Latest news with #WhiteLodging
Hospitality Net
3 days ago
- Business
- Hospitality Net
Anne Tabakian named Vice President of Food & Beverage at White Lodging
White Lodging, an industry leader in urban and lifestyle hospitality development and management, is pleased to announce that Anne Tabakian will take on the role as Vice President of Food & Beverage. Anne has played a critical role in White Lodging's leadership and success in the Food & Beverage (F&B) space since she joined the company in 2016, most recently as Corporate Senior Director of Food & Beverage. Anne joined White Lodging as a Restaurant General Manager in Austin, ultimately growing into senior corporate positions. She has been a cornerstone of White Lodging's F&B concepts, from concept and menu development to training to compliance. The heart of White Lodging's F&B approach is its state-of-the-art Test Kitchen and deep branding expertise, which work together seamlessly to deliver scratch-kitchen concepts and food that provide significant value to owners. White Lodging's more than 50 F&B outlets average a customer satisfaction rating of 4.8, which is among the top 10 percent of all restaurants in the country. Anne is supported by award-winning chefs, as well as beverage, restaurant operation and marketing experts that are hands-on in supporting new and existing concepts. White Lodging will introduce six new or re-branded F&B concepts to its portfolio in 2025. Prior to joining White Lodging, Anne spent nearly a decade at two of the nation's most respected restaurant groups - Uchi Restaurants and Hillstone Restaurant Group. She is a graduate of Vanderbilt University. In addition to 60 premium brand hotels and a private collection of world-renowned luxury ranches, White Lodging's F&B portfolio includes award-winning steak and seafood restaurants, market-leading rooftop bars, modern bistros and thoughtfully crafted quick service concepts.
Hospitality Net
08-05-2025
- Business
- Hospitality Net
Chris Anderson has been promoted Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at White Lodging
White Lodging, a privately owned industry leader in urban and lifestyle hospitality development and management, announced that Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer Chris Anderson has been named Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. As Chief Operating Officer, Anderson will lead the revenue and operational strategies across the company's hotel and restaurant portfolio, including sales, marketing, food and beverage, guest satisfaction and curated programing. Anderson joined White Lodging in 2015 and most recently served as the company's Chief Commercial Officer with responsibility for food and beverage, business strategy and communication, marketing, sales, and revenue management. He has been a driving force in White Lodging's success, navigating complex changes in the hospitality industry and leading the development of brand, marketing, and revenue generating strategies as the company transitioned from its suburban roots into a leader in urban and lifestyle hotels and restaurants. Prior to joining White Lodging, Anderson spent seven years with Marcus Hotels & Resorts, where he spearheaded the company's marketing, brand, sales and revenue management strategies. Earlier in his career, Anderson spent 15 years with Marriott International at large resorts, convention hotels, and urban properties such as the Atlanta Marriott Marquis and the Tampa Marriott Water Street Hotel and Marina. Anderson received a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Missouri, with minors in economics and marketing. In 2018, he was awarded the 25 Most Extraordinary Minds in Marketing from the Hospitality Sales, Marketing Association International. He is also the author of the Amazon book "I'm Not Buying It," which focuses on technology in the ever-changing world of connected consumerism and how to turn skeptical generations into loyal customers.
