O'Brien to manage Best Western Plus Coeur d'Alene Inn & Conference Center

Hagadone Hospitality has named Mike O'Brien as general manager of The Best Western Plus Coeur d'Alene Inn & Conference Center.

O'Brien, formerly general manager of the Holiday Inn Express in Coeur d'Alene, is a graduate of ITT Technical Institute, and a 10-year former employee of The Coeur d'Alene Resort, where he started as a bellman, became a valet/doorman and was promoted to front services manager. He then became part of the management team at the Skamania Resort. He has spent the past 15 years in the hospitality industry and received several major awards.

"Mike does an outstanding job, and we're excited to have him join the team," said Jerry Jaeger, president and co-owner of Hagadone Hospitality, which owns and operates the property.

"I've had my eye on Mike for a good many years and have long felt that at some point we would be fortunate to have him re-join our organization."

O'Brien is active in several community organizations, including the NIC Booster Club, EXCEL Foundation, the Kootenai Humane Society and the Coeur d'Alene Chamber of Commerce and the Coeur d'Alene Convention and Visitors Bureau. He and his wife, Alison, have two children - Gabriel, 8, and Lily, 5. O'Brien enjoys golfing, hunting and the outdoors.

"This is a great opportunity to learn and grow as a professional with a world-class organization," O'Brien said. "I intend to achieve success from the inside out, since I firmly believe my employees come first. My new staff and I will have a lot of fun together and accomplish great things."

The Best Western Plus Coeur d'Alene Inn & Conference Center, located near Appleway and Highway 95, has 123 newly renovated guest rooms and 13,000 square feet of convention and meeting space, along with a full bar, sports lounge and restaurant.

The Inn also has access to the new swimming pool complex at The Coeur d'Alene Resort Golf Course, as well as preferred privileges at The Coeur d'Alene Resort Golf Course, The Resort Spa, Lake Coeur d'Alene Cruises and all of the other regional amenities of Hagadone Hospitality.

Weddings at the new Hagadone Events Center can also be booked in conjunction with receptions at the Best Western Plus Coeur d'Alene Inn & Conference Center.

Information: (208) 765-3200 or www.cdainn.com.

kNIFVES meeting is June 9 at Cd'A Resort's Shore Lounge

kNIFVES (Northwest Independent Film & Video Entertainment Society) will meet at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, June 9, at The Coeur d'Alene Resort Shore Lounge.

Winners of the 2011 Short Film Screenwriting Contest will be announced, and prizes will be awarded. The grand prize winner will have a chance to pitch their winning script to the attendees.

Screening of the 30-second commercial PSA "Break the Cycle" that kNIFVES produced for the Post Falls Police Department and O.A.S.I.S. program will be shown.

The meeting is free to first-time visitors. Free parking is available with validation.

Information: kNIFVES.org RSVP: tdawnrichard@gmail.com.

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