Benchmark Hospitality International Names Creston Woods General Manager for Deloitte University (United States)
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Benchmark Hospitality International Names Creston Woods General Manager for Deloitte University (United States)
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Category: North America & West Indies / Carribean islands - United States - Careers
- Appointments
This is a press release selected by our editorial committee and published online for free on 2010-05-07
Benchmark Hospitality International, selected by Deloitte earlier this year to operate Deloitte University, has named Creston Woods general manager for the state-of-the-art learning and leadership development facility currently being constructed in Westlake, Texas, near Dallas-Fort Worth. Deloitte University is scheduled to open in 2011 and will serve as a proprietary meetings facility for Deloitte. Ellen Sinclair, senior vice president for Benchmark Hospitality, made the announcement.
"Deloitte and Benchmark Hospitality International are both pleased to welcome Creston to Deloitte University," said Ms. Sinclair. "He is a highly skilled professional with extensive experience in developing award-winning hospitality teams, which deliver service surpassing guest expectations. Additionally, he brings important experience in leading specialty conference center hotels to his new role."
Creston Woods’ three decades in the hotel and conference center industries have prepared him for his new role as general manager of Deloitte University. He most recently served as general manager of the Four Diamond Carolina Inn, the historic property operated by Destination Hotels & Resorts and located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. At the same time, he held area responsibilities for The Paul Rizzo Conference Center at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.
Mr. Woods previously served as regional manager for ARAMARK Harrison Lodging, overseeing multiple conference center hotels, including The R. David Thomas Center at Duke University; Janelia Farm Research Campus, Ashburn, Virginia; The Conference Center at Dodgertown in Vero Beach, Florida; as well as The Rizzo Conference Center, which the company operated at the time.
During the 1990s, Mr. Woods worked with Doubletree Hotel Corporation, leading transition teams as the company assumed management and rebranded properties in Miami Lakes, Florida, and Indianapolis, Indiana. He also served as general manager for the Doubletree Hotel at Concourse in Atlanta during the period that included the 1996 Summer Olympics as well as two World Series and Super Bowl XXVIII. During his tenure with the property it was named the “Most Improved Hotel of the Year” for the chain.
Earlier in his career, Mr. Woods worked with Sheraton Hotels Corporation serving as general manager for properties in Redondo Beach, California; Universal City, California; and Anchorage, Alaska.
Creston Woods earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Miami University. He has also completed the continuing professional education program with ARAMARK. Mr. Woods has served in leadership roles for the North Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association, the Chapel Hill Orange County Visitors Bureau, Southern Innkeepers, Raleigh Durham SKAL Club, and the Triangle Hotel Motel Association.
With this facility, Deloitte is investing approximately $300 million in its people, creating a central destination for all of Deloitte's talent - from newly hired staff and senior leadership to partners, principals and directors.
The 700,000+ square-foot learning and leadership development facility will feature 35 classrooms and many informal learning spaces as well as extensive meeting space and conference facilities, dining venues, a ballroom, a business center, recreational facilities, a fitness center, and 800 guestrooms.
Constructed according to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards, Deloitte University will directly benefit Deloitte and its people, and is also expected to provide economic benefits to the Westlake and Dallas/Fort Worth regions.
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