Executives from the nation's top travel and hospitality companies will discuss "Expanding International Travel to the U.S." at the tenth edition of the Dean's Leadership Series, presented by the Cornell University School of Hotel Administration (SHA). The panel event will be held Thursday, June 14, 2012, at "Top of the Hay" at The Hay-Adams in Washington, D.C.

"Increasing international travel to the United States is a critical issue for our industry as well as for economic growth and job creation throughout the country," said Michael D. Johnson, dean and E. M. Statler Professor at SHA. "We are delighted to have a panel of CEOs who are at the forefront of this issue and who are leading the discussion between the industry and our nation's political leaders."

Johnson will moderate the discussion, which will feature the following panelists:

  • Jim Abrahamson, CEO, InterState Hotels & Resorts
  • Roger Dow, CEO, US Travel
  • Jim Evans, CEO, Brand USA
  • Steve Joyce, president & CEO, Choice Hotels International
  • Chris Nassetta, CEO, Hilton Worldwide
  • Arne Sorenson, CEO, Marriott International

The program will also feature Marlene M. Colucci, executive vice president of public policy, American Hotel & Lodging Association.

SHA established the Dean's Leadership Series in November 2007 as a platform for industry leaders to discuss the most important topics facing hospitality today. Previous editions of this series have attracted nearly 300 hospitality executives and members of the press in New York, Washington, Orlando, Chicago, Paris, and Mumbai.

"The Dean's Leadership Series is an outstanding forum for the hospitality industry, and the topic of the tenth edition could not be timelier. We are excited to host the event and our fellow hoteliers at The Hay-Adams," said Mark Carrier, president of B. F. Saul Company Hospitality Group. The Hay-Adams is owned and operated by the B. F. Saul organization.

The Hay-Adams and B. F. Saul Company are title sponsors of the event, and USA TODAY is exclusive media partner. Other corporate sponsors are France 24, Hersha Hospitality Trust, Hospitality Design, Hotel Business, Hotel Management/Questex Hospitality Group, Hsyndicate, InterContinental Hotels Group, Lily Jack, newBrandAnalytics, PhoCusWright, PwC, and Schelling Point.

For more information about the Dean's Leadership Series, please visit the event website: www.hotelschool.cornell.edu/industry/events/dls.html. To become a corporate sponsor of the event, please contact Rachel Ash '99 MBA '06, manager, corporate and foundation affairs, at [email protected] or 607-255-3742.

About the Cornell Nolan School of Hotel Administration

The Cornell Peter and Stephanie Nolan School of Hotel Administration is the premier school for hospitality education in the world. As an integral part of the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business, the school is leading the world in teaching and researching the business of hospitality—marketing, finance, real estate, operations, and more, all applied to the world’s largest and most exciting industry. Top faculty, industry leaders, alumni, and students work together to generate new knowledge for the hospitality industry and form the premier network that shapes the industry every day.

Ashlee McGandy
607.254.1368
Cornell

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