The International Hospitality Hall of Fame®

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The International Hospitality Hall of Fame®

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The International Hospitality Hall of Fame®

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CELEBRATING THE LEGENDS OF HOSPITALITY

The International Hospitality Hall of Fame® was created by the International Hospitality Institute's Educational Foundation (IHIEF) to celebrate the achievements of pioneers, pacesetters, visionaries, and thought leaders in the global hospitality industry.

IHIEF is a nonprofit, 501(c) (3) organization focused on education, recognition initiatives, and advocacy for the hospitality industry.

The International Hospitality Institute (IHI) is the leading training, recognition, advocacy, and standards organization for the global hospitality industry. IHI is committed to promoting excellence in the hospitality industry worldwide by celebrating practitioners and torchbearers.

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Here are the 2023 Nominees/Profiles

Anna Sacher, born on February 16, 1859, was an Austrian hotelier who operated the Hotel Sacher in Vienna, Austria. She was married to Eduard Sacher, who was a hotelier and restauranteur. When Eduard died, she took over the operation of the hotel. Under her management, the Hotel Sacher became one of the most renowned hotels in Europe.
Anna Sacher
VP of Company
Anne Beiler, born on January 16, 1949, is a businesswoman and founder of Auntie Anne's pretzels. Born into an Amish family in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Beiler started making pretzels in 1987. Despite having only an 8th grade education, Beiler was able to successfully grow her business into a nationally respected brand.
Anne Beiler
Anthony Bourdain was born on June 25, 1956, in New York City. He was a Chef, Writer, and TV host. After graduating from the Culinary Institute of America, Bourdain worked in several restaurants including the Brasserie Les Halles in Manhattan, the Supper Club, and Sullivan’s among others. He is the author of the book, Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly. He was the host of Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown on CNN.
Anthony Bourdain
Auguste Escoffier, born on October 28, 1846, was a French chef and restaurateur. He worked with Cesar Ritz at the Ritz Hotel in Paris and the Carlton Hotel in London. He was known as the King of Chefs and the Chef of Kings. He wrote the culinary guide, Le Guide Culinaire.
Auguste Escoffier
Arne Morris Sorenson served as the CEO of Marriott International from 2012 until his death in 2021. He graduated from Luther College in Iowa and the University of Minnesota Law School before joining Marriott International as an associate general counsel in 1996.

He later assumed roles with increasing responsibility including Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, and Chief Operating Officer. In 2021, he assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer. He oversaw the acquisition of the Renaissance Hotels portfolio and Starwood Hotel& Resorts Worldwide, Inc.
Arne Sorenson
Anthony Melchiorri is a hospitality expert and television personality. He was the host of the Travel Channel’s Hotel Impossible show, which he created and for which he served as co-executive producer.
Anthony Melchiorri
Beatrice Tollman was born on May 3, 1935. She is a co-founder of the Red Carnation Hotel brand, a company she formed with her husband, Stanley. After operating hotels in South Africa, including the Tollman Towers Hotel in Johannesburg, she relocated to London with her husband where they launched the Red Carnation Hotels. She also leads the Travel Corp., which owns several travel companies.
Beatrice Tollman
John Willard "Bill" Marriott Jr. was born on March 25, 1932 to Alice Marriot and J Willard Marriott. He is the executive chairman of Marriott International, a company he joined in 1956. He grew the company founded by his father into the world’s largest hotel chain.
Bill Marriott Jr.
Barry Stuart Sternlicht is the Chairman and co-founder of Starwood Capital Group, an investment fund that manages over $60 billion in assets. He is also Chairman of Starwood Property Trust. While at Starwood Hotels, Barry oversaw the creation of W Hotels and the Westin Heavenly Bed.  
Barry Sternlicht
Caroline Rose Hunt, born on January 8, 1923 was an American businesswoman and hotelier who founded the Rosewood Hotels and Resorts company in 1979. She served as Honorary Chairman until her death in 2018.
Caroline Rose Hunt
Cecil B. Day was a hotelier and founder of the Days Inn hotel brand. He was born on December 10, 1934, in Georgia, United States.

