Kirk Kinsell Named Winner of MMH Outstanding Alumnus Award

"Kirk was selected from a highly competitive field of senior hospitality leaders because of his success in the industry and his enthusiasm for sharing his insights and expertise with our students, faculty, and staff. He is the ideal choice for the Outstanding Alumnus Award, and we look forward to honoring him at our annual MMH reception," said Michael D. Johnson, dean and E. M. Statler Professor of Hotel Administration.

The award committee selected Kinsell, a 1980 graduate of the program, after evaluating MMH and MPS (master of professional studies) graduates on a range of criteria, including academic performance and school involvement as a student; career progression since graduation; and exemplary engagement with the school. Kinsell was a speaker in the school's 2010 Dean's Distinguished Lecture Series on campus and was a recent panelist in the Dean's Leadership Series presented in Paris. He is also a member of the advisory board for the Center for Hospitality Research.

Kinsell has 16 years of experience as a senior leader at IHG. He is currently responsible for the management, growth, and profitability of the company's largest operating region, spanning the United States, Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, and the Caribbean. He oversees a portfolio of more than 3,400 hotels and resorts under all seven IHG brands. From September 2007 to June 2011, he was president for Europe, Middle East, and Africa, with responsibility for 700 hotels consisting of more than 121,000 rooms. Prior to that, he was senior vice president and chief development officer for IHG in the Americas. In 2003, he co-led the launch of Hotel Indigo.

In addition to his Cornell degree, Kinsell holds a bachelor's degree in economics from the University of California, San Diego, and he completed the Senior Executive Programme at London Business School.

To learn more about the MMH reception or participate as a corporate sponsor of the event, visit http://www.hotelschool.cornell.edu/industry/events/receptions/mmhreception.html or contact Kathleen Bolton, corporate and foundation affairs associate, at 607-255-1204 or [email protected].