the InterContinental since 2007, and previously was corporate director of sales for Marcus Hotels & Resorts. His new role became official Oct. 14.

Now Smith enters a world where front desk staffers have served for 35 years, where employees don’t bat an eye at international royalty or rock stars’ antics, and where banquet halls have catered three generations’ weddings.

The hotel was built in 1893 and offers classic examples of Victorian architecture. It was bought and renovated by Marcus Corp. founder Ben Marcus in 1962.

The Pfister boasts “unbelievable history and tradition,” Smith said. He’s part manager, part curator in the 121-year-old historic property located a few blocks from Milwaukee’s lakefront along East Wisconsin Avenue.

“It’s a very special place,” said Tom Kissinger, interim president at Marcus Hotels & Resorts.

“To continue that heritage and that culture is a challenge, but I think one (Tim) will succeed at.”

Smith’s challenge, Kissinger said, is to ensure The Pfister remains Milwaukee’s premier hotel.

Kissinger, who also serves as senior executive vice president, general counsel and secretary for The Marcus Corp., said Smith is a great motivator who is passionate about what he does.

“He’s been with us a long time,” Kissinger said, detailing why Marcus offered Smith the job.

“He’s got a proven track record. He does an outstanding job. He knows Milwaukee and the community very well. I think he’s the perfect fit for The Pfister.”

Smith feels a strong affinity for the city, serving on many local events and nonprofit boards.

He lives on Milwaukee’s east side with his wife, Peggy Williams-Smith, also a Marcus executive who he met while at the InterContinental. He readily rattles off their favorite local restaurants and talks up the city’s arts and other offerings (praise he thinks many Milwaukeeans don’t advertise enough).

“I’m probably one of the top 10 biggest cheerleaders of Milwaukee ever,” he joked.

He came to The Pfister for his first interview in the 1980s on the recommendation from an Eau Claire general manager, and remembers how friendly the city was to him even then.

Now that the office is his, Smith said he has no doubt he’ll leave his print on the place, but for now he’s settling in.

TIM SMITH

  • Title: General manager
  • Company: The Pfister Hotel, owned by Marcus Hotels & Resorts
  • Age: 53
  • Education: Undergraduate degree in accounting, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
  • Hometown: North Attleborro, Mass.
  • Best business decision: “It seriously is when I was offered the opportunity at the InterContinental. It gave me a whole new perspective on the hotel industry.”
  • Surprising fact about you: “I’m a ‘Fanilow’ — a fan of Barry Manilow.”
  • Favorite vacation spot: “A lot of our best times away are within a hundred miles of Milwaukee — Chicago or Green Lake or Sheboygan, or whatever it happens to be.”
  • Favorite meal to make at home: “I have an awesome stir fry recipe that one of the cooks at the InterContinental gave me last year. I’ve made it for my wife numerous times and she’s never had anything bad to say about it — and she’s vice president of food and beverage, so I’ve got a pretty tough critic.”

10.29.14

Pfister Hotel star of Emmy-nominated documentary


One of Milwaukee’s most luxurious addresses is the subject of an Emmy Award nominated documentary. It’s the legendary Pfister Hotel, and Gene Mueller talks to the folks who made the film about the venue’s colorful past on Wisconsin’s Morning News.

10.29.14

620 WTMJ: Pfister Hotel star of Emmy-nominated documentary


Pfister Hotel star of Emmy-nominated documentary

By: Gene Mueller

One of Milwaukee’s most luxurious addresses is the subject of an Emmy Award nominated documentary. It’s the legendary Pfister Hotel, and Chris Anderson, senior vice president of Marcus Hotels & Resorts, talks to Gene Mueller about the venue’s colorful past on Wisconsin’s Morning News.

Read more here.

WTMJ

10.28.14

Marcus® Hotels & Resorts Announces Four General Manager Promotions


MILWAUKEE–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Oct. 28, 2014–Marcus™ Hotels & Resorts, a division of The Marcus Corporation (NYSE: MCS), today announced four general manager promotions. Jim Waldvogel has been promoted to area vice president and general manager of the Hilton Milwaukee City Center; Tim Smith, general manager of The Pfister™ Hotel; Omar Naimi, general manager of the InterContinental Milwaukee; and Skip Harless, general manager of the Hilton Madison Monona Terrace.

Jim Waldvogel will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Hilton Milwaukee City Center and will have operational oversight of the company’s two other Milwaukee properties, The Pfister Hotel and InterContinental Milwaukee. He will also continue to oversee the company’s two Minneapolis properties, the Hilton Minneapolis/Bloomington and the Crowne Plaza-Northstar. Promoted to area vice president in April 2014, Waldvogel joined the company in 1997 as general manager of the Crowne Plaza-Northstar hotel and was promoted to general manager of the Hilton Minneapolis/Bloomington in 2007. Waldvogel graduated with a bachelor’s degree in finance from Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wis.