After graduating from Georgia Institute of Technology, he opened his first Days Inn in Tybee, Georgia. Using an effective franchise model, he grew the Days Inn brand rapidly.
Cecil B Day
César Ritz, born on February 23, 1850 was a Swiss hotelier and founder of the Ritz Hotel and Carlton Hotel brands, which would later become the Ritz Carlton Hotels. Known as the King of Hoteliers and the Hotelier to Kings, some of the hotels he developed include the Carlton Hotel, London, the Ritz Hotel London, the Ritz Hotel Madrid, and the Hôtel Ritz in the Place Vendôme, Paris.
Cesar Ritz
Charles Forte, born on November 26, 1908 in Italy. He emigrated with his family to Scotland when he was four years old. He founded the Forte Group, a company that developed and operated hospitality properties in various locations. He entered the hotel and catering business when he was 26 years old. His first acquisition was the Café Royal in 1954. The Fort Group expanded, investing in restaurants, and hotels such as the Travelodge Hotel brand, the Savoy Hotel, and others.
Charles Forte
Christine Duffy is the President of Carnival Cruise Lines. She worked in the travel industry for several years before becoming the President and CEO of Maritz Travel. She has also served as the chairwoman of Meeting Professionals International, and President of Cruise Lines International Association.
Christine Duffy
Conrad Hilton Sr., born on December 25, 1887, is the founder of the Hilton Hotels chain. He acquired his first hotel, the Mobley Hotel in Cisco, Texas in 1919. He would later acquire several other hotels including the Abilene Hilton, the Dallas Hilton, the El Pason Hilton, and the Waco Hilton. In 1939, he built what is now known as the Hotel Andaluz in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Hilton Hotels would go on to become the world’s largest hotel company.
Conrad Hilton
Curtis Leroy Carlson, born in Minneapolis, USA on July 9, 1914, was a hotelier and founder of Carlson and Radisson Hotel Group.

He acquired the Minneapolis Radisson Hotel in 1960, and would develop the Radisson brand into an international brand. He also purchased the TGI Fridays restaurant chain.
Curtis Carlson
Captain Krishnan Nair was the founder of The Leela Group. He served in the Indian Army and was fondly referred to as Captain Nair. Nair opened his hotel company in 1983. He opened the first Leela Hotel in 1987 in Mumbai. Later, he opened the Leela Palace in Bangalore, The Leela Goa, followed by the Leela Beach Resort in Thiruvananthapuram. He died in May 2014.
CP Krishnan Nair
Danny Meyer is the founder, and Chief Executive Officer of Union Square Hospitality Group, which comprises some of New York's most acclaimed restaurants: Union Square Cafe, Gramercy Tavern, The Modern, Maialino, and more.

Danny and USHG also founded Shake Shack, the modern-day “roadside” burger restaurant for which he serves as Chairman of the Board.

He is the author of the book, Setting the Table, The Transforming Power of Hospitality in Service. Today, he continues to advocate for the hospitality industry and is a globally respected voice on all issues regarding hospitality and hospitality workers.
Danny Meyer
David Kong is the former President and CEO of Best Western International. He joined Best Western Hotels & Resorts in 2001 and became CEO in 2004. During his tenure as CEO, Kong formed BWH Hotel Group and extended the company’s reach globally.
David Kong
Ellsworth Milton Statler, born on October 26, 1863 was a businessman and hotelier. He was the founder of the Statler Hotels.

Statler opened his first hotel in Buffalo, New York in 1907. He would later develop hotels in various cities including St. Louis, Cleveland, New York, and Boston. His last hotel was the Boston Park Plaza hotel which he opened in Boston in 1927.
Ellsworth Statler
Ernest Henderson is a co-founder of the Sheraton Hotels brand. He launched the brand with his Harvard classmate, Robert Moore, when they acquired the Continental Hotel in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

In 1937, they acquired their second hotel, the Stonehaven Hotel in Springfield, Massachusetts. Later, they would acquire the Copley Plaza Hotel in 1941 and several other properties, growing the Sheraton brand into a national brand.
Ernest Henderson
Frederick Harvey, born on June 27, 1835, was a businessman, hotelier, and restauranteur who is believed to have created the first chain of restaurants in the United States.

Harvey and his family operated their hotel and restaurant chain until it was sold in 1968. By 1901, the year Fred Harvey died, the Fred Harvey Company operated 15 hotels, 47 restaurants, and 30 dining cars which serviced the Santa Fe Railway.
Fred Harvey
Gerard Pellisson, a cofounder of Accor Hotels, was born on February 9, 1932 in France. He partnered with Paul Dubrule to launch the company in 1967. The partners opened their first Novotel property in 1967 in Lille Lesquin. In 1972, Accor opened the first Novotel outside of France in Neuchâtel in Switzerland. In 1973, they opened the first Ibis property in Bordeaux.
Gerard Pellisson
Geoffrey JW Kent, born on July 14, 1942, is the Chairman Emeritus of Abercrombie & Kent, an international luxury and adventure travel company that he founded. He is credited with introducing the first luxury photographic African safari in 1962.

