French Quarter Holdings Inc., the Houston-based, privately held hotel development firm, has announced its partnership with Cornell's Center for Hospitality Research. French Quarter CEO Ra'anan (Ronnie) Ben-Zur will join the center's advisory board, bringing his unique perspective as a redeveloper of mixed use and resort hotel properties.

"I view the center's role as adding value to the hospitality industry in the form of new knowledge," said Ben-Zur. "I am pleased to support the effort to improve the industry's store of knowledge."

"We're pleased to welcome French Quarter Holdings and Ronnie Ben-Zur to our board," said Rohit Verma, executive director. "He will be a great asset to our board as we discuss future hotel industry research studies." In addition to providing financial support, center partners meet with researchers to learn about studies in progress, and partners also have a seat at all of the center's Industry Roundtables.

Founded in 1993, French Quarter Holdings has redeveloped and repositioned numerous properties, including the Sheraton Key Largo, the Doubletree JFK, and most recently, La Torretta del Lago Resort & Spa, in Houston. This four-diamond 445-unit resort includes a 3.5 acre aqua park, a destination spa, and the four-diamond Chez Roux restaurant.

About the Center for Hospitality Research

The purpose of the Center for Hospitality Research is to enable and conduct research of significance to the global hospitality and related service industries. CHR also works to improve the connections between academe and industry, continuing the School of Hotel Administration's long-standing tradition of service to the hospitality industry. Founded in 1992, CHR remains the industry's foremost creator and distributor of timely research, all of which is posted at no charge for all to use. In addition to its industry advisory board, CHR convenes several industry roundtables each year for the purpose of identifying new issues affecting the hospitality industry.

Center Members: Accenture • Access Point Financial, Inc. • Barclaycard US • Cvent • Davis & Gilbert LLP • Deloitte & Touche USA LLP • DerbySoft • Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts • Fox Rothschild LLP • Hilton Worldwide • Host Hotels & Resorts • Hyatt Hotels Corporation • IDeaS Revenue Solutions • InterContinental Hotels Group • Jumeirah Group • Marriott International • NTT DATA • Preferred Hotels & Resorts • priceline.com • PwC • The Rainmaker Group • RateGain • ReviewPro • Revinate • Sabre Hospitality Solutions • STR • Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces • Tata Consultancy Services • Wipro EcoEnergy • Wyndham Hotel Group

Jennifer Macera
Associate Director
(607) 255-3101
CHR