Business Spotlight: Myer Hotels racks up award-winning Branson properties

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Thinking about taking a little weekend getaway to Branson this summer? If you are, you may find yourself staying in a hotel owned by the Myer family. |ret||ret||tab|

Carroll and Janice Myer, who founded Myer Hotels Inc., first got into the hotel business back in 1967, when they purchased a small hotel in O'Neil, Neb. |ret||ret||tab|

During the next several years, the Myers moved around the United States, purchasing and running hotels in Branson; Rolla; Julesburg, Colo; and in Harrison, Mountain Home and Fayetteville, Ark. |ret||ret||tab|

In the early 1980s, the Myers returned to Branson and purchased a hotel. |ret||ret||tab|

Over the next several years, they sold their other hotels and began buying and building hotels in the Branson area, which was rapidly evolving into a popular tourist destination. |ret||ret||tab|

In time, the Myers' two sons and their wives joined the family business. |ret||ret||tab|

Several years ago, they took over the day-to-day operations of the company's four hotels, which employ approximately 150 people. |ret||ret||tab|

Carroll and Janice Myer are consultants to the company, while their son Chris Myer serves as vice president of marketing. His wife Sonja works part-time as the company's bookkeeper. |ret||ret||tab|

The Myers' other son, Gail, serves as vice president of operations, and his wife Maryann serves as the company's controller. |ret||ret||tab|

Currently, the Myer family owns the Best Western Center Pointe Inn, the Best Western Music Capital Inn, the Rodeway Inn and the Comfort Inn Thousand Hills in Branson. |ret||ret||tab|

Later this summer, Myer Hotels will open a new Comfort Inn and Suites in Branson Meadows. |ret||ret||tab|

According to Chris Myer, the Comfort Inn and Suites not only is the first new hotel to be built in the area since the mid 1990s, it's also the first hotel to be built in Branson Meadows, which is being developed by Marvin and Ivy Motley. |ret||ret||tab|

The new, four-story hotel will contain at least 28 oversized suites and 101 rooms. It will be located within walking distance of Branson's proposed convention center. |ret||ret||tab|

The hotel, which has a mountain lodge theme, also will provide guests with a spectacular view of the surrounding area. |ret||ret||tab|

"Branson doesn't have a lot of suite properties," Chris Myer said. "By building the Comfort Inn and Suites, we hope to appeal to a growing market niche."|ret||ret||tab|

Appealing to different market niches has helped Myer Hotels grow over the years. |ret||ret||tab|

In addition to holding three different hotel franchises Rodeway Inn, Best Western and Comfort Inn the Myer family has located each hotel in a different section of Branson. |ret||ret||tab|

Many of these hotels have received awards. The Rodeway Inn was recently selected as a finalist for Rodeway Inn of the Year by Choice Hotels. |ret||ret||tab|

Choice Hotels also named the Comfort Inn as a finalist for its Comfort Inn of the Year award twice and selected it to receive its Gold Award seven times. |ret||ret||tab|

The Best Western Music Capital Inn has earned the Chairman's Award, the highest award given by Best Western, and the Best Western Center Pointe Inn is Missouri's most requested Best Western hotel.|ret||ret||tab|

Still, business volume does come into play when a company is doing business in a town that boasts more than 180 hotels and motels. |ret||ret||tab|

In fact, some people believe Branson already has too many hotels, and hotel room rates in the area now run $20 below the national average. |ret||ret||tab|

"When choosing a destination, visitors normally focus on what the destination has to offer and the experience instead of which hotel has the cheapest rate," Chris Myer said. |ret||ret||tab|

"Hotel selection is secondary. Our company focuses on providing high quality and good value to those who come to Branson," he added.|ret||ret||tab|

Part of Myer Hotels' commitment to quality has seen the company make significant upgrades and renovations to its existing properties. |ret||ret||tab|

Quality also is the bottom line when it comes to constructing new hotels, such as the new Comfort Inn and Suites.|ret||ret||tab|

"We pay particular attention to things like soundproofing features," said Chris Myer. "We also try to include other features, such as adjoining doors between rooms, because we know that feature is important to some of our guests. It costs us a little more to build it that way, but you reap the benefits in the long term."|ret||ret||tab|

In an effort to provide better service, Myer Hotels surveys guests and incorporates their feedback. |ret||ret||tab|

The Myers also belong to several organizations that help them keep pace with industry trends and changing consumer demands. |ret||ret||tab|

Chris Myer serves as president of the Missouri Hotel and Motel Association and sits on the board of the Branson Lodging Association. |ret||ret||tab|

Gail Myer, in turn, serves as a governor for Best Western, acting as a liaison between individual hotel owners and the corporate office. He also serves on the company's marketing advisory council.|ret||ret||tab|

Currently, the Myers are gearing up as the tourist season gets under way in Branson. |ret||ret||tab|

Although gas prices have increased, the Myers believe higher prices at the pump will encourage more people who live in the Midwest to choose Branson as their vacation destination, and they don't anticipate a decline in hotel occupancy.|ret||ret||tab|

"Gas prices are about the same as they were a year ago, and it didn't hurt us then," Chris Myer said. "Besides, summer isn't the only time we're busy. Believe it or not, Branson's busiest month is November."|ret||ret||tab|

Still, the Myers are advertising in a number of different venues, including print media, billboards and directly to vacation wholesalers and tour groups. In addition, each of their hotels will be promoted by their respective franchise. |ret||ret||tab|

Myer Hotels also is in the process of upgrading its Web site at |bold_on|www.myerhotels.com. |ret||ret||tab|

"Really, our biggest challenges now are being more productive without increasing our costs and figuring out how we can continue to grow as a company," Chris Myer said. |ret||ret||tab|

"There's not a lot of room for additional growth in the hotel industry in Branson right now. If the company is going to continue to grow, we may have to consider opening hotels in an area other than Branson," he added.[[In-content Ad]]