Geoffrey Kent is one of the founding members of the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) where he was Chairman for 6 years. Kent is a pioneer in the tourism industry, having created the first luxury photographic African safari in 1962.  
Geoffrey Kent
Georg Rafael is the cofounder of Regent International Hotels. Regent developed and operated several properties in various parts of the world. Rafael later founded the Rafael Group based in Monaco which is involved in hotel investments and developments.
Georg Rafael
Henry Flagler, born on January 2, 1830, was the founder of Standard Oil and a hotel developer. Often referred to as the founder of Miami and Palm Beach cities, he developed several iconic hotels including the Ponce de Leon Hotel, the Alcazar Hotel, the Casa Monica Hotel, the Royal Poinciana Hotel, and the Palm Beach Inn, which was later renamed as the Breakers.
Henry Flagler
Horst Schulze is a co-founder and former COO of the Ritz Carlton Hotel Company. He started his career as a server’s assistant in a German resort town. He worked for Hilton Hotels and Hyatt Hotels Corporation before becoming one of the founding members of The Ritz Carlton Hotel Company in 1983.
At Ritz Carlton, Schulze created the operating and service standards that have become world famous. After leaving The Ritz Carlton Hotel Company, Schulze founded The Capella Hotel Group.
Horst Schulze
Howard Johnson is the founder of the Howard Johnson restaurant chain and later the Howard Johnson’s Motor Lodges. Howard Johnson opened his first restaurant in 1925. He would grow his company to become the largest restaurant chain in the USA. He overcome many adversities on his way to success. The first Howard Johnson's motor lodge opened in Savannah, Georgia in 1954. His Howard Johnson Motor Lodges brand was later sold to Wyndham Hotels.
Howard Johnson
Ho Kwon Ping is the executive chairman of Banyan Tree Holdings, based in Singapore. The Banyan Tree Holdings owns hotels, resorts, homes, and retail companies. Ping is the current Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Singapore Management University.
Ho kwon Ping
Ian Schrager was born on July 19, 1946. He is a hotelier and businessman who has founded several hotel brands. He was a co-owner of the renowned Studio 54 nightclub in New York. He was also a co-founder of the Palladium nightclub.

He opened the Morgan Hotel, his first property, in 1984. He later opened the Royalton Hotel and the Paramount Hotel, both in New York City. He launched the EDITION hotel brand in partnership with Marriott International. Most recently, he launched the Public Hotel brand.
Ian Schrager
Isadore Sharp, born on October 8, 1931, is a hotel developer and the founder and chairman of Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts.

After graduating from college, Sharp worked for his father’s real estate company. He opened the Four Seasons Hotel in 1960 in Toronto. The Four Seasons Hotel company now has over 100 hotels worldwide.
Isadore Sharp
Jay Pritzker was born on August 26, 1922 in Chicago, Illinois. He formed the Hyatt Hotel company in 1957 with his brother, Donald Pritzker. He purchased Ticketmaster in 1982 and sold it in 1993.
Jay Pritzker
Born in 1919, John Quentin Hammons was the cofounder of Winegardner and Hammons and later founder of John Q. Hammons in 1969. He opened 67 Holiday Inn Hotels after negotiating a franchise license with Kemmons Wilson, founder of the Holiday Inn brand. When he died on May 26, 2013, John Q Hammons had developed over 200 hotels in 40 states.
John Q Hammons
John Willard Marriott Sr. was the founder of the Marriott Hotels company. Born on September 17, 1900, he started his company from a root beer stand in Washington, DC. He opened his first motel in 1957. He grew the company to become one of the largest corporations in the USA with interests in hotels, restaurants, cruise ships, and other sectors.
John Willard Marriott
Julia Child was born on August 15, 1912. She was a chef, television presenter, and author. A promoter of French cuisine, she wrote several cookbooks and appeared on several TV programs.
Julia Child
Jerry Inzerillo is the CEO of Diriyah Gate Development Authority (DGDA), a tourism and cultural development project in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Before his current role, he served as CEO of Forbes Travel Guide. With over 50 years of experience, Jerry has received several awards for his work.  
Jerry Inzerillo
Jack DeBoer is the founder of several hotel brands such as Residence Inn, Summerfield Suites, Value Place Hotels, and Candlewood Suites.

