Mike Leven, president and chief executive officer of U.S. Franchise Systems, Inc. and the first industry expert to occupy the Tiefel Professorial Chair at Johnson & Wales University, toured the University's campuses to assist in the education of thousands of students in the Hospitality programs through a lecture series.

Leven told students in Providence that customer satisfaction is the key to a successful business. "Every business starts with one customer," he said. "The business' goal is to make that customer happy and acquire more and more customers."

He went on to say that not every business holds that philosophy and that pleasing your boss and not your end customer is only satisfying in the short-run. "Over the years, more people have been worried with satisfying their boss," Leven said. "You and the company you work for are only going to be successful if your boss is more concerned with satisfying the customer over himself or herself." Leven used examples from his own business life to provide students with the keys to running a successful business, be it a restaurant, hotel or other kind of organization.

U.S. Franchise Systems, Inc. (USFS) is the parent company of the franchisor of the Microtel Inns & Suites brand, the Hawthorn Suites brand, and the Best Inns and Best Suites brand.

"Our students got a wealth of knowledge from his visit," said Richard Brush, dean of the Hospitality College on the Providence Campus. "We are grateful that he has been able to share his experiences with tomorrow's hospitality leaders."

Other topics Leven touched upon while in Charleston and North Miami were interviewing techniques, different positions available in the hospitality industry, hiring policies, and franchising brands. An industry breakfast and lunch with the faculty on each campus rounded out the tour. He will visit the Denver campus in the fall.

Leven has spent his entire career in the hotel industry. Before founding USFS, he was president and chief operating officer of Holiday Inn Worldwide, and has also been president of Days Inn of America. Noted for his trend-setting work in hotel franchising, his philosophy has long been 'The Franchisee Is Our Customer' and his personal guarantee of fairness, honesty and support is the backbone of the business. For more information, visit www.usfsi.com.

In October 2003, the University dedicated its first professorial chair to Bill Tiefel, vice chairman retired, Marriott International Inc., and chairman emeritus of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, with an investiture ceremony last fall. The Chair is part of The Hospitality College.

The Hospitality College at Johnson & Wales boasts the largest enrollment nationally of students preparing for careers in international hotel and tourism management, hotel management, food and beverage management, sports/entertainment/event management and travel-tourism management. Students are currently enrolled in undergraduate and graduate degree programs in hospitality.

Johnson & Wales — America's Career University® — was founded in 1914. It is a private, non-profit, accredited institution offering undergraduate and graduate degree programs in business, food service, hospitality and technology. With an enrollment of nearly 16,000 students, Johnson & Wales maintains campuses in Providence, R.I., Charleston, S.C., Norfolk, Va., North Miami, Fla., and Denver, Colo. A new Charlotte, N.C., campus opens in September 2004. For more information about Johnson & Wales University, visit www.jwu.edu.

Source:US Franchise Systms, Inc