Indianapolis General Hotels Corporation Appoints J.W.(Bill) Ernst as Director of Hotel Development

Sept. 14, 2011 - PRLog -- Mr. Ernst will be responsible for securing new hotel management opportunities, acquisition of existing hotels seeking hotel management services and developing additional opportunities in the marketplace.

Most recently Mr. Ernst has specialized in Investment Real Estate Asset Management with Charter Commercial Realty Group and previously served as VP of Business Development, Commercial Real Estate Division for Huntington National Bank. Mr. Ernst’s extensive experience in the commercial investment real estate markets includes acquisition, brokerage, development, financing, investments, and asset management in retail, commercial, multi-family, commerce centers and hotel development. Additionally, Mr. Ernst was the original founder of what is now known as the Lauth Property Group having formed that company in 1976 with Terry Eaton under the name Ernst/Eaton & Associates and later sold his interest in that company in 1984.

About General Hotels Corporation
General Hotels Corporation is an Indianapolis based hotel management company with a reputation for progressive and successful management. General Hotels Corporation operates 12 hotels representing 1,819 hotel rooms throughout Indiana. In Indianapolis these properties include Crowne Plaza at Historic Union Station, Crowne Plaza Indianapolis Airport, Homewood Suites by Hilton-Keystone at the Crossing, Staybridge Suites Fishers and Holiday Inn Express South. Throughout Indiana, General Hotels Corporation operates Homewood Suites by Hilton and Hampton Inn in Lafayette, Courtyard by Marriott in Kokomo, Holiday Inn and SpringHill Suites by Marriott in Terre Haute, Hampton Inn in Scottsburg and Holiday Inn in Columbus. Visit GenHotels.com for more information.


“Bill brings a wealth of experience and knowledge of commercial investment real estate markets to our team,” said General Hotels Corporation president and chief executive officer, Jim Dora, Jr.  “His appointment will, no doubt, play a critical role in our organization’s strategy to expand its management portfolio,” continued Dora.
“We couldn’t be more pleased and excited to have Bill on our team.”

As an active supporter of the Indianapolis community, Mr. Ernst has served as Interim Director of Planning and Economic Development for the City of Carmel, under former Mayor Ted Johnson.  He also served as President and Board Member of the Carmel/Clay Education Foundation, one of the founding committee members to form the Hamilton County Alliance, and one of the original committee members of the Carmel / Clay Community Foundation, which is now merged with the Legacy Fund. Mr. Ernst was appointed by Mayor William H. Hudnut and served as Board Member and Chairman of the Design Review Committee for the Regional Center Planning for Downtown Indianapolis. Mr. Ernst is a licensed real estate broker for the state of Indiana and a current member of the National Association of Realtors and The Institute of Real Estate Management.

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General Hotels Corporation offers provides a full range of progressive hotel management services for full, select service and extended stay hotels.