After designing and opening the first Residence Inn in 1975 in Wichita, Kansas, DeBoer opened or franchised 103 more Residence Inns before he sold the chain to Marriott in 1987. He co-founded the Summerfield brand in 1988 and sold it to Hyatt. In 1995, he founded the Candlewood Hotel Company and sold it to IHG in 2003 after opening 130 hotels.
Jack DeBoer
Kemmons Wilson, born on January 5, 1913 was an American hotelier and businessman. He was the founder of the Holiday Inn hotel brand. The first Holiday Inn opened in 1952 in Memphis. In 1968, the 1000th Holiday Inn opened in San Antonio, Texas. Wilson also founded another hotel company, named Wilson World.
Kemmons Wilson
Kwek Leng Beng, born in 1941, is the executive chairman of Hong Leong Group Singapore, a conglomerate with over 300 companies. In 2019, Forbes estimated his net worth at US$3.4 billion.
The Hong Leong Group opened its first property – the King’s Hotel in Singapore in the early 1970s. The company is now the largest hotel owner in Singapore. The group owns the Millennium & Copthorne Hotels (M&C) which has over 145 hotels in its portfolio across the globe.  

The Hong Leong Group also owns several luxury hotels including The St. Regis Singapore, the W Singapore, Sentosa Cove, the Millenium Hilton Bangkok, the Grand Hyatt Taipei, the JW Marriott Hotel Hong Kong, and the Millenium Hilton New York Downtown.  
Kwek Leng Beng
Mohan Singh Oberoi, born on August 15, 1881, was an Indian hotelier and businessman. He was the founder of Oberoi Hotels & Resorts. Formed in 1934, his Oberoi Group operated hotels, luxury cruises, and restaurants, and provided travel and tour services. He was also the founder of East India Hotels which he formed in 1948. His Oberoi Center for Learning and Development provides hospitality education to students in India.
Mohan Singh Oberoi
Michael Dammann Eisner is the former chairman and CEO of The Walt Disney Company. He joined the company in 1984 and served until 2005. Before joining Disney, Eisner was president of Paramount Pictures where he worked from 1976 to 1984.
Michael Eisner
Marilyn Carlson Nelson, born on August 19, 1939, is the former chairman and CEO of Carlson. The Carlson group includes Carlson Wagonlit Travel, Radisson Blu, Radisson Red Hotels, and Country Inns & Suites.

Marilyn has served on several boards including Exxon Mobil, Qwest Communications, and First Bank System. In 2014, she received the Oslo Business for Peace Award.
Marilyn Carlson Nelson
Paul Dubrule, a cofounder of Accor Hotels, was born on July 6, 1934 in France. He partnered with Gerard Pellison to launch the company in 1967. The partners opened their first Novotel property in 1967 in Lille Lesquin. In 1972, Accor opened the first Novotel outside of France in Neuchâtel in Switzerland. In 1973, they opened the first Ibis property in Bordeaux.
Paul Dubrule
Robert Kuok was born on October 6, 1923 in Malaysia. He founded Shangri-La Hotels in 1971, opening his first property in Singapore. Shangri-La currently operates several brands including Shangri-La, Hotel Jen, Kerry Hotels, and Traders Hotels.
Robert Kuok
Sir Richard Branson is the founder of the Virgin Group which controls over 400 companies including Virgin Hotels. Virgin Hotels was formed in 2010. Branson also launched Virgin Limited Edition which operates exclusive private islands and resorts.
Richard Branson
Ray Kroc, born in 1902, purchased the restaurant giant McDonald’s from the McDonald brothers in 1961 and served as its CEO from 1967 to 1973. Kroc successfully expanded the McDonald’s company, turning it into a global powerhouse. He died in 1984.
Ray Kroc
Robert Louis Johnson, born on April 8, 1946, is an American businessman, hotel investor, media mogul, and philanthropist. He is the founder of RLJ Lodging Trust which owns 96 hotels with approximately 21,200 rooms located in 23 states in the USA.

