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Bulldogs picked third in NCHC preseason media poll

Minnesota Duluth will enter the 2026-27 season carrying some of the highest expectations in the National Collegiate Hockey Conference. The Bulldogs were picked to finish third in the NCHC

Sep. 16, 2026 · 3 Minute Read

Vander Heyden

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The Lion Hotel Group today announced that Brianna Vander Heyden has rejoined the organization as general manager of the Holiday Inn & Suites Duluth Downtown, located in Duluth. 

Vander Heyden has several years of experience in the hotel and hospitality industry with the Lion Hotel Group. She previously served as general manager for the Holiday Inn Express & Suites in Hermantown and as a manager at the Holiday Inn & Suites Duluth Downtown.

Before rejoining the Lion Hotel Group, she served as a communications and marketing specialist for St. Luke’s Hospital in Duluth where she was responsible for internal and external communications, facility relations and planning support, public relations, strategy communications and government relations. She previously worked as events and programs manager for Marshall School, a private independent college preparatory school in Duluth.

Vander Heyden is active in the Duluth business community. She is a past member of the board of directors for Visit Duluth and a current member of the board of directors for the Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce. She graduated with honors from the University of Minnesota-Duluth with a Bachelor of Applied Science and is a licensed elementary and special education teacher.

Located at 200 W. 1st St., the Holiday Inn & Suites is part of the Lion Hotel Group portfolio of properties. The hotel is located in the heart of downtown near many businesses and area attractions like Canal Park, the Aerial Lift Bridge and the Duluth Entertainment & Convention Center. Guest amenities include free parking and use of electric vehicle charging stations, two swimming pools and complimentary shuttle service.

“Brianna is an up-and-coming leader in the hospitality industry with innovative ideas about how to enhance the experiences of our guests,” said Mark Emmel, the president and chief operating officer of Lion Hotel Group. “We are excited that she is rejoining us as general manager of the Holiday Inn & Suites Duluth Downtown. She is dedicated to Duluth and the tourism and visitor industry in our region. She will do an excellent job leading the team.”

About the Lion Hotel Group 

The Lion Hotel Group is a division of Duluth-based Labovitz Enterprises. The company owns and manages several hotels and resorts in the U.S., including properties in Minnesota and Florida.

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