DALLAS & SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug 18, 2025--
Universal Hospitality Solutions (UHS) today announced that Joseph “Joe” Jennings has joined the company as general manager of Crowne Plaza® Dallas Downtown by IHG, which features 30,000 square feet of event space. With more than three decades of hospitality experience, Jennings will be responsible for overseeing all day-to-day hotel operations, customer experience, and financial performance of the UHS-managed, 291-key, high-rise Crowne Plaza hotel in downtown Dallas. UHS is a hotel development and management company that operates several hotels, representing well-known hotel brands in the United States and international locations. The Scottsdale, Arizona-based company provides complete lifecycle services for hotel owners and investors to maximize their hospitality industry-related returns.
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“Joe has a servant’s heart, is a proven hospitality leader and team builder, and has significant management experience in the DFW hotel market,” said Scott Nadel, CEO of Universal Hospitality Solutions. “Leveraging his transformational leadership style, Joe will strengthen Crowne Plaza Dallas Downtown’s success with the modern traveler.”
Most recently, Jennings served as vice president of DFW-based Q Companies, which owns and operates multiple hotels and automatic car washes. His 30+ years of hospitality experience includes onsite and area-level leadership roles overseeing full-service properties spanning well-known hotel brands operated by leading hotel companies. Jennings has been recognized with several accolades for his management expertise, including General Manager of the Year, Hotel of the Year, and Leadership Award of the Year. He received GM certifications from multiple hotel brands. Jennings graduated from The University of Oklahoma in Norman, Oklahoma, with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration.
Jennings is active in the DFW hospitality community. He currently serves as vice chairman of the board for the Hotel Association of Tarrant County and previously served as past chairman of the board emeritus for the organization. He is co-founder and chairman of the board emeritus for the Arlington Tourism and Public Improvement District and is a past board member of the Arlington City Council. Jennings shares his leadership expertise by participating as a speaker at hotel industry conferences.
“I’m passionate about the hotel industry, particularly the robust DFW market,” said Joe Jennings, general manager, Crowne Plaza Dallas Downtown. “I’m excited to collaborate with the local CVB and lead the dedicated team at Crowne Plaza Dallas Downtown in consistently delivering outstanding guest experiences.”
About Crowne Plaza Dallas Downtown
Located at 1015 Elm Street, Crowne Plaza Dallas Downtown is a short walk to Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center Dallas and over 50 restaurants. The property is near several major employers, local attractions, West End district, American Airlines Center, and Uptown. The hotel is convenient to downtown Dallas public transportation and is approximately seven miles from Dallas Love Field (DAL) and 19 miles from Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW).
Business and leisure guests of Crowne Plaza Dallas Downtown will enjoy an inviting environment of beauty in balance that inspires connection and collaboration. A sampling of hotel amenities includes:
Crowne Plaza Dallas Downtown participates in IHG One Rewards loyalty program, providing hotel rewards and exclusive member offers. For more information about Crowne Plaza Dallas Downtown or to make a reservation, visit the hotel’s website or call (214) 742-5678. For sales and events, please contact UHS.
About Universal Hospitality Solutions
Scottsdale, Arizona-based Universal Hospitality Solutions provides complete lifecycle services for hotel owners and investors to maximize their hospitality industry-related returns. With over 40 years combined experience developing and managing hotels, UHS’ partners have the deep insight into market conditions, construction, forecasting, sales and marketing, operations, staffing, management, hotel brands, and other areas necessary to maximize the revenue and profitability for any hotel project at any phase in its lifecycle. For hotel owners or operators looking to take their business to the next level through strategic partnerships, please contact UHS.
About Crowne Plaza
As one of the world’s largest premium hotel brands with locations in city, airport, resort and suburban destinations, Crowne Plaza is perfectly placed to meet the needs of today’s guest, whether they are traveling for business, leisure, or a blend of both. For more information, visit www.crowneplaza.com, and connect with us on Facebook and Instagram.
Joseph “Joe” Jennings has been appointed general manager of Crowne Plaza® Dallas Downtown, which is managed by Universal Hospitality Solutions (UHS) and features 30,000 square feet of event space and a rooftop pool. With more than three decades of hospitality experience, Jennings will be responsible for overseeing all day-to-day hotel operations, customer experience, and financial performance of the 291-key, high-rise Crowne Plaza hotel in downtown Dallas.
NUUK, Greenland (AP) — Troops from several European countries continued to arrive in Greenland on Thursday in a show of support for Denmark as talks between representatives of Denmark, Greenland and the U.S. highlighted “fundamental disagreement” over the future of the Arctic island.
Denmark announced it would increase its military presence in Greenland on Wednesday as foreign ministers from Denmark and Greenland were preparing to meet with White House representatives in Washington. Several European partners — including France, Germany, the U.K., Norway, Sweden and the Netherlands — started sending symbolic numbers of troops already on Wednesday or promised to do so in the following days.
The troop movements were intended to portray unity among Europeans and send a signal to President Donald Trump that an American takeover of Greenland is not necessary as NATO together can safeguard the security of the Arctic region amid rising Russian and Chinese interest.
