Source: NYU
  • Conference Highlights Will Include a One-on-One Discussion with Preet Bharara, Former US Attorney, Southern District and NYU Distinguished Scholar in Residence (June 4); and an Interview With The Honorable Ricardo Roselló, Governor of Puerto Rico, Moderated by Conference Chair Jonathan M. Tisch (June 5)
  • Hospitality Industry Executives Including Sébastien M. Bazin, AccorHotels; Jim Murren, MGM Resorts International; Christopher J. Nassetta, Hilton; and Arne Sorenson, Marriott International, Among Others, Will Offer Insights Into the Rapidly Evolving Global Marketplace

Business titans and thought leaders in the hospitality industry will be among the featured panelists at the 40th Annual NYU International Hospitality Industry Investment Conference. Hosted by the NYU School of Professional Studies (NYUSPS) Jonathan M. Tisch Center for Hospitality and Tourism (sps.nyu.edu/tisch), the Conference will be held June 3-5 at the New York Marriott Marquis in New York City, and will feature panel discussions, workshops, and networking events that provide data, analysis, perspectives, insights, and opportunities for professionals in the field. Jonathan M. Tisch, chairman and CEO of Loews Hotels & Co. and co-chairman of the board of Loews Corporation is the Conference chair; Jeffrey Stewart, founder, Walnut Hill Advisors, serves as the Conference vice chair; Dennis Di Lorenzo, Harvey J. Stedman Dean, NYU School of Professional Studies, serves as the Conference host; and Nicolas Graf, associate dean, NYU School of Professional Studies Jonathan M. Tisch Center for Hospitality and Tourism, is the Conference co-host.

Sponsored by leading hospitality organizations, the Conference is the premier hospitality finance and development forum of its kind, during which global hotel CEOs, owners, developers, investors, lenders, analysts, and other hospitality innovators gather to discuss current issues and the future of the industry. Contributions from the patron and sponsor organizations of the event provide student scholarships and support the educational programs of the NYUSPS Jonathan M. Tisch Center for Hospitality and Tourism, which has served the industry by producing future generations of global leaders in hospitality and tourism for more than two decades.

This year's one-on-one conversations will feature Preet Bharara, former US Attorney, Southern District; NYU Distinguished Scholar in Residence, NYU School of Law; host, CAFE, Stay Tuned with Preet on Monday, June 4. On June 5, during his annual "Beyond the Boardroom" session, Conference Chair Jonathan M. Tisch, will speak with special guest The Honorable Ricardo Roselló, governor of Puerto Rico. They will discuss recovery efforts on his island nation after Hurricane Irma, which left Puerto Rico and its citizens without power and critical services for many months, greatly affecting the island's tourism and hospitality sector. This one-on-one discussion will provide a revealing insider's view into the challenges faced during the crisis, as well as those still ahead.

Additional highlights of this year's conference include "The CEOs Check In: A View from the Top," which will take place on Monday, June 4. Moderated by Betty Liu, anchor, Bloomberg Television, and founder and chief executive officer, Radiate, this all-star panel will feature Sébastien M. Bazin, chairman and chief executive officer, AccorHotels; Jim Murren, chairman and chief executive officer, MGM Resorts; Christopher J. Nassetta, president and chief executive officer, Hilton; and Arne Sorenson, president and chief executive officer, Marriott International.

"The Leaders' Forum" kicks off the second day of the Conference. It features Eric Danziger, chief executive officer, Trump Hotels; William J. Ferguson, co-chairman and co-chief executive officer, Ferguson Partners; Colleen Keating, chief operating officer, Americas, InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG); David Kong, president and chief executive officer, Best Western Hotels & Resorts; and Thomas C. Morey, senior vice president, general counsel, and secretary, Park Hotels & Resorts. Scott D. Berman, principal and hospitality industry leader US, PwC, will serve as moderator.

Also on June 5, "The Leaders Check In - Part Two" will focus on the most critical issues affecting the hotel industry. Adam F. Weissenberg, vice chairman and global transportation, hospitality, and services leader for Deloitte, will moderate the discussion. Featured panelists will include James Allen, chairman, Hard Rock International, and chief executive officer, Seminole Gaming; Ken Greene, president, Americas, Radisson Hotel Group; Stephanie Linnartz, global chief commercial officer, Marriott International; and Greg Mount, president and chief executive officer, RLH Corporation.

In addition, Michael S. Shannon, chairman of KSL Capital Partners, will be presented with The IREFAC C. Everett Johnson Award for his remarkable business acumen in leading his organization to new levels of financial success.

Members of the media who wish to cover the Conference must request press credentials in advance by emailing Paola Curcio-Kleinman at [email protected].

As part of the NYU International Hospitality Industry Investment Conference's continuing initiatives to remain environmentally friendly, the Conference brochure/agenda is available only online. A mobile app featuring the agenda, speaker bios, enhanced networking opportunities, and Conference news and updates also will be available for download. For more information, click here.

About the NYU SPS Jonathan M. Tisch Center of Hospitality

The NYU School of Professional Studies Jonathan M. Tisch Center of Hospitality, now celebrating 25 years of academic excellence, is a leading center for the study of hospitality, travel, and tourism. Founded in 1995, the Tisch Center was established in response to the growing need for hospitality and tourism undergraduate and graduate education. Its cutting-edge curricula attract bright, motivated students who seek to become leaders in their fields.

Through its undergraduate degree in hotel and tourism management, its graduate degrees in hospitality industry studies, tourism management, and event management; a plethora of Professional Pathways programs; and its world-renowned hospitality investment conference, students gain the knowledge and the skill sets that enable them to manage change, to communicate, to thrive in complex work environments, and to advance the businesses of hospitality, travel, and tourism. The Tisch Center recently launched the Hospitality Innovation Hub (HI Hub), which will foster entrepreneurship and creative solutions for the industries it serves. The state-of-the-art facilities offer students, start-ups, established industry partners, and investors opportunities to learn, discover, innovate, and invest.

For more information about the NYU SPS Jonathan M. Tisch Center of Hospitality, visit sps.nyu.edu/tisch.

Paola Curcio-Kleinman
212-998-7077
NYU

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