Aug. 9, 2021

This paid piece is sponsored by The Ramkota Companies Inc.

There might not be anyone out there who knows the Best Western Ramkota Plus Hotel and Conference Center as well as Ted Hilleson.

Today, he leads the 223-room hotel as its general manager.

But two decades ago, the Baltic native was “a young guy looking for a job” who started in catering, worked his way up to night manager, assistant general manager and finally the leadership role he holds today.

“That’s why I’ve stayed,” he said. “It’s a good place to work, and the leadership of the company is people you’re happy to work for. I’ve always been treated fairly, and it just worked out.”

Hilleson has some company among the ranks of long-tenured employees at the hotel – many have been there for more than 30 years – but even they have never experienced a year like the past one.

“We hung in and got through it, and there was a lot of support here, which was very important,” he said.

In many ways, the timing couldn’t have been worse.

The 56-year-old hotel at 3200 W. Maple St. was just finishing up a massive renovation when the pandemic hit.

All guest rooms had been torn down to the shell and completely redone with new fixtures and furnishings.

The 60,000 square feet of meeting space had been entirely renovated, with new carpet, lighting and audiovisual upgrades.

And, in a matter of days, suddenly there was barely anyone to use any of it.

“The timing was terrible,” Hilleson said. “But now it’s coming back to normal. And guests like it. It was definitely time for us to renovate.”

This summer has brought a lot of leisure travelers, he said. Weekends have been strong with families and sports-related travel.

Some groups that annually use the hotel and conference center for travel and events are starting to call again.

“And that’s great, but we still have some who are hesitant,” Hilleson said. “The thing to remember is we do have some large spaces. So we’re able to provide distancing for groups that would like it. We’re happy to accommodate and let our groups take the lead. We can handle everything from a group of 10 in a meeting room to up to 2,000 in the exhibit hall.”

The Best Western Ramkota Plus is filled with amenities – including two restaurants, which have adjusted hours somewhat but also are going back to some pre-pandemic offerings. The weekday lunch buffet is back at the Maple Street Cafe, now served rom 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

You’ll also find an outdoor pool – “which is pretty rare these days” – and an indoor waterpark with a play land and 130-foot water slide.

“And we have some additional improvements coming to the indoor pool area,” Hilleson said.

“I think we offer a little bit of everything between the two pool areas, the meeting space, our lounge, restaurants — we can basically cater to any guest, from corporate to leisure travel.”

What the Ramkota could use, though, is more help. The hotel and conference center has multiple openings for everything from housekeepers to event and catering staff.

“It’s across the board,” Hilleson said. “Almost every department could use some help. And it’s a good company to work for. It’s an established hotel with a lot of longtime employees, so we’re lucky to have their experience, and others can learn from them.”

Additionally, because The Ramkota Companies is structured as an ESOP, or employee stock ownership program, employees are able to share in the hotel and company’s success.

“The ESOP is really valuable,” Hilleson said. “It’s definitely another reason we encourage people to consider this opportunity. Whether you’re experienced in our industry or not, you’re going to find a team here that will support you and your growth.”

The Best Western Ramkota is a signature hotel within the company, president Josh Schmaltz said.

“Many people associate our entire company with that one hotel because of the name, when in fact The Ramkota Companies actually includes more than 40 hotels, but this one absolutely reflects our values, our roots and our commitment to hospitality,” he said.

“We’re so happy to see it entering its next generation with a completely updated look and feel excited to see guests returning in such strong numbers.”

Considering a corporate event? There are a lot of options, Hilleson said.

“We invite you to reach out and come see what’s new and improved here,” he said. “We expect group and corporate business will continue to come back, so we’d like to visit with you sooner than later to make sure we can accommodate you in every way.”

To learn more about the Best Western Ramkota Plus, click here or call 605-336-0650.