DALLAS/FORT WORTH – Mike Deitemeyer, President, Omni Hotels & Resorts, speaks with KERA host Lee Cullum on this month’s episode of CEO. The head of the Irving-based luxury hotel and resort brand discusses the opening of the company’s new Dallas Convention Center hotel. Learn how early bookings at the taxpayer-funded property are surpassing projections and quieting some critics opposed to building the controversial city-owned hotel. Deitemeyer states, “One of the things that is exciting about this project is the common objective of this hotel having a sense of the community. We wanted this hotel to be Dallas. As we talked to the city, we found out that we were all perfectly aligned.” Deitemeyer also shares the company’s growth strategy for expansion beyond Omni’s 50 North American properties.

KERA’s CEO features insightful discussions with successful North Texas business leaders from the corporate and not-for-profit sectors about what it takes to make a company successful in today’s global marketplace and changing economy. The December episode featuring Mike Deitemeyer airs at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 30, 2011, on KERA TV with rebroadcasts at 11:30 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 1, and at 10:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 2, 2012. CEO also can be heard at 5 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 1, 2012, on KERA FM. Following the initial on-air broadcast, the half-hour program will be available on www.kera.org/ceo. Previous CEO episodes are available on demand at www.kera.org/ceo.

CEO is sponsored by Southwest Securities, the Executive Education Center at The University of Texas at Dallas, The Berry Firm and Sewell Automotive Companies. For more information about Omni Hotels & Resorts, visit www.omnihotels.com.

ABOUT MIKE DEITEMEYER

Mike Deitemeyer is the current president of Omni Hotels & Resorts, which offers luxury accommodations at 50 hotels and resorts in leading business gateways and leisure destinations across North America. Since his appointment in July 2004, Deitemeyer has established the company as a leading hotel brand known for delivering superior quality, award-winning service and exceptional guest experiences.

Under Deitemeyer’s leadership, Omni Hotels & Resorts has been ranked Highest in Guest Satisfaction Among Upscale Hotel Chains in the J.D. Power and Associates North America Hotel Guest Satisfaction Study four times since 2000, including 2010. The brand is frequently recognized by top consumer research organizations such as Harris Interactive’s most recent EquiTrends® report which ranked Omni as the Top Luxury Hotel Brand in 2011.

A graduate of Fitchburg State College in Massachusetts, Deitemeyer earned his degree in business with a concentration in accounting.

ABOUT CEO

Host Lee Cullum conducts insightful discussions with successful North Texas business leaders from the corporate and not-for-profit sectors about what it takes to make a company successful in today’s global marketplace and changing economy. CEO episodes are available on-demand at www.kera.org/ceo.

ABOUT KERA

KERA is a not-for-profit public media organization that serves the people of North Texas. The station broadcasts to the fourth-largest population area in the United States. KERA produces original multimedia content, carries the best in national and international public television and radio programs, and provides online resources at www.kera.org. The station’s extensive coverage of the arts can be found at www.artandseek.org. KERA-TV broadcasts on Channel 13.1. KERA WORLD broadcasts on 13.2. KERA-FM broadcasts on 90.1 in Dallas/Fort Worth/Denton, 88.3 in Wichita Falls, 100.1 in Tyler and 99.3 in Sherman. The music station KXT 91.7 FM is also streamed online at www.kxt.org.

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CONTACT:

Christopher Wagley

Director, Marketing & Communications

KERA, KXT and Art&Seek

cwagley@kera.org

214-740-9377