BETHESDA'S HMSHost

FILES LAWSUIT

TO HALT MD TRAVEL

PLAZA CONTRACT AWARD

As expected, Bethesda hospitality firm HMSHost has asked for a legal injunction in the Montgomery County Circuit Court to stop the awarding of I-95 travel plaza contracts to Areas USA.

Areas USA, a subsidiary of a Spanish company, is set to have its $56 million contract voted on by the Maryland Board of Public Works on February 22.

HMSHost and Airport Plazas LLC/Tishman Construction have formally complained that the state did not have a fully transparent bidding process. Neither was allowed to counter Areas' final offer, according to the companies, and they've raised questions about the accuracy of the winning bid's financial projections.

HMSHost I-95 TRAVEL

PLAZA CHALLENGE

REBUKED BY MTA

Recent challenges to the Maryland Transportation Authority's decision, to allow Spanish subsidiary Areas USA to redesign and operate two I-95 travel plazas, were batted down yesterday.

The MTA rejected complaints about the bidding process from Bethesda-based HMSHost, and a joint bidder, Airport Plazas/Tichman Construction, yesterday.

While restating that Areas USA had the best bid, officials did not provide much detail about the main issue raised; complaintants believed they had been denied a fair chance to counter Areas' final offer.

A final vote will be cast February 22 by State Treasurer Nancy K. Kopp, Gov. Martin O'Malley and Comptroller Peter Franchot.

BETHESDA'S HMSHost

CHALLENGES MARYLAND'S

CHOICE OF SPANISH FIRM

TO MANAGE I-95

TRAVEL PLAZAS

Bethesda-based hospitality management firm HMSHost is challenging the State of Maryland's decision to select Spanish subsidiary Areas USA to rebuild and operate two I-95 travel plazas.

By all accounts, HMSHost was not given equal negotiating opportunity to compete with a final, amended bid by Areas.

I have seen some of the proposed redesigns for the new facilities and they are promising. Areas brings a good track record and some interesting possible tenants for restaurant space in the Maryland and Chesapeake House plazas.

So I certainly don't have a problem with Areas coming to Maryland. It could be a great partnership with the state.

I don't have a problem with the state getting the best deal for the taxpayer; that is the job of our elected officials.

What I do have a problem with is the apparently unfair process. Only by fueling competition can one get the best deal. So if only one bidder is negotiating, the state clearly is going to pay more. With HMS at the table, the state could have still chosen Areas, but Areas would have had to sweeten its deal, in response to an almost-certainly sweetened offer from HMS.

To not take negotiations to their logical conclusion, state officials cannot credibly tell taxpayers they indeed have the best possible deal.

It's also troubling that Maryland would snub a company that has its international headquarters in Maryland(!!). And employs Marylanders right here in Bethesda.

Because of my great interest in interstate highways, I am familiar with HMSHost's rest stop operations around the country, and have always had a favorable impression. There's always room for improvement. And that's where competition comes in. Want the contract? Provide superior service at the lowest price.

If elected officials are going to talk a good game about jobs and efficient government spending, they'd better back it up with transparent negotiations. And not by excluding companies that pay heavy taxes in Montgomery County and Maryland.

We've witnessed the county council's attempts to drive out Lockheed Martin a few months back. Having contentious relationships with the few large firms willing to accept the pain of headquartering in Montgomery County is no way to run a railroad.

Or a travel plaza.