Crowne Plaza Hotel has named Marlin Keranen as general manager.

Keranen has nearly 30 years of experience in the hotel industry.

A native of Montana, Keranen said he's lived "all over the country, as well as in Canada."

A certified hotel administrator, Keranen spent the past two years as a consultant at MK Hospitality in Virginia and Toronto.

Prior to that he was vice president and general manager of Holiday Inn On King in Toronto -- Holiday Inn Flagship Property. At the four-star hotel, Keranen was a four-time Torchbearer Award winner and an 11-time Quality Excellence Award winner.

He also has been general manager at Creative Inns-Sheraton International Hotel in Baltimore; director of operations and general manager at Devon Hotel Limited in Washington, D.C.; general manager at John Q. Hammons Hotels Inc.-Beaumont Plaza Holiday Inn in Beaumont, Texas; Motel Management Inc.-Holiday Inn Cleveland Independence in Cleveland; and Ramada Inn Corp. in Erie, Pa., and Detroit.

Keranen was previously chairman of Holiday Inns of Canada and Holiday Inns of Ontario; chairman of the Toronto Entertainment District Association; executive board member of the Toronto Hotel-Motel Association; and board member of Tourism Toronto.

Keranen and his wife, Rose, have two children, Denise and Raymond; and three grandchildren -- Daryl, Ryan and Julia.

The Crowne Plaza, located at 100 E. Second St., was recently purchased by Ascension Hotels in response to the renewed interest in downtown Tulsa, according to a company press release. Ascension Hotels is currently investing $12 million in the hotel for renovations.