Ithaca, N.Y. HVS International has joined the corporate partners program at the Cornell Hotel School’s Center for Hospitality Research in a major commitment to create new knowledge and advance operating practices in the hospitality industry.

VS International, a leading provider of global consulting services for the hospitality industry, was founded by Cornell alumnus Steve Rushmore. An entrepreneur, civic leader, and philanthropist, Rushmore is a longtime supporter of the Cornell Hotel School. He continues this tradition with HVS International's new partnership with the Center for Hospitality Research.

Suzanne R. Mellen, HVS's managing director, will join the Center's advisory board, which helps guide Cornell's senior researchers. "I am very pleased to become a member of the board, and I look forward to working with Cornell's researchers to explore opportunities for research on valuation and other financial models in the industry" Mellen said.

HVS International becomes the 12th partner for the Center and its 37th corporate affiliate. “We are delighted to partner with HVS International," said Gary Thompson, executive director of the Center. “HVS's stature as an international leader of management consulting in hotel, restaurant, and resort real estate transactions will enhance the Center's reach and research capability.”

About HVS INTERNATIONAL - Established in 1980 by Stephen Rushmore, HVS International is a global consulting and services organization focused on the hotel, restaurant, timeshare, gaming and leisure industries. The firm has provided financial and valuation consulting services for over 8,000 hotels in all 50 states and more than 60 foreign countries. With 20 offices in 10 countries and more than 200 consultants worldwide, HVS International performs more than 1,500 assignments per year for virtually every major industry participant. HVS International also publishes complimentary Global Hospitality Reports, research publications, and regional industry news which circulate to over 100,000 global hospitality professionals. For more information, visit .

About The Center for Hospitality Research - A unit of the Cornell School of Hotel Administration, The Center for Hospitality Research (CHR) sponsors groundbreaking research designed to improve practices in the hospitality industry. The CHR also publishes the award-winning hospitality journal, the Cornell Hotel and Restaurant Administration Quarterly. Under the lead of CHR's 37 corporate affiliates, experienced scholars work closely with business executives to discover new insights into strategic, managerial and operational issues. To learn more about CHR and its projects, visit .

The Center’s supporters are leading organizations in the hospitality industry. Partners & Sponsors - AIG Global Real Estate Investment Corp., Bartech Systems International, Cendant Corporation, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, HVS International, JohnsonDiversey, Inc., Kohinoor Group, Marsh’s Hospitality Practice, Nestlé, Thayer Group of Companies, Willowbend Golf Management, and Wyndham International; Friends - ARAMARK Corporation, D.K. Shifflet and Associates, Ltd., ehotelier.com, Gerencia de Hoteles & Restaurantes, Global Hospitality Resources, Inc., Hsyndicate, hospitalitynet.org, Hospitality World, Hotel Asia Pacific, Hotel China, Hotel Interactive, Inc., Hotel Resource, International CHRIE, Lodging Magazine, Lodging Hospitality, Mobile MoneySaver, National Hotel Executive Magazine, Resort+Recreation, RestaurantEdge.com, Shibata Publishing Co. Ltd., Smith Travel Research, The Hospitality Research Group of PKF Consulting, The Lodging Conference, TravelCLICK, and UniFocus.

Joe Strodel
CHR