Johnson is the co-founder of Black Entertainment Television (BET) and the former majority owner of the Charlotte Bobcats.
Robert Johnson
Sheila Johnson is a businesswoman and hotel developer. She is the CEO of Salamander Hotels and Resorts which she launched in 2005. Salamander Hotels owns several hotels including the Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club, the Half Moon in Montego Bay, Jamaica, and the Salamander Resort and Spa, among others.
Sheila Johnson
Solomon 'Sol' Kerzner, was born on August 23, 1935, in Durban, South Africa. He was the founder of Southern Sun Hotel Group and Sun International, the largest hotel companies in South Africa. H was also the CEO of Kerzner International. Kerzner was also the developer of Sun City resort in Africa and the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut.
Solomon Kerzner
Susan E. Arnold, born on March 8, 1954 is a business executive and former chairman of The Walt Disney Company. She was appointed as Chairman of the board at the Walt Disney Company in 2021, the first female to serve in the role. She served in the position until January 2023.
Susan Arnold
Stevan Porter was the president of the Americas region for IHG, a company he joined in 2001. He was elected to the board of the company in 2001. He started his career in hospitality with Stouffer Hotels in 1976 before joining Promus Hotels. He worked for Hilton Hotels from 1990 to 2001 in various leadership roles.  

Stevan served on the Board of Directors for the IAHI Owners' Association. He was also Chairman of the American Hotel & Lodging Association Government Affairs Committee, Chairman of the Discover America Partnership, and Vice Chairman of the Travel Business Roundtable.
Stevan Porter
Ted Arison was an Israeli businessman who co-founded Norwegian Cruise Lines in 1966 with Knut Kloster. The company was launched in Miami. He later launched Carnival Cruise Lines in 1972.

In 1981, Arison created the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts based in Miami. He was the owner of the Miami Heat and the founder of the Arison Foundation, a philanthropic organization.
Ted Arison
Wilhelmina Skogh, born on December 14, 1849 in Sweden, was a hotelier and restauranteur. At 27, she built her first property, the Railroad Hotel in Storvik, near Sandviken.

She formed the Wilhelmina Wahlgren AB company, which would later own and manage several hotel properties. At the age of 53, she took over as Managing Director of Grand Hôtel in Stockholm. She built the Grand Hôtel Royal, an addition to the existing hotel building.
Wilhemina Skogh
William Waldorf Astor, born on March 31, 1848, was a businessman, hotel developer, politician, and philanthropist. He built the Waldorf Hotel in 1890. In 1908, he built the Waldorf Hotel in London's West End.
William Waldorf Astor

Meet the Hall of Fame Class of 2023 Honorees

We thank these men and women who have worked so selflessly to elevate and support the global hospitality industry. Our industry is better off because of them. They will not be forgotten.

Anthony Bourdain

Anthony Bourdain was born on June 25, 1956 in New York City. He was a Chef, Writer, and TV host. After graduating from the Culinary Institute of America, Bourdain worked in several restaurants including the Brasserie Les Halles in Manhattan, the Supper Club, and Sullivan’s among others. He is the author of the book, Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly. He was the host of Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown on CNN.

Arne Sorenson

Arne Morris Sorenson served as the CEO of Marriott International from 2012 until his death in 2021. He graduated from Luther College in Iowa and the University of Minnesota Law School before joining Marriott International as an associate general counsel in 1996. He later assumed roles with increasing responsibility including Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, and Chief Operating Officer. In 2021, he assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer. He oversaw the acquisition of the Renaissance Hotels portfolio and Starwood Hotel & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.

Barry Sternlicht

Barry Stuart Sternlicht is the Chairman and co-founder of Starwood Capital Group, an investment fund that manages over $60 billion in assets. He is also Chairman of Starwood Property Trust. While at Starwood Hotels, Barry oversaw the creation of W Hotels and the Westin Heavenly Bed.

Bill Marriott, Jr.

John Willard "Bill" Marriott Jr. was born on March 25, 1932, to Alice Marriott and J Willard Marriott. He is the executive chairman of Marriott International, a company he joined in 1956. He grew the company founded by his father into the world’s largest hotel chain.

Caroline Rose Hunt

Caroline Rose Hunt, born on January 8, 1923, was an American businesswoman and hotelier who founded the Rosewood Hotels and Resorts company in 1979. She served as Honorary Chairman until her death in 2018.

Cesar Ritz

César Ritz, born on February 23, 1850, was a Swiss hotelier and founder of the Ritz Hotel and Carlton Hotel brands, which would later become the Ritz Carlton Hotels. Known as the King of Hoteliers and the Hotelier to Kings, some of the hotels he developed include the Carlton Hotel, London, the Ritz Hotel London, the Ritz Hotel Madrid, and the Hôtel Ritz in the Place Vendôme, Paris.

