It’s A Repeat! Lloyd Hospitality’s Hilton Garden Inn Cedar Rapids Ranked Among The Brand’s Best
For the second year in a row, Hilton Garden Inn Cedar Rapids has been named among the very best of its peers.
The hotel, developed and managed by Lloyd Hospitality Group, is one of 35 Hilton Garden Inn hotels worldwide to receive the brand’s Award of Excellence, placing it in the top 3 percent of its nearly 1,010 global counterparts.
“The significance of this award by Hilton cannot be understated, and to win it two years in a row is pretty unheard of, especially for a smaller property in Cedar Rapids, Iowa,” said Will Cubbage, general manager.
“We have over 100 years of combined experience in hotels in the management team, and some of us have worked for some very posh hotels, yet none of us has ever worked for another property that was given this award, let alone awarded two years in a row. The award proves that not only do we have a great product here, but more importantly we have great people and have built an amazing culture to continually serve our guests and take care of our staff.”
The hotel’s leadership team largely has been in place since it opened three years ago, and many of the 50-person team also have that level of longevity.
“This team has always excelled in customer service and hotel cleanliness,” said Jennifer Seifert-Brenna, vice president of Lloyd Hospitality.
“They are very competitive and continually work to beat their previous records and scores. They have built a collaborative and positive employee culture that encourages all members of the team to perform at their very best.”
The culture that’s been created “is like nothing I have experienced in my career,” Cubbage said.
It revolves around the values of being grateful, helpful and kind, he added.
“Lloyd has allowed us to mold this property to what we see is the best way forward and the best fit for those we bring onboard. We do not try and fit a square shape into a round hole. We play to each person’s strengths, which allows for ideas and creativity to flow unfiltered but above all else we take care of the staff. My belief is: If you truly take care of the staff, mean it, live it, and prove it every day, they will take care of the guest.”
That’s reflected in the Award of Excellence, which acknowledges exceptional performance in areas such as cleanliness, overall customer service and satisfaction. Hotels earning this award have excelled in overall guest experience and service as well as quality assurance scores.
“It is not easy to be ranked consistently in the top-performing hotels. It takes hard work, dedication, teamwork, and determination. This team is never afraid to think outside the box and to try new ways of doing things,” Seifert-Brenna said. “When we have strong leaders, it is my job to encourage and support them and then step aside and let them do what they do best.”
Each team member has received a printed copy of the award and will be treated to a celebration when the physical honor arrives.
“I presented it to them individually, thanked them for their continued efforts and reminded them we’re going for three in a row next year!” Cubbage said.
The 100-room Hilton Garden Inn opened in 2021 at 4640 N. River Blvd. NE near Edgewood Road NE and Highway 100 in Cedar Rapids.