Chicago Tribune
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
Of Notoriety: New memoir, companion film reveal life and career of the late Bruce White, saga of Star Plaza Theatre
While on one of his out-of-town trips, Bruce White received an irate call from his father Dean White [hotel and billboard billionaire and visionary founder of Star Plaza Theatre], ordering his son to return immediately back to Merrillville. 'I was in Houston,' Bruce recounted. 'Dad said, 'You get your [expletive] home! Now! If it wasn't for your mother, I'd fire you over the phone. Who in the hell are the Doe-Bee Brothers? Dean demanded, butchering the band's name. He was pretty sure that they had no business playing at HIS theater.' Bruce, trying to calm his father, explained the Doobie Brothers were one of the biggest rock bands of the day and would be a major draw for the new theater. Dean grumbled and backed off when a long line formed at the theater box office and the concert sold-out in a flash. Bruce was proved right.' The above passage is just one of many fascinating, revealing moments among numerous behind-the-scene memories of Northwest Indiana's late ruling prince of hotel properties Bruce White, who died at age 70 after a brief bout with cancer in January 2023. Father Dean died at 93 in 2016 and, at the time of his death, was among the 15 oldest billionaires in the world according to Forbes, with a net worth of $2.5 billion. Matriarch Barbara White died at age 92 in April 2018. A new 240-page breezy read, juicy hardcover memoir showcasing the life and legacy of Bruce White, as founder of White Lodging and visionary in the hospitality industry, was released this week. Titled 'Hospitalitarian: Bruce White's Legacy' ($44 Spectrum Creative LLC), it was written and compiled with the help of author Kathi Ann Brown, and the book's foreword is written by hospitality legend J.W. 'Bill' Marriott Jr. The paperback version is available for $31, with both editions sold on Amazon or at Barnes and Noble. In addition to the memoir, I'm told a documentary version of the book is already 'in the can' and will be screened later this summer. The documentary will be narrated by Mike Rowe, the familiar face and vocals of the hit Discovery Channel cable series 'Dirty Jobs.' Any income from the sale of the book or documentary distribution will be matched with donations from White Family foundations. The book and documentary release will coincide with White Lodging's 40th anniversary. The memoir is summed up perfectly in the featured quote from Bill Marriott, who was a long-time friend of Bruce: 'You couldn't be a Marriott franchisee without knowing and benefiting from the knowledge, insights, and friendship of Bruce White. He wanted us all to win: Marriott, White Lodging, and hundreds of his franchisee peers. If that meant rattling our cages or pushing us to reconsider our policies, so be it. His heart was in the right place, and his integrity was unquestioned.' I'm told White began working on this memoir shortly after he was diagnosed with cancer and was determined to capture his life story told in his signature brutally honest voice, which comes through whole-heartedly page after page. Once I started reading it, I couldn't put this book down because I was drawn in to discover more about both the man and the myths. Because his health declined so rapidly, Bruce only had one meeting with his author collaborator Ms. Brown, which clocked in at just more than 20 hours of recorded notes, stories and interview questions. This memoir paints a portrait of Bruce White as a hard-working, relentless perfectionist who was never satisfied with the status quo. As one of Marriott's first franchisees, Bruce built one of the most successful and well-respected hospitality companies from a humble start in Northwest Indiana. From roadside hotels to some of the largest and most experiential urban hotels in the United States, Bruce ultimately developed more than 200 hotels and 60 independently branded restaurants across the country. He was an inspiration to hospitality entrepreneurs for four decades and introduced innovative concepts like the first 'dual' and 'tri' brand hotels. With his father's backing, Bruce White founded White Lodging in 1985 in Northwest Indiana with a single hotel and built the company into one of the largest and most respected hospitality companies in the United States. Since Bruce's passing, his adult children have taken on a bigger role in the company and steward the values that made White Lodging successful, including serving on the Board of Directors, and such as Conner White serving as Chief Investment Officer. 'We began documenting the company's history and Bruce's entrepreneurial journey to help ensure that every associate at the company – now and in the future – knew about White Lodging's founder and his expectation for the company and our people, including our culture and the relentless pursuit of excellence for each other, our guests and our owners,' said Beth White, Bruce White's widow and wife of 35 years. 