Conrad Hilton

Conrad Hilton Sr., born on December 25, 1887, was the founder of the Hilton Hotels chain. He acquired his first hotel, the Mobley Hotel in Cisco, Texas in 1919. He would later acquire several other hotels including the Abilene Hilton, the Dallas Hilton, the El Paso Hilton, and the Waco Hilton. In 1939, he built what is now known as the Hotel Andaluz in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Hilton Hotels would go on to become the world’s largest hotel company.

Danny Meyer

Danny Meyer is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Union Square Hospitality Group, which comprises some of New York's most acclaimed restaurants: Union Square Cafe, Gramercy Tavern, The Modern, Maialino, and more.Danny and USHG also founded Shake Shack, the modern-day “roadside” burger restaurant for which he serves as Chairman of the Board.He is the author of the book, Setting the Table, The Transforming Power of Hospitality in Service. Today, he continues to advocate for the hospitality industry and is a globally respected voice on all issues regarding hospitality and hospitality workers.

David Kong

David Kong is the former President and CEO of Best Western International. He joined Best Western Hotels & Resorts in 2001 and became CEO in 2004. During his tenure as CEO, Kong formed BWH Hotel Group and extended the company’s reach globally.

Horst Schulze

Horst Schulze is a co-founder and former COO of the Ritz Carlton Hotel Company. He started his career as a server’s assistant in a German resort town. He worked for Hilton Hotels and Hyatt Hotels Corporation before becoming one of the founding members of The Ritz Carlton HotelCompany in 1983. At Ritz Carlton, Schulze created the operating and service standards that have become world famous. After leaving The Ritz Carlton Hotel Company, Schulze founded The Capella Hotel Group.

Ian Schrager

Ian Schrager was born on July 19, 1946. He is a hotelier and businessman who has founded several hotel brands. He was a co-owner of the renowned Studio 54 nightclub in New York. He was also a co-founder of the Palladium nightclub. He opened the Morgan Hotel, his first property, in 1984. He later opened the Royalton Hotel and the Paramount Hotel, both in New York City. He launched the EDITION hotel brand in partnership with Marriott International. Most recently, he launched the Public Hotel brand.

Isadore Sharp

Isadore Sharp, born on October 8, 1931, is a hotel developer and the founder and chairman of Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts.
After graduating from college, Sharp worked for his father’s real estate company. He opened the Four Seasons Hotel in 1960 in Toronto. The Four Seasons Hotel company now has over 100 hotels worldwide.

John Willard Marriott

John Willard Marriott, Sr. was the founder of the Marriott Hotels company. Born on September 17, 1900, he started his company from a root beer stand in Washington, DC. He opened his first motel in 1957. He grew the company to become one of the largest corporations in the USA with interests in hotels, restaurants, cruise ships, and other sectors.

Julia Child

Julia Child was born on August 15, 1912. She was a chef, television presenter, and author. A promoter of French cuisine, she wrote several cookbooks and appeared on several TV programs.

Marilyn Carlson Nelson

Marilyn Carlson Nelson, born on August 19, 1939, is the former chairman and CEO of Carlson. The Carlson group includes Carlson Wagonlit Travel, Radisson Blu, Radisson Red Hotels, and Country Inns & Suites.
Marilyn has served on several boards including Exxon Mobil, Qwest Communications, and First Bank System. In 2014, she received the Oslo Business for Peace Award.

Mohan Singh Oberoi

Mohan Singh Oberoi, born on August 15, 1881, was an Indian hotelier and businessman. He was the founder of Oberoi Hotels & Resorts. Formed in 1934, his Oberoi Group operated hotels, luxury cruises, and restaurants and provided travel and tour services. He was also the founder of East India Hotels which he formed in 1948. His Oberoi Center for Learning and Development provides hospitality education to students in India.

Richard Branson

Sir Richard Branson is the founder of the Virgin Group which controls over 400 companies including Virgin Hotels. Virgin Hotels was formed in 2010. Branson also launched Virgin Limited Edition which operates exclusive private islands and resorts.

Sheila Johnson

Sheila Johnson is a businesswoman and hotel developer. She is the CEO of Salamander Hotels and Resorts which she launched in 2005. Salamander Hotels owns several hotels including the Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club, the Half Moon in Montego Bay, Jamaica, and the Salamander Resort and Spa, among others.

William Waldorf Astor

William Waldorf Astor, born on March 31, 1848, was a businessman, hotel developer, politician, and philanthropist. He built the Waldorf Hotel in 1890. In 1908, he built the Waldorf Hotel in London's West End.

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