Joseph E. Spinnato has announced that he will step down as president of the Hotel Association of New York City and retire at the end of 2015, after holding the post for 27 years.

"This has been a remarkable 27-year journey during which we have seen unprecedented growth in New York City tourism, and hotels have been a major part of that success. It has been a privilege to work on behalf of the hotel industry's most prominent leaders including some of the most prestigious properties in the world. I will be assisting with the search for a new president and doing everything I can to ensure a smooth transition for this great organization," Mr. Spinnato said.

Prior to joining the Hotel Association, Mr. Spinnato served as New York City's 25th Fire Commissioner under Mayor Edward I. Koch from 1983 to 1987.

A search committee will select Mr. Spinnato's successor and will be chaired by Vijay Dandapani, the president of Apple Core Hotels and a member of the Hotel Association's Executive Committee and Board of Directors.

"Joe has served our association and our industry brilliantly, and has been an extraordinary leader over the last three decades. We thank him for his many years of excellent service, and congratulate him on a distinguished career," said Mr. Dandapani. "Joe's shoes will indeed be hard to fill, but we look forward to working with him over the next 16 months to identify the best possible candidate to succeed him as president."

About Hotel Association of New York City

Serving the Hotel Industry since 1878, HANYC (Hotel Association of New York City) is the oldest hotel association in the US and one of the oldest professional trade associations in the nation . Its founders' mission was to establish an association that would serve as the voice of the hotel industry, supporting its members with the highest standard of services and best available resources. Today the Hotel Association of New York City is an internationally recognized leader in New York City's $5 billion tourism industry, representing nearly 300 of the finest hotels with over 80,000 rooms and approximately 50,000 employees. http://www.hanyc.org/ 

Lisa Linden
(917) 589-5443
Hotel Association of New York City (HANYC)