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Hewitt meets with Jin Jiang Hotels Chairman Yu during a visit to Interstate Hotels & Resorts headquarters in Arlington , Virginia , in 2011 . Jin Jiang , along with Thayer Lodging Group , acquired Interstate in 2010 and serves as a valuable resource as Interstate works to extend its reach in China .
MeriStar Hotels & Resorts , to take the company public .
In addition to building up Interstate ’ s assets and guiding it through tough times such as the aftermath of the September 11 attacks , Hewitt focused on improving the quality and sophistication of the company in areas including financial reporting and sales and marketing . “ We partner with the brands , and to do that , you have to be quite sophisticated in your approach ,” he notes .
Perhaps most significantly , Hewitt led Interstate ’ s push into global markets such as Russia , India and China . In 2010 , Interstate was acquired by a joint venture between subsidiaries of
Hewitt and his wife , Kathy , pose with Interstate President and COO Ted Knighton during Interstate ’ s 2012 Global Leadership Conference . a private equity fund sponsored by Thayer Lodging Group and its Chinese partner , Jin Jiang Hotels . Hewitt says the local expertise Jin Jiang brings , for example , is invaluable in a complex market like China . “ You must go into these countries with great sensitivity toward the culture , toward the associates , toward the guests ,” he explains . “ You need to get in there and learn .” “ The third-party management business is not necessarily a global business ,” adds Jim Abrahamson , who joined Interstate as CEO in 2011 . “ Tom has shown a lot of creativity in opening up new markets .”
Supporting role With the arrival of Abrahamson , Hewitt stepped into the background a bit at Interstate , into his current role as chairman of the board . He still maintains an office at the company ’ s Arlington , Virginia , headquarters , however , and works with the board as well as Interstate ’ s partners at Thayer and Jin Jiang — not to mention supporting Abrahamson in his CEO role .
“ We have great respect for each other ,” Hewitt says of his relationship with Abrahamson . “ I ’ m a firm believer that you take a company and you do the best you can with it , and your successor must take it to the next level .”
“ I knew this wouldn ’ t be what one would call a turnaround situation ,” Abrahamson adds . “ This would be a situation where you ’ re taking over for a steady hand , a guy who has guided this company through good and difficult economies and has positioned it for the next generation of growth .”
Hewitt says he has always tried to give people space to carry out ideas and strategies — a philosophy that serves him better than ever now . Knighton also highlights Hewitt ’ s no-nonsense , direct approach to doing business — something he says has contributed to the positive culture at Interstate . “ He is so organized and so to the point that it just makes an impression on you and tends to make you operate the same way ,” Knighton says .
Next generation Hewitt expects to spend the next three or four years continuing to help with the transition at Interstate , and he has high expectations for the company . “ I would be disappointed if the IHR flag isn ’ t in at least 20 countries in the next couple or three years ,” he predicts . “ I think Interstate can really make an impact in some of these regions around the world that just have not had experience with third-party management .”
He is also looking forward to spending more time with his wife , Kathy , and tending to their other investments — not to mention enjoying his four grandkids and hobbies that include leisure travel , skiing and biking — “ bicycle , not Harley ,” he jokes .
Although he is not ready to step back entirely , Hewitt is cognizant of the mark he will leave on the industry . “ Over a career you need to be seen as someone who ’ s honorable , with a high level of integrity and good core values ,” he says . “ I ’ ve developed a good reputation , and that to me is the most valuable thing I have besides my family . Hopefully others can see that , and maybe it will help them . Somebody sees an example of that , and maybe they ’ re going to be a better leader .”
“ If you look at Tom ’ s future , I think he ’ ll help us shape the next generation of leaders in our business ,” Abrahamson agrees . “ We should all be thankful for Tom .”
22 HOTELS November 2012 www . hotelsmag . com