About

Our Mission is to maximize the hotel owner’s return on investment. We accomplish this by hiring and training the best employees, and remaining flexible to accommodate individual guest needs while ensuring an attractive, safe, comfortable, and clean facility all at a competitive value.

Cornerstone Hotel Management: A Commitment to Excellence. Satisfied Clients.

That satisfaction has been the cornerstone of President R. Brian Brandstetter’s vision for Cornerstone Hotel Management, Inc. Since 1996, the Cornerstone team has been meeting and exceeding goals while constantly striving for excellence. Whether creating marketing plans, developing occupancy-enhancing strategies, or improving GOPs, Brian and his team stay true to their mission. Integrity, service, and dedication remain the foundation of Cornerstone Hotel Management.

Opened:

• Fairfield Inn – Madison, WI: December, 1988.
• Hampton Inn – Appleton, WI: May, 1993.
• Sleep Inn – Rockford, IL: June, 1999.

Developed and Opened:

• Holiday Inn Express – DeForest, WI: July, 1997.
• Country Inn & Suites – Stevens Point, WI: September, 1999.
• Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites – Fort Atkinson, WI: July, 2000.
• Comfort Inn – Wittenberg, WI: May, 2002.
• Best Western Sparta Trail Lodge – Sparta, WI: August, 2002.
• Comfort Inn & Suites – DeForest, WI: June, 2006
• Best Western – South Beloit, IL : June, 2007
• Country Inn & Suites – Fort Atkinson – September 2018
• Holiday Inn Express – Sauk City – November 2022
• Holiday Inn Express – DeForest *new location* – Opening 2024

Renovated :

• Best Western InnTowner – Madison, WI:  2013-2014.  Oversaw the $1,600,000 renovation
• Radisson Hotel – Madison, WI:  Handled all aspects from franchise negotiations, to design selection and implementation of this $2,300,000 renovation completed in 2013.
• Holiday Inn Express – Fort Atkinson, WI: Completed $750,000 renovation in 2012 and $1,800,000 renovation in 2023.
• Country Inn and Suites – Stevens Point, WI:  Handled the entire $650,000 full renovation completed in 2012
• Holiday Inn Express – DeForest, WI:  Oversaw the entire PIP process while completing $550,000 renovation in 2009-2010.
• Comfort Inn & Suites – DeForest, WI – Completed $600,000 renovation in 2019

Converted:

• Safe Harbour Inn to Villager Lodge – Fond du Lac, WI: April, 2001.
• Exel Inn to Econo Lodge – Sioux Falls, SD: August, 2001.
• Comfort Inn to Rodeway Inn & Suites – Tomahawk, WI: March 2008.

Turned Around:

• Ramada Inn Capital Conference Center – Madison, WI: September, 1996.
• Ramada Inn – Mount Prospect, IL: July, 2005.
• Atlantis Waterpark Hotel – Wisconsin Dells, WI: January, 2010.
• Radisson Hotel – Madison, WI: June 2011.
• Candlewood Suites – Wausau/Rothschild, WI: June 2012
• Best Western InnTowner & Highland Corner Grill – Madison, WI September 2012

Profitability:

• Best Western Plus InnTowner – Madison, WI: First full year of operations increased revenue by $176,000 and decreased expenses 6.2%.
• Candlewood Suites – Wausau, WI: Increased revenue by 145% in the 14 months we operated the hotel increasing revenue from $982,158 to $1,425,316 year over year ending August, 2013.
• Radisson Hotel – Madison, WI: Brought the hotel to its first year of profitability in 8 years the second year we managed the hotel while overseeing complete renovation in 2013.
• Best Western Sparta Trail Lodge – Sparta, WI: Penetrated market at over 120% after just six months. Return on Investment of over 40% for 5 years running.
• Holiday Inn Express – DeForest, WI: Property has had impressive returns from the first year on.  Average ROI 18% annually since 1997.
• Country Inn & Suites – Stevens Point, WI: Penetrated market at over 123% after one year of operation. Averge ROI 17.5% since 2000.
• Comfort Inn – Tomahawk, WI: Increased revenue and decreased expenses by implementing sound yield management and intensive cost controls.

Cornerstone Hotel Management is a Midwestern hotel developer and management company with years of experience helping banks secure an asset by providing assistance while wading through the waters of foreclosure. With years of experience in stabilizing distressed properties, Cornerstone has gained experience and knows what to do to turn a bad situation into a better situation.

With experience in franchise and bank negotiations, Cornerstone can give the bank the piece of mind while transitioning through this process with the franchise. Our experienced professionals provide the expertise to not only identify why the asset got into trouble in the first place but to steer the hotel back to the right course for profitability.

The goal of hotel asset management is to advise the client on the market conditions, operational shortcomings, financial obstacles and other elements that led to the situation and create a Business Plan to help in the sale of the asset or in turning the hotel around.

Receivership Takeover Process

• Secure the property’s bank accounts, credit card accounts, and on-site cash.
• Provide the lender with a detailed walkthrough of the strengths and weaknesses of the asset.
• Ensure Human Resource guidelines are in place to protect the lender from employment legalities.
• Evaluate all Life Safety issues with corrective action if necessary.
• Take on the role of liaison between the franchise, current clients, and current vendors to ensure a smooth transition.
• Attend all mandatory Court Appearances.
• Develop an ongoing Sales and Marketing Plan within a Business Plan providing a blueprint for moving forward in a positive direction.
• Experienced in Full-Service Hotels, Limited Service Hotels, Conference
• Hotels and Extended Stay Hotels.
• Executing all necessary reporting under court orders.
• Asset redevelopment, and FF&E purchasing, installation, and repositioning within the market.
• Ensure all Federal, State, and Local laws are followed.
• Evaluating the staff and making the changes necessary to get the right people in place if necessary.

Why not have a professional on your side during unfortunate times?

Cornerstone’s extensive experience and unparalleled diversity would mean nothing if the performance were sub-par. That, however, is not the case. The properties that Cornerstone has assisted have been the recipients of several awards for excellence.

Brian Brandstetter was chosen as the Innkeeper of the Year by the Wisconsin Hotel and Lodging Association in 2009 as well as Most Valuable Volunteer by the American Hotel and Lodging Association in 2010.

Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites – Fort Atkinson: Torchbearer Hotel 2017

Candlewood Suites: Torchbearer Hotel 2012

Country Inn & Suites: Recognized for over 99% return intent indicated by guests, and New Hotel of the Year, 2000 and 2018. Sales Property of the Year, 2002.  Hospitality Excellence Award, 2022.

Holiday Inn: Newcomer Award for Total Quality Index. 3 Quality of Excellence Awards

Choice Hotels: 5 consecutive Gold Awards for outstanding service and quality. Top 5 performers.

Best Western: 6 consecutive Director’s Awards. Champion Green Award in 2019.

Red Roof Inn: 3 Top Quarterly Housekeeping Awards; 2 Quarterly Best Overall Property Awards; Nominated for the Golden Shovel Award 2 years in a row.

Hampton Inn: 3 Circle of Excellence Awards for being rated in the top 10% of all Hampton Inns for guest satisfaction and quality assurance.

Ramada Inn: 2 Gold Key Awards for quality assurance inspections.

Radisson Hotels: Presidents Aware from Carlson in 2018.