Bavarian Inn Lodge President Honored by Michigan Lodging and Tourism Association

March 24, 2015 - PRLog -- Judy Zehnder Keller, the force behind the creation and success of the Bavarian Inn Lodge, (http://www.bavarianinn.com/stay/) has been chosen as the RD Musser Hotelier of the Year by the Michigan Lodging and Tourism Association (http://www.milodging.org/).  Although this is the first year that it bears the Musser name, the hotelier of the year award is presented annually to “a visionary owner or general manager” in the state of Michigan who has:

Maintained the highest standards of inn keeping over the expanse of his/her career.
Continually sought to surpass expectations by mentoring rising associate stars and developing new practices that positively impact the guest experience.
Recognized the importance of striking a balance between property/staff investment and long term viability and profits.
Been a volunteer who has contributed time, effort and resources to the betterment of the community and the greater industry that he/she serves.

The award was presented at the Star of the Industry Awards Dinner held Monday evening, March 23^rd in conjunction with the Pure Michigan Governor’s Conference on Tourism at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel in Grand Rapids.  In receiving the award, Zehnder Keller noted that her credo is to try to make every stay memorable for every guest and that she fully believes that the effort begins with every single staff member. “If we can have fun and create enjoyable experiences among ourselves, it naturally flows that we are better able to create enjoyable experiences for our guests,” she said.

Zehnder Keller is known for her dogged determination to respond to the voice of the customer and stay ahead of accommodation trends that are important to the multi-generational family groups that are the Lodge’s target demographic. Why else would she pursue six major project investments since the 1986 opening of one of America’s largest Bavarian-themed resorts and conference centers?

“Let our family serve your family,” is not just a slogan for Zehnder Keller. The Bavarian Inn organization is something she has been a part of since childhood.  Often telling people she is simply following the example of her 93-year-old mother, Dorothy, who she sees as teacher, mother, role model, philanthropist, activist, mentor and business leader and who still works in the Bavarian Inn kitchen. Zehnder Keller has built her life on the foundation of service that her parents began in the 1950’s with the Bavarian Inn Restaurant. She officially began working at the restaurant at the age of 14 and worked in a variety of roles for 25 years before building the Bavarian Inn Lodge.

In a fourth generational business, Zehnder Keller has served thousands of families who have made the Bavarian Inn Lodge Trip Advisor’s® highest ranked and most reviewed family resort in Michigan with currently over 2575 reviews. When she learned of the distinction, she simply stated: “The ranking is important because it is determined by guests and there is no greater reward than exceeding your customers’ expectations.”

Zehnder Keller is a pioneer and role model with a long line of “firsts:” first female Frankenmuth City Council Member where she served for 12 years; first female Rotary Club member in 1991 and then president in 2007-08. She continues to mentor men and women inside and outside the corporation.

Her numerous awards include statewide recognition as an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year (2002).  Zehnder Keller also ranked 10th out of 200 national finalists in Start Up Nation’s 2011 Leading Mothers in Business competition. In 2012, Zehnder Keller, along with daughter Martha Zehnder Keller, made history by receiving Michigan State University’s prestigious “Industry Leader of the Year” and “Emerging Leader of the Year” awards, becoming the first mother and daughter to claim the honors presented by The School of Hospitality Business at MSU. She also received the Jaycees top honor – the 2011 Herbert L. Keinath Distinguished Service Award – given for selfless contributions to the local community.

Zehnder Keller attended Michigan State University where she received a M.A. in Educational Psychology and a B.A. in Hotel, Restaurant & Institutional Management.

Today, Frankenmuth is visited by over 3 million tourists each year. The Bavarian Inn Restaurant and Lodge are important to the Michigan economy, employing hundreds of workers and keeping tourism dollars in the state; the Bavarian Inn is the largest consumer of Michigan agricultural products.

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About the Bavarian Inn Lodge (http://www.bavarianinn.com/): The Bavarian Inn Lodge, nestled along the Cass River in one of Michigan’s top tourist destinations – Frankenmuth – is one of the state’s largest Indoor Water Park Hotels! The Lodge has 360 European-themed guest rooms, including whirlpool and family suites, an adult-only pool and whirlpool, two gift shops, two lounges and two restaurants -- all under one roof. The expansive 35,000 square feet Family Fun Center houses two dramatic waterslides, three pools and two whirlpools, over 100 video and redemption games, a two-story children’s play village and Willy’s Kingdom indoor mini-golf course. Guests can also enjoy live, year round, nightly entertainment and test their own musical skills during weekend family karaoke shows. In 29 years of business, the Bavarian Inn Lodge has been an important destination for travelers, evidenced by the 1.25 million room-nights that have been booked there since its opening, along with its top rating on TripAdvisor®.

The Michigan Lodging & Tourism Association was formed in 1905 and while it has undergone a variety of name changes, it has always been the only statewide trade association representing Michigan's lodging and tourism industries. MLTA represents hundreds of hotels, motels, resorts, and bed & breakfasts, comprising over 50,000 guest rooms. MLTA membership also includes categories for allied/suppliers, convention and visitor bureaus, colleges and universities, students, attractions and transportation operators. Headquartered in Lansing, the MLTA provides a full range of association services. To learn more, go to: http://www.milodging.org/

Media contact: Sue Voyles, 734-667-2005    sue@logos-communications.com (mailto:sue@logos-communications.com)