Warm wishes for a happy, safe, fun Labor Day weekend.  As always, thank you for sharing your family with ours! 

I love this Country.
~Emily

BlogHer ‘10: Life Well Said starts on Thusrday night, and I’ll be departing the hot and humid Midwest on Thursday for New York City… bright lights, big city… more heat and more humidity!   I can’t wait to meet all the bloggin’ mamas that I’ve become friends with this year… and of course, learn more about how to make www.talkofthecountry.com the very best it can be.  Follow me on twitter (@CountryInns) to see what I’m up to – especially if you’d like to connect. 
The sessions should be fascinating … covering topics ranging from basic HTML and online security, to how to blog for brand-building purposes, to the “Change Agents” sessions with all these wonderful mommybloggers.   And of course, the keynote speakers will be outstanding!

For those of you watching from home, you can follow @BlogherAtHome to feel like you’re in on the action. 

I’m off to the City that Never Sleeps… but after each day of hoofing it around New York City, mingling, mixing and networking, I’m sure to rest easy at night!

I love this Country.
~Emily

CARLSON  CONTINUES EXPANSION OF COUNTRY INNS & SUITES BY CARLSON^SM WITH OPENING OF FIRST BEACHFRONT HOTEL IN TEXAS 

 GALVESTON, Texas (July 9, 2010) – Carlson, a privately-held, global hospitality and travel company, today announced the further expansion of Country Inns & Suites By Carlson^SM in Texas. The opening of Country Inn & Suites, Galveston Beach, Texas marks the brand’s accelerated expansion in the region as part of its Ambition 2015 growth strategy and is the brand’s first beachfront location in the state.

“With 17 Country Inns & Suites hotels in the state and more than 220 locations in the southern United States, the brand has established a strong footprint in the region,” said Steve Mogck, executive vice president and chief operating officer for Country Inns & Suites By Carlson. “We are focused on building momentum in North America and India as we increase our portfolio of hotels over the next five years.”

Country Inns & Suites offers caring, consistent, comfortable hospitality with a touch of home, and many distinctive product and service innovations, such as the Friends Hosting Friends^SM employee training program that has generated tremendous employee engagement scores and high guest satisfaction. 

“We are thrilled to be joining the Country Inns & Suites family and are confident that the consistency, value and leadership of this brand and the Carlson Hotels system will result in a successful future for this hotel,” said Dimplejit Singh, owner and general manager of the Country Inn & Suites, Galveston, Texas. 

The 100 percent non-smoking hotel features an indoor pool and whirlpool, a fitness center and meeting space for up to 20 people.  The 60-room hotel features whirlpool suites, one-bedroom suites, studio suites and guest rooms featuring complimentary wired and wireless high-speed Internet access, microwave, refrigerator and flat panel televisions. 

Galveston is located 55 miles south of Houston. The hotel is on the famous Galveston Seawall Boulevard at 29^th St.

For reservations and information, visit www.countryinns.com or call toll-free +1-800-456-4000.

MINNESOTA HOTELS ADOPT LIFE-SAVING SOAP-RECYCLING PROGRAM

Orlando, FL — Thursday, July 15, 2010 — Owning and operating hotels can be grueling.  But the work can be rewarding when there is an opportunity to give back to others – just ask Jami Pogue, CEO of Southern Hospitality Inc., operator of two Minneapolis-St. Paul area hotels that recently adopted Clean the World’s soap-recycling program. 

“My family grew up in the hospitality industry, cleaning rooms and working the front desk, before we got into management,” said Pogue.  “We always hated throwing the barely used soaps away, and we are thrilled that the soap from our hotels will now go to people in need.”

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CARLSON CONTINUES EXPANSION OF COUNTRY INNS & SUITES BY CARLSON^SM WITH OPENING OF 18^th HOTEL IN TEXAS 

 GEORGETOWN, Texas (July 14, 2010) – Carlson, a privately held, global hospitality and travel company, today announced the further expansion of Country Inns & Suites By Carlson^SM in Texas. The opening of Country Inn & Suites, Georgetown, Texas marks the brand’s expansion in the region as part of its Ambition 2015 growth strategy.

“With 18 Country Inns & Suites hotels in the state and more than 220 locations in the southern United States, the brand has established a strong footprint in the region,” said Steve Mogck, executive vice president and chief operating officer for Country Inns & Suites By Carlson. “We are focused on building momentum in North America and India as we increase our portfolio of hotels over the next five years.”

Country Inns & Suites offers caring, consistent, comfortable hospitality with a touch of home, and many distinctive product and service innovations, such as the Friends Hosting Friends^SM employee training program that has generated tremendous employee engagement scores and high guest satisfaction.  

“We are thrilled to be joining the Country Inns & Suites family and are confident that the consistency, value and leadership of this brand and the Carlson Hotels system will result in a successful future for this hotel,” said Bimal Daftary, owner/partner of the Country Inn & Suites, Georgetown, Texas. 

The 100 percent non-smoking hotel features an outdoor pool and a fitness center.  Theater style meeting space is available for up to 20 people. The 76-room hotel features whirlpool rooms, one-bedroom suites and guest rooms featuring complimentary wired and wireless high-speed Internet access, microwave, refrigerator and flat panel televisions. 

The hotel is conveniently located east of Interstate 35, just 30 miles north of Austin, the capital of Texas. Georgetown is home to Southwestern University, the oldest university in Texas.

For reservations and information, visit www.countryinns.com or call toll-free +1-800-456-4000.

