Indiana Hoteliers: Meet the people behind the hospitality.

• Author: Kronemyer, Bob
• Position: Hotels & Resorts

DORA BROTHERS

Dora Brothers Hospitality Corp. in Anderson was started in 1986 by Tim and Bob Dora, nephews of another Indiana hotelier, General Hotels Corp.'s Jim Dora.

"We began with the Holiday Inn in Anderson," Tim Dora says. Today, Dora Brothers Hospitality operates nine properties, all but one in Indiana. Three hotels are in Fishers and one each in Anderson, Plainfield, Indianapolis, South Bend and Shelbyville. Brands include Hampton Inn and Comfort Inn & Suites. The company also operates a Holiday Inn Express in Algonquin, Illinois, near Chicago. There are a total of 990 rooms systemwide.

"Bob and I are both very hands-on," Dora says. "We are very involved in day-to-day operations. Bob is a much better speaker than I am, but I'm probably stronger on the financial side. Overall, it's been a great relationship."

Within the next year, the company plans to open a Holiday Inn Express in Fort Wayne, a Hilton Garden Inn in Carmel and a Hampton Inn & Suites in McHenry, Illinois, also near Chicago. "Our properties tend to be limited-service hotels," says Dora. "We only have three full-service hotels." In addition, the corporation sets aside monthly funds to "aggressively remodel. It's important to us that our hotels are kept in tiptop condition. I talk to every general manager every day."

DUNN HOSPITALITY

Before launching Dunn Hospitality Group in Evansville in 1977, John M. Dunn was chairman of a long-term-care company with 28 facilities. During his tenure, the firm purchased the McCurdy Hotel in Evansville, which eventually was converted into a residential center for senior citizens.

Today, Dunn Hospitality Group manages 15 properties--all but one in Indiana--with a total of about 2,500 rooms. The multi-branded company (Holiday Inn Express, Hampton Inn, Comfort Inn, Red Roof Inn Fairfield Inns by Marriott, Residence Inns by Marriott, Courtyards by Marriott) has properties in Evansville, Princeton, Terre Haute, Indianapolis, Bloomington, Columbus, Anderson and Fort Wayne. The company also operates a Hampton Inn in Mammoth Cave, Kentucky. A 150-room Courtyard by Marriott at the Louisville airport is scheduled to open next April.

"I suspect that our growth over the next five years will come from mergers and acquisitions," Dunn says. Meanwhile, "no two days are the same. You interact with people from all walks of life. It is absolutely intriguing."

The company's corporate mission, which was developed by its associates, conveys "that we are in...