Share via:
In 1927, J. Willard and Alice Marriott and business partner Hugh Colton opened the first A&W Root Beer ice cream parlor in Washington, DC. Summers in the district were hot and muggy, and JW thought cold snacks were in order to help people in our nation’s capital stave off the heat.
Soon, the nine-seat ice cream parlor began serving hot food, rebranding the company as Hot Shoppes. One restaurant quickly became a chain, and by 1937, Hot Shoppes had grown into an in-flight airline catering service.
In 1958 in Arlington, Virginia, JW Marriott opened the world’s first motor hotel. The American auto industry was flourishing, and families across the nation were looking for new ways to travel by car. The hotel was designed specially for motorists, with access to rooms directly from the parking lot. With his son, Bill, at the helm as manager, the humble motor hotel in Virginia started the Mariott hotel brand that we recognize today.
The Marriott legacy is built on a philosophy that founder JW Marriott developed in his earliest days as an entrepreneur: Take care of the people who work for you, and they’ll take good care of your customers. That legacy is still going strong nearly 60 years later due to the commitment of people like Bellingham’s Keith Coleman.
A Whatcom County native, Coleman has been working in the hospitality industry for more than 15 years. He moved to Seattle in his early 20s and managed busy hotels like the Holiday Inn and Hyatt Place downtown.
Coleman returned to his hometown of Bellingham in 2013 to open 360° Hotel Group’s SpringHill Suites by Marriott. In 2015, the company entrusted a second brand-new property to him, the adjoining TownePlace Suites, and he now serves as the general manager for both properties.
In addition to being GM for these two hotels, Coleman is active in the community and sits on numerous boards, including the Advisory Board to the Charter College Hospitality Program, Whatcom Community College’s Hospitality and Tourism Management Advisory Board, the City of Bellingham’s Tourism Commission, and the Bellingham Whatcom County Chamber of Commerce.
Coleman has developed a reputation for having a unique management style and belief system, earning him two awards in the past year: The 2015 Washington Lodging Association’s Outstanding General Manager of the Year, Limited Service award, and the 2016 Service Excellence General Manager of the Year Award for all 324 SpringHill Suites properties. This most recent award is particularly special because he was recognized for something he values dearly: service.
“You’ve got the awards for being the most involved in sales, but to get the Service Excellence award? That’s pretty special,” said Coleman. “This is an award that has my name on it, but this is indicative of the hard work of our staff.”
The commitment to excellence is embraced at all levels at SpringHill and TownePlace, and it shows. This hard work and a passion for service is to thank for making these two hotels among the top rated destination hotels in Bellingham.
“I live by a very simple philosophy,” explained Coleman. “I take care of employees, employees take care of guests, and guests keep coming back.”
SpringHill Suites and TownePlace Suites are located on Northwest Avenue near Bakerview in Bellingham:
SpringHill Suites by Marriott
4040 Northwest Avenue
Bellingham, WA 98225
360-714-9600
www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/blish-springhill-suites-bellingham
TownePlace Suites by Marriott
4050 Northwest Avenue
Bellingham, WA 98225
360-714-9700
www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/blits-towneplace-suites-bellingham
Sponsored
Share via: