Consumer >> CEO Interviews >> April 6, 2000

Meristar Hospitality Corporation (mhx)

JOHN EMERY is chief executive officer of Great Wolf Resorts, Inc. He joined the company in January 2004 and successfully completed its IPO in December 2004. Previously, he was president and chief operating officer of Interstate Hotels & Resorts, the nations' largest independent third- party management company. Prior to that, Mr. Emery was the president and chief operating officer of MeriStar Hospitality Corporation, the nation's third largest real estate investment trust. A certified public accountant, he is a former senior manager with the accounting firm, Deloitte & Touche, LLP. Mr. Emery holds a bachelor's degree from the Pamplin College of Business at Virginia Tech. He serves on the Pamplin College of Business advisory council at Virginia Tech, and is executive director of Stone Circle Foundation, a private, non-profit organization that addresses women and children in need. Profile
TWST: Could we start out with a quick overview and history of MeriStar,

just to set the stage for our readers?

Mr. Emery: MeriStar is the third largest hotel REIT in the US. It's also

the only