'Hospitalitarian,' a term title dreamed up by Bruce White, is written chronologically and starts before Bruce's birth with the influence of the generations before him in their search for the American dream – and ultimately his parents' unexpected move to Shelby, Indiana, where his father Dean White took a fledgling sign company his own father started and transformed it into a booming business he dubbed Whiteco Industries. In the book, Bruce and others discuss the influence his grandmother had in his life and how growing up in 'The Region' of Northwest Indiana among blue-collar steelworkers and neighborhood pals in Crown Point helped him develop a thick skin and a keen ability to befriend individuals from every background, religion and race. The memoir includes stories and interviews with friends, family members, early coworkers, and business partners, including Mitch Daniels, former Indiana governor and president emeritus of Purdue University, and Liam Brown, group president of U.S. & Canada at Marriott International. Today, White Lodging has evolved into one of the country's largest privately held hospitality companies focused exclusively on highly curated urban and lifestyle properties. The company develops, owns, and manages a portfolio of brands in destination-driven markets, including Austin, Chicago, Denver, Nashville, Indianapolis and Louisville. With a focus on elevated and experiential service, White Lodging's portfolio consists of approximately 60 premium hotels; a private collection of world-renowned luxury ranches; 50 locally relevant, award-winning restaurants; and 10 market-leading rooftop bars. Later this month, Bruce's widow Beth White, who is active with the Dean and Barbara White Foundation, will serve as the guest speaker at the 2025 Business & Industry Hall of Fame at 11 a.m., May 29 at Avalon Manor in Merrillville hosted by The Times of NWI and INBusiness Magazine. Bruce White will be honored posthumously. Bill Wellman, who died at age 97 in 2020, was a longtime executive of Whiteco Industries and region restaurateur. He was hired in 1976 to work with Dean and Bruce White to help develop the Holiday Star Theatre, which opened in 1979 and was later rebranded as Star Plaza Theatre. Wellman's Bridge VU Theater and Wellman's Restaurant on U.S. 30 in Valparaiso had been very successful, and Wellman quickly forged a reputation for booking headlining celebrities such as Joan Bennett, Phyllis Diller, Henny Youngman, Jerry Van Dyke, Mickey Rooney and Morey Amsterdam. Wellman's favorite entertainer of all time was Liberace, who would play 14 shows at the Star Plaza in 12 days. 'On 'The Tonight Show,' Johnny Carson once asked Liberace of all his tour dates, where did he earn the most money from sold-out audiences,' Wellman told me. 'Carson thought the answer was going to be someplace in Las Vegas or at Radio City Music Hall (in New York City). To his surprise, Liberace said it was a small theater in Indiana called Star Plaza.' As Bruce White confirms in his new book, this is a correct calculation based on gross revenue. Liberace, who died at age 67 in 1987, still ranks as the theater's biggest money-making headliner even by today's math. When Liberace stayed in the penthouse suite overlooking the now long-gone lobby waterfall and indoor swimming pool in the Radisson Hotel, he loved the expansive two-level 'star' apartment living space. It included a full kitchen where he could cook and a formal dining room to entertain and serve his guests. When the newly renovated indoor pool lobby first opened, it featured a considerable financial investment landscape of real palm trees and ferns, along with assorted blooming tropicals trucked up from Florida as described in the new memoir.
Hospitality Net
07-05-2025
- Business
- Hospitality Net
New Book Captures the Entrepreneurial Spirit and Values-Driven Leadership of Hospitality Industry Icon Bruce White
Book foreword written by J.W. 'Bill' Marriott, Jr., Chairman Emeritus of Marriott International Documentary film version to launch later this year Launch coincides with White Lodging's 40th anniversary Forty years ago, Bruce White founded White Lodging in 1985 in Northwest Indiana with a single hotel and built the company into one of the largest and most respected hospitality companies in the United States. He passed away in 2023 from cancer, leaving behind a company that never knew anyone else at the helm. Hospitalitarian: Bruce White's Legacy documents and shares the stories that built White Lodging from a small hospitality company into a player on a national scale. The biography was researched and authored by Kathi Ann Brown, who is the co-author of two books with Chairman Emeritus of Marriott International J.W. 'Bill' Marriott, Jr., including Spirit to Serve and Without Reservations. Bill Marriott authored the book's foreword. Hospitalitarian, published by Spectrum Creative, is now available on most online platforms, including Amazon. A Bigger Story to Tell Bruce always believed that 'a leader is to be judged by how effective the organization is in their absence' as a reference to leadership in general, however this phrase took on a different meaning once he was diagnosed with cancer and the company considered its future without its founder. That's when White Lodging's CEO, Jean-Luc Barone, and Bruce's wife and newly appointed Chair, Beth White, determined the best way for the company to thrive without its founder was to lean into the values and mission the company was founded on. That meant truly understanding and documenting how Bruce built White Lodging and ultimately became one of the hospitality industry's earliest franchise success stories. Since Bruce's passing, his adult children have taken on a bigger role in the company and stewarding the values that made White Lodging successful, including serving on the Board of Directors, in addition to Conner White serving as Chief Investment Officer. We began documenting the company's history and Bruce's entrepreneurial journey to help ensure that every associate at the company – now and in the future – knew about White Lodging's founder and his expectation for the company and our people, including our culture and the relentless pursuit of excellence for each other, our guests and our owners. As Kathi researched and assembled the manuscript, we saw that the stories and lessons could appeal to a much broader audience, so we decided to pull it all together into a book. Beth White The book is expertly summed up in a quote from Bill Marriott, who was a long-time friend of Bruce: You couldn't be a Marriott franchisee without knowing