Tim Smith, a nearly 30-year veteran of The Marcus Corporation, will oversee operations of the company’s flagship property, The Pfister Hotel in Milwaukee, Wis. Smith joined the company in 1987 as an account executive at the Marc Plaza (now Hilton Milwaukee) and held various sales positions within the company. In 2005 he was named corporate director of sales and in 2007 he was promoted to his most recent position as general manager of InterContinental Milwaukee. Smith graduated with a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire.

Omar Naimi is the new general manager of the InterContinental Milwaukee. Naimi joined the company in 2011 as director of hotel operations and interim general manager of The Pfister Hotel. Prior to joining Marcus Hotels & Resorts, Naimi served as general manager of the Tanjung Rhu Resort and Spa in Langkawi, Malaysia. Prior to this role, Naimi spent 12 years with Marriott Hotels & Resorts working in operations and food and beverage positions at some of Marriott’s most luxurious properties. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in hotel administration from Southern New Hampshire University in Manchester, N.H. and a bachelor’s degree in economics from the Stockholm School of Economics in Stockholm, Sweden. He also holds a hotel diploma from the Hotel Institute Montreux in Montreux, Switzerland.

Skip Harless has been named general manager of the Hilton Madison Monona Terrace. With more than 24 years of experience with Hyatt Hotels & Resorts, Harless joined the company in May 2014 as resident manager of the Grand Geneva Resort & Spa. Prior to joining Marcus Hotels & Resorts, Harless served as the senior executive assistant manager for the Hyatt Regency Denver in Denver, Colo. He graduated with a bachelor of fine arts degree from Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas.

“Jim, Tim, Omar and Skip have demonstrated great professionalism and leadership within our company and I have great faith that all four of these individuals will continue to make significant contributions to the continued success of Marcus Hotels & Resorts,” said Thomas F. Kissinger, interim president of Marcus Hotels & Resorts and senior executive vice president of The Marcus Corporation.

10.24.14

Wisconsin Tonight: Pfister Hotel first in U.S. to offer augmented reality tours


Pfister Hotel first in U.S. to offer augmented reality tours

By: Rachael Glaszcz

The Pfister Hotel is the first in the United States to offer guests augmented reality tours.  The tours include an app and videos that give a digital experience to learning about the history of the hotel.

Read more here.

WT Pfister

10.23.14

Pfister Hotel first in U.S. to offer augmented reality tours


The Pfister Hotel is the first in the United States to offer guests augmented reality tours.

The tours include an app and videos that give a digital experience to learning about the history of the hotel.

Tim Smith, general manager of the Pfister Hotel, and Nick Rudich of Marcus Hotels, came on Wisconsin Tonight to explain how the app works and how it will enhance a guest’s stay.

10.23.14

The Resorter


Grand Geneva continues cancer awareness efforts

To show support and spread awareness for breast cancer awareness and those affected, Grand Geneva Resort & Spa is offering several different ways to make a difference during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The Well Spa and Salon at Grand Geneva Resort & Spa will sell OPI Polish Pink-ing of You and It’s More Than a Glimmer for $9, donating $4 to support ABCD (After Breast Cancer Diagnosis).

The Resorter1

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10.21.14

From 1893 until now: Documentary tracks history of Milwaukee’s Pfister Hotel


MILWAUKEE (WITI) — The Pfister Hotel made its mark in Milwaukee 120 years ago. What started as a simple request from Marcus Hotels and Resorts to make a short video to celebrate the famous hotel, turned into a much larger project.

“In the process of that we learned that there is so much history and story behind this hotel going back to 1893,” said Cory Zimmermann.

Owners of Z2 Marketing Cory Zimmerman and Deb Zindler became enthralled with what they were discovering and turned it to into a documentary.

“The Pfister: History and Story” chronicles how it was founded by Guido Pfister to be a signature of the city.

“It was the first hotel in America that has thermostats, it was one of the first hotels that had electric lights,” said Zimmermann.

Big name celerities from Elvis to Joan Rivers and nearly every sitting president since 1893 has stayed at The Pfister.

“These people have walked these floors and these hallways for 120 years. It`s pretty impressive,” said Zimmermann.

But for years, The Pfister wasn’t properly maintained and was nearly demolished until it was purchased by the Marcus family in 1962.

“In purchasing it they knew they had to invest a lot of money to fix it and give it a new life,” said Zimmermann.

After months of research, shooting, and editing, Zimmerman and Zindler found out they have been nominated for an Emmy for their efforts.

Although honored, Zimmerman says the true reward is sharing this amazing story with the public.

The Emmy award ceremony will be held on November 1st.

10.16.14

The Resorter


Grand Geneva Resort supporting breast cancer awareness month

To show support and awareness for breast cancer awareness and those affected, Grand Geneva Resort & Spa is offering several different ways to make a difference during Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

The Resorter 1

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