CARLSON HOTELS RAPIDLY EXPANDS COUNTRY INNS & SUITES BY CARLSON^SM WITH OPENING OF 12^th HOTEL IN ALABAMA 

 SARALAND, Ala. (June 16, 2010) – Carlson Hotels, one of the world’s leading hotel companies, today announced the further expansion of Country Inns & Suites By Carlson^SM in Alabama. The opening of Country Inn & Suites Saraland, Ala. marks the brand’s accelerated expansion in the region as part of its Ambition 2015 growth strategy.

“With 12 Country Inns & Suites hotels in the state and more than 220 locations in the southern United States, the brand has established a strong footprint in the region,” said Steve Mogck, executive vice president and chief operating officer for Country Inns & Suites By Carlson. “We are focused on building momentum in North America and India as we increase our portfolio of hotels over the next five years.”

Country Inns & Suites offers caring, consistent, comfortable hospitality with a touch of home, and many distinctive product and service innovations, such as the Friends Hosting Friends^SM employee training program that has generated tremendous employee engagement scores and high overall guest satisfaction. 

“We are thrilled to be joining the Country Inns & Suites family and are confident that the consistency, value and leadership of this brand and the Carlson Hotels system will result in a successful future for this hotel,” said Larry Wright, owner of the Country Inn & Suites, Saraland, Ala. 

The 100 percent non-smoking hotel features an outdoor pool and whirlpool, and a fitness center. The 60-room hotel features one-bedroom suites, extended stay suites and guest rooms featuring complimentary wired and wireless high-speed Internet access, microwave, refrigerator and flat screen televisions. 

The hotel is located 10 miles from downtown Mobile. 

For reservations and information, visit www.countryinns.com or call toll-free +1-800-456-4000.

CARLSON CONTINUES EXPANSION OF COUNTRY INNS & SUITES BY CARLSON^SM WITH OPENING OF 13^th HOTEL IN ALABAMA 

 MADISON, Ala. (July 15, 2010) – Carlson, a privately held, global hospitality and travel company, today announced the further expansion of Country Inns & Suites By Carlson^SM in Alabama. The opening of Country Inn & Suites, Madison, Alabama, marks the brand’s expansion in the region as part of its Ambition 2015 growth strategy.

“With 13 Country Inns & Suites hotels in the state and more than 220 locations in the southern United States, the brand has established a strong footprint in the region,” said Steve Mogck, executive vice president and chief operating officer for Country Inns & Suites By Carlson. “We are focused on building momentum in North America and India as we increase our portfolio of hotels over the next five years.”

Country Inns & Suites offers caring, consistent, comfortable hospitality with a touch of home, and many distinctive product and service innovations, such as the Friends Hosting Friends^SM employee training program that has generated tremendous employee engagement scores and high guest satisfaction.  

“We are thrilled to be joining the Country Inns & Suites family and are confident that the consistency, value and leadership of this brand and the Carlson Hotels system will result in a successful future for this hotel,” said Kiran Patel, owner and GM of the Country Inn & Suites, Madison, Alabama. 

The hotel features an indoor pool, whirlpool and a fitness center. Meeting space is available for up to 45 people. The 64-room hotel features whirlpool rooms, extended stay suites, one-bedroom suites, studio suites, and guest rooms featuring complimentary wired and wireless high-speed Internet access, microwave, refrigerator and flat panel televisions. 

The hotel is less than one mile from Huntsville International Airport.

For reservations and information, visit www.countryinns.com or call toll-free +1-800-456-4000.

St. Peters, Mo. (June 15, 2010) – Carlson Hotels, one of the world’s leading hotel companies, today announced the further expansion of Country Inns & Suites By Carlson^SM in Missouri. The opening of Country Inn & Suites, St. Peters, Mo. marks the brand’s accelerated expansion in the region as part of its Ambition 2015 growth strategy.

“With four Country Inns & Suites hotels in the state and more than 175 locations in the Midwest, the brand has established a strong footprint in the region,” said Steve Mogck, executive vice president and chief operating officer for Country Inns & Suites By Carlson. “We are focused on building momentum in North America and India as we increase our portfolio of hotels over the next five years.”

Country Inns & Suites offers caring, consistent, comfortable hospitality with a touch of home, and many distinctive product and service innovations, such as the Friends Hosting Friends^SM employee training program that has generated tremendous employee engagement scores and high overall guest satisfaction.  

“We are thrilled to be joining the Country Inns & Suites family and are confident that the consistency, value and leadership of this brand and the Carlson Hotels system will result in a successful future for this hotel,” said Dinesh Patel, owner of the Country Inn & Suites, St. Peters, Mo. 

The 100 percent non-smoking hotel features an indoor pool, whirlpool, fitness center, business center and meeting space for up to 50 guests. The 63-room hotel offers studio suites, one-bedroom suites, executive king rooms, whirlpool suites, extended stay suites and guest rooms featuring complimentary wired and wireless high-speed Internet access, microwave, refrigerator and flat screen televisions. 

The hotel is located 12 miles from Lambert-St. Louis International Airport.

For reservations and information, visit www.countryinns.com or call toll-free +1-800-456-4000.

As I drive along the western edge of the Steamtown National Historic Site parking lot, I have no doubt about the focus. On my left looms a row of massive railroad locomotives, mighty machines that relied on steam to create motion. They are an impressive reminder of a bygone age in railroad history, when steam engines ruled the rails in the United States and elsewhere.  By James D. Porterfield
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So many announcements, such little time — what with the 1K Country Adventure earlier this month, I’ve barely had time to post about the other exciting goings-on in our Country!  But today I’m coming at you with the trifecta of new hotels.  I am very pleased to announce the opening of: OKLAHOMA CITY NORTH, OKLAHOMA,  CONCORD, NORTH CAROLINA, and COLUMBIA AT HARBISON, SOUTH CAROLINA!
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