ClippsTV CEO Juergen Biefang sits down to help employee Andre Pfenning set up communications equipment for Hampton Inn Wheeling employees. (Photo by Emma Delk)
BUILDING – The success of the Hampton Inn Wheeling attracted the attention of the Hilton brand and made the hotel part of the 2023 World Convention in Las Vegas.
The conference, which will have more than 5,000 visitors, will take place at the end of August. During the event, the Hampton Inn Wheeling will feature in one of the featured Hilton model properties.
Companies ClippsTV and ThinkUp are working on behalf of Hampton and Hilton to interview the employees who make up the hospitality foundation that runs Hampton properties. Michael Allard, owner of Think Up, explained that finding out why the hotel was at the top of the Hilton brand was important to them.
The hotel’s honest character is what Juergen Biefang, CEO of ClippsTV, says he wants to capture. A video production company interviews employees at the Hampton Inn Wheeling, who they believe are responsible for the hotel’s hospitality.
The hotel is no stranger to awards, as Hampton Inn Wheeling has received eight Connie Awards over the past 10 years, an honor given to the best hotel within each branch of the Hilton family of hotels. The awards enabled the hotel to have a role in the event.
The convention seemed far removed from the hotel Wednesday, as the fun atmosphere and friendly service of the staff reflected the hotel’s honest personality that has been the key to Hampton Inn Wheeling’s success.
While the video production crew set up their equipment in the lobby, customers ate breakfast, and the crew went about business as usual. Despite the chaos, no guests were neglected, showing the service that the staff brought to the hotel.
The workers stayed at the hotel Tuesday and Wednesday nights, talking with the workers and spending the rest of their time enjoying the natural environment of Wheeling.
Biefang and his staff hope to find the “something special” that has won the Hampton Inn Wheeling’s many awards.
“There are a handful of hotels that we choose, and eight Connie Awards, you don’t get that overnight,” Biefang said.
The staff will create video clips of successful Hampton hotels around the world that will be shown at the conference. The crew started in Turkey, and the Hampton Inn Wheeling was the first of three US Hampton hotels that the crew would visit.
Biefang says that what made the Wheeling location stand out on the world stage was its strong success in customer reviews and sales results.
Biefang explains that there are different ways in which Hilton Brand hotels reflect the true personality that customers want to have.
The authenticity of Hampton Inn Wheeling is found in interactions with staff that go beyond a simple “Hello” and “How are you?” Biefang says the interaction between staff and customers at the hotel is unique, without script, which reflects the genuine personality that has captured the attention of the Hilton brand around the world.
Biefang believes that real interaction is what sets Hampton Inn Wheeling apart.
“The staff here really mean what they say,” he said. “To be authentic, you have to open your heart and open your personality, I mean. That’s what people do here.”
Jack Poling, general manager of the Hampton Inn Wheeling, was excited about the hotel’s international recognition.
“It’s a lot of fun, it’s a great thing to be a part of,” Poling said. “This realization shows that it doesn’t matter where you are and that you can do great things anywhere.”