and benefiting from the knowledge, insights, and friendship of Bruce White. He wanted us all to win: Marriott, White Lodging, and hundreds of his franchisee peers. If that meant rattling our cages or pushing us to reconsider our policies, so be it. His heart was in the right place and his integrity was unquestioned. Bruce was a self-proclaimed lifelong learner and valued education as a core value – something his grandmother instilled in him. The White Family supports a variety of education-based and community organizations for which this book will serve as a foundation for sharing Bruce White's legacy. This includes those involved in Big Shoulders Fund and Purdue University, where he is the namesake of the Bruce White Undergraduate Institute within the Mitch Daniels School of Business and White Lodging – J.W. Marriott, Jr. School of Hospitality and Tourism Management at Purdue University. There are only a select few in any generation that have the combination of intelligence, street smarts and firmly held values that Bruce had. His relentless pursuit of excellence across every aspect of his life – personal, professional, and philanthropic – is something we hope to instill in every student at Purdue University. And thanks to the generosity of the White Family, we are well on our way. Mitch Daniels, Former Indiana Governor, and President Emeritus of Purdue University A film version of the book, narrated by television host Mike Rowe, is in the works and expected to be available to the public later this summer. Any income from the sale of the book or documentary distribution will be matched with donations to education initiatives in Northwest Indiana from the White Family foundations. Hospitalitarian: Bruce White's Legacy Bruce White was a hard-working, relentless perfectionist who was never satisfied with the status quo. As one of Marriott's first franchisees, Bruce built one of the most successful and well-respected hospitality companies from a humble start in Northwest Indiana. From roadside hotels to some of the largest and most experiential urban hotels in the United States, Bruce ultimately developed more than 200 hotels and 60 independently branded restaurants across the country. He was an inspiration to hospitality entrepreneurs for four decades and introduced innovative concepts like the first dual- and tri-brand hotels. Most of all, he challenged conventional thinking in his quest to be the best and leaves a legacy of entrepreneurial excellence and an inspiring model of a life well-lived. Hospitalitarian is written chronologically and starts before Bruce's birth with the influence of the generations before him in their search for the American dream – and ultimately his parents' unexpected move to Shelby, Indiana, where his father Dean White took a fledgling sign company his father started and transformed it into a booming business. In the book, Bruce and others discuss the influence his grandmother had in his life and how growing up in 'The Region' of Northwest Indiana among blue collar steelworkers and neighborhood fist fights helped him develop thick skin and a keen ability to befriend individuals from every background, religion and race. Fast forward to Bruce's enrollment at Purdue University where he acknowledged that he 'never let school get in the way of his education' and that he was more likely to be found on a basketball court than in class. Yet, Purdue had an immense influence on Bruce that helped strike deep business, personal and philanthropic relationships that were foundational to his success. One of those relationships was with his wife of 35 years, Beth, whom Bruce met at a Purdue homecoming football game after he graduated. Bruce fell in love with the hospitality industry as a teenager when he helped his dad open the Holiday Inn in Merrillville, Indiana. Bruce recruited his friends to help load furniture, bus tables and clean dishes. While he ultimately skipped his plan to go to graduate school to help his dad at the Holiday Inn, it was a chance meeting with a Marriott executive that was the impetus to a lifelong passion and entrepreneurial success. Hospitalitarian highlights the highs and lows Bruce experienced growing White Lodging, raising a family, keeping friendships and maintaining a values-driven life regardless of the circumstances. Reflecting his own love of learning, the biography contains more than two dozen 'Bruc-isms' that help readers more deeply understand what shaped his entrepreneurial focus and journey. The biography includes stories and interviews with friends, family members, early coworkers, and business partners, including Mitch Daniels, former Indiana Governor and President Emeritus of Purdue University, and Liam Brown, Group President, U.S. & Canada at Marriott International. About White Lodging White Lodging, established in 1985 by hospitality icon Bruce White, has evolved into one of the country's largest privately held hospitality companies focused exclusively on highly curated urban and lifestyle properties. The company develops, owns and manages a portfolio of brands in destination-driven markets, including Austin, Chicago, Denver, Nashville, Indianapolis, and Louisville. With a focus on elevated and experiential service, White Lodging's portfolio consists of approximately 60 premium hotels; a private collection of world-renowned luxury ranches; 50 locally relevant, award-winning restaurants; and 10 market-leading rooftop bars. White Lodging focuses on hiring and developing hospitalitarians that are committed to exceptional service and fostering meaningful connections. White Lodging is the second highest in the 2021 J.D. Power Guest Satisfaction Benchmark for third-party management companies, and has been near the top since the first benchmark was published. For more information about White Lodging, visit or follow the company on LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