“The first French military elements are already en route” and “others will follow,” French President Emmanuel Macron announced Wednesday, as French authorities said about 15 soldiers from the mountain infantry unit were already in Nuuk for a military exercise.
Germany will deploy a reconnaissance team of 13 personnel to Greenland on Thursday, the Defense Ministry said.
On Thursday, Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said the intention was “to establish a more permanent military presence with a larger Danish contribution,” according to Danish broadcaster DR. He said soldiers from several NATO countries will be in Greenland on a rotation system.
Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen, flanked by his Greenlandic counterpart Vivian Motzfeldt, said Wednesday that a “fundamental disagreement” over Greenland remains with Trump after they held highly anticipated talks at the White House with Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Rasmussen added that it remains “clear that the president has this wish of conquering over Greenland” but that dialogue with the U.S. would continue at a high level over the following weeks.
Inhabitants of Greenland and Denmark reacted with anxiety but also some relief that negotiations with the U.S. would go on and European support was becoming visible.
Greenland's Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen welcomed the continuation of “dialogue and diplomacy.”
“Greenland is not for sale,” he said Thursday. “Greenland does not want to be owned by the United States. Greenland does not want to be governed from the United States. Greenland does not want to be part of the United States.”
In Greenland’s capital, Nuuk, local residents told The Associated Press they were glad the first meeting between Greenlandic, Danish and American officials had taken place but suggested it left more questions than answers.
Several people said they viewed Denmark’s decision to send more troops, and promises of support from other NATO allies, as protection against possible U.S. military action. But European military officials have not suggested the goal is to deter a U.S. move against the island.
Maya Martinsen, 21, said it was “comforting to know that the Nordic countries are sending reinforcements” because Greenland is a part of Denmark and NATO.
The dispute, she said, is not about “national security” but rather about “the oils and minerals that we have that are untouched.”
On Wednesday, Poulsen announced a stepped-up military presence in the Arctic “in close cooperation with our allies,” calling it a necessity in a security environment in which “no one can predict what will happen tomorrow.”
“This means that from today and in the coming time there will be an increased military presence in and around Greenland of aircraft, ships and soldiers, including from other NATO allies,” Poulsen said.
Asked whether the European troop movements were coordinated with NATO or what role the U.S.-led military alliance might play in the exercises, NATO referred all questions to the Danish authorities. However, NATO is currently studying ways to bolster security in the Arctic.
The Russian embassy in Brussels on Thursday lambasted what it called the West's “bellicose plans” in response to “phantom threats that they generate themselves”. It said the planned military actions were part of an “anti-Russian and anti-Chinese agenda” by NATO.
“Russia has consistently maintained that the Arctic should remain a territory of peace, dialogue and equal cooperation," the embassy said.
Rasmussen announced the creation of a working group with the Americans to discuss ways to work through differences.
“The group, in our view, should focus on how to address the American security concerns, while at the same time respecting the red lines of the Kingdom of Denmark,” he said.
Commenting on the outcome of the Washington meeting on Thursday, Poulsen said the working group was “better than no working group” and “a step in the right direction.” He added nevertheless that the dialogue with the U.S. did not mean “the danger has passed.”
Speaking on Thursday, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said the American ambition to take over Greenland remains intact despite the Washington meeting, but she welcomed the creation of the working group.
The most important thing for Greenlanders is that they were directly represented at the meeting in the White House and that “the diplomatic dialogue has begun now,” Juno Berthelsen, a lawmaker for the pro-independence Naleraq opposition party, told AP.
A relationship with the U.S. is beneficial for Greenlanders and Americans and is “vital to the security and stability of the Arctic and the Western Alliance,” Berthelsen said. He suggested the U.S. could be involved in the creation of a coast guard for Greenland, providing funding and creating jobs for local people who can help to patrol the Arctic.
Line McGee, 38, from Copenhagen, told AP that she was glad to see some diplomatic progress. “I don’t think the threat has gone away,” she said. “But I feel slightly better than I did yesterday.”
Trump, in his Oval Office meeting with reporters, said: “We’ll see how it all works out. I think something will work out.”
Niemann reported from Copenhagen, Denmark, and Ciobanu from Warsaw, Poland.
Denmark's Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen and Greenland's Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt speak at a news conference at the Embassy of Denmark, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)
People walk on a street in Nuuk, Greenland, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
From center to right, Greenland Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt, Denmark's Ambassador Jesper Møller Sørensen, rear, and Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen, right, arrive on Capitol Hill to meet with senators from the Arctic Caucus, in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
An Airbus A400M transport aircraft of the German Air Force taxis over the grounds at Wunstorf Air Base in the Hanover region, Germany, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026 as troops from NATO countries, including France and Germany, are arriving in Greenland to boost security. (Moritz Frankenberg/dpa via AP)
Fishermen load fishing lines into a boat in the harbor of Nuuk, Greenland, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
Greenland Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt, left, and Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen, arrive on Capitol Hill to meet with members of the Senate Arctic Caucus, in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
