Feet on the Street: Baby, it's Cold Outside!

by Teresa Royer, Member Relations Specialist

I met with Andy Crowel last week; he recently relocated from Texas.  Andy happens to be a native of  Indiana and after an approximately 17 year hiatus while building his career with the Marriott, he has moved back --close to home-- along with his wife – who is NOT a Hoosier, but from Texas.

Andy is the GM of the hotel you see being constructed downtown near the Embassy Theatre--Courtyard by Marriott / Fort Wayne Downtown Convention Center.  I was eager to learn from Andy the progress of the much-awaited hotel we have all been hearing about as a component of the Harrison Square project.

Andy tells me the hotel is expected to be completed fall, 2010.  However, you will find both Andy and his director of sales, Amber, in the offices they have set-up in the Indiana Hotel.

The day I met Andy was December 23—dangeroulsly close to Christmas with an outside temperature of only about 30 degrees.   I didn’t think much about it at the time, when I noticed Andy didn’t have many belongings with him as he entered the Chamber and as we conducted our business meeting.

As he went to leave we shared with each other our plans for the Christmas holiday.  Andy shared with me what was on his Christmas wish list--a coat….

Then it dawned on me that’s why it seemed like he didn’t have many belongings-- he didn’t have a coat to lug around because he’s from Texas where you most likely don’t need one like you do here.  I asked him if he was expecting one from Santa Claus?

I laughed when he said, Santa (a.k.a. his wife) already had delivered the coat and it was under the tree, but he was not allowed to open it until after Christmas!  Until then, he was trying to plan all his meetings as short walks-if he wasn’t able to drive……

So if you run into Andy Crowell before spring time, be sure to welcome him back home to Indiana and of course compliment him on his coat!

P.S.  Did I mention they will also have a restaurant called Champions Sports Bar & Grill?

To learn about the hotel and follow updates contact Andy at 260-490-3629 or visit their website.