White Lodging Again Named 2025 Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award Winner
White Lodging Honored with Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award White Lodging Honored with Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award Merrillville, Indiana, March 12, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- White Lodging, a privately owned industry leader in urban and lifestyle hospitality development and management, was named one of the 62 companies across the globe as a winner of the 2025 Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award for employee engagement. This award recognizes the most engaged workplace cultures in the world. This is the fifth year that White Lodging has earned the award as it celebrates its 40th year in business. The company currently employs more than 6,500 associates across nearly 60 hotels and more than 50 restaurants and bars. Despite momentous challenges in a rapidly evolving workplace, Gallup found that White Lodging continued to engage and develop its people in innovative ways, setting new benchmarks for workplace excellence. A Culture of EngagementSince coming out of COVID 19, White Lodging has invested in associate-focused programs and benefits to help support its Associate Promise, which is 'to create an environment that allows them to be your best self and grow through ongoing training, development and mentorship.' Some of these programs include leadership development programming and a refreshed career development program supported by technology and process enhancements. Over the past two years, this investment helped lower turnover by 22% and reduce management job openings by 69%. In addition, internal management promotions increased by 24% and associate-referred hires increased by 17%. From an engagement and reputation perspective, White Lodging's scores in employee engagement and Glassdoor reviews have materially increased year-over-year and reached record highs in 2024. 'An engaged workplace today is a thriving workplace tomorrow,' White Lodging CEO Jean-Luc Barone said. 'Earning this recognition for the fifth time—especially in our 40th anniversary year—is a significant milestone that reflects our ongoing commitment to our Hospitalitarians. We invest in our people because they invest so much in us. This includes robust, proprietary Career Development tools to help associates navigate their career growth, as well as fostering a culture of Genuine Care to support our Associate Promise—creating an environment where they can be their best selves and grow through ongoing training, development, and mentorship.' 'Congratulations to this year's Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award winners for setting the standard for a thriving workplace. White Lodging's commitment to creating an environment where employees feel valued, heard and empowered to do their best work is truly remarkable. By prioritizing both people and performance, they are shaping the future of work and proving that exceptional workplaces drive real results,' said Jon Clifton, Gallup's Chief Executive Officer. Gallup's meta-analysis on team engagement and performance is the most comprehensive workplace study ever conducted, with data on more than 3.3 million employees in 347 organizations across 53 industries and 90 countries. Highly engaged organizations significantly outperform their peers on important business outcomes, including customer ratings, profitability, productivity, turnover, safety incidents, shrinkage, absenteeism, quality, wellbeing and organizational citizenship. White Lodging has developed more than 210 new hotels since its founding in 1985. The company currently owns and/or manages approximately 60 high-end urban and lifestyle hotels with more than 15,000 rooms under the Marriott, IHG (Kimpton), Hyatt and Hilton brands. For a complete list of Gallup Exceptional Workplace winners, visit the 2025 Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award Winners page. Learn more about the awards here. ABOUT WHITE LODGING: White Lodging, established in 1985 by Bruce White, has evolved into one of the country's largest privately held hospitality companies focused exclusively on highly curated urban and lifestyle properties. The company develops, owns and manages a portfolio of brands in destination-driven markets, including Austin, Chicago, Denver, Nashville, Indianapolis, and Louisville. With a focus on elevated and experiential service, White Lodging's portfolio consists of approximately 60 premium hotels; a private collection of world-renowned luxury ranches; 50 locally relevant, award-winning restaurants; and 10 market-leading rooftop bars. White Lodging focuses on hiring and developing Hospitalitarians that are committed to exceptional service and fostering meaningful connections. White Lodging has earned the Gallup Exceptional Workplace award five times, including in 2025, and consistently is in the top J.D. Power Guest Satisfaction Benchmark listing for third-party management companies. For more information about White Lodging, visit or follow the company on LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook. About Gallup Gallup delivers analytics and advice to help leaders and organizations solve their most pressing problems. Combining more than 80 years of experience with its global reach, Gallup knows more about the attitudes and behaviors of employees, customers, students and citizens than any other organization in the world. Attachments White Lodging Honored with Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award White Lodging Honored with Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award CONTACT: Mike Banas White Lodging 219-472-2861 in to access your portfolio
