The Cornell University School of Hotel Administration (SHA) has announced that Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) will be the title sponsor of the fifth annual Cornell Hospitality Icon & Innovator Awards on June 4, 2013, at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York City. At the awards gala, Tom Pritzker, executive chairman of Hyatt Hotels Corporation and chairman of Marmon Group, Inc., will receive the Cornell Icon of the Industry Award. Mark Hoplamazian, CEO of Hyatt Hotels, will co-present the award with Michael D. Johnson, dean and E. M. Statler Professor at the SHA. Steve Ells, founder, chairman, and co-CEO of Chipotle Mexican Grill, will receive the Cornell Hospitality Innovator Award."The Cornell Hospitality Icon & Innovator Awards gala is about celebrating visionary global business leaders and distinguished humanitarians who have made a lasting impact on the hospitality and travel industry. The awards gala is also about providing scholarships to SHA students. Tom Pritzker has had an enormous impact on making the world a much better place to live, and we are very excited to honor him," said Joe Strodel, Jr., executive director, corporate affairs, SHA. "Hyatt is one of the major employers of SHA graduates, is a member of our strategic corporate alliance program, and is a partner with our Center for Hospitality Research. We are delighted that Hyatt will serve as title sponsor of this premier event.""All of us at Hyatt are extremely pleased that Tom Pritzker is receiving the Cornell Icon of the Industry Award, an honor he richly deserves," said Steve Haggerty, global head of real estate and capital strategy for Hyatt and a Cornell alumnus. "Through his vision, his values, and his global perspective, Tom has made enormous contributions to the hospitality industry and to the communities where Hyatt does business. His commitment to supporting talent and unleashing the best in his management teams has led to great careers for hoteliers all over the world. We're looking forward to the event and are proud to do our part to support the SHA students who will play key roles in defining the future of our industry."Since its inception in 2009, the Cornell Hospitality Icon & Innovator Awards has grown to be the largest event on the SHA calendar, attracting more than 900 of the most influential leaders and innovators in the hospitality and travel industry from 17 countries. The gala raises funds to support SHA's scholarships and programs.The 2013 awards ceremony already has more than 50 corporate sponsors. Travel + Leisure and USA TODAY are exclusive media co-hosts; Baccarat, Delta Airlines, Groupe du Louvre, Marriott International, and the New York Observer are diamond sponsors; Amazing Taste, LLC is strategic marketing and event consultant; and Do More Good | CSK is directing strategic brand marketing and design.To partner with the school on this premier event, please contact Kathleen Bolton, manager of corporate affairs at the SHA, at [email protected]. For additional information, please visit www.hotelschool.cornell.edu/industry/events/awardsdinner.About Hyatt Hotels CorporationHyatt Hotels Corporation, headquartered in Chicago, is a leading global hospitality company with a proud heritage of making guests feel more than welcome. Thousands of members of the Hyatt family strive to make a difference in the lives of the guests they encounter every day by providing authentic hospitality. The company's subsidiaries manage, franchise, own, and develop hotels and resorts under the Hyatt®, Park Hyatt®, Andaz®, Grand Hyatt®, Hyatt Regency®, Hyatt Place® and Hyatt House™ brand names and have locations on six continents. Hyatt Residential Group, Inc., a Hyatt Hotels Corporation subsidiary, develops, operates, markets or licenses Hyatt Residences™ and Hyatt Residence Club™. As of September 30, 2012, the company's worldwide portfolio consisted of 496 properties in 45 countries. For more information, please visit www.hyatt.com.