Hoteliers – College Essay Example

Numerous elements that Ritz pioneered in his hotels remain customary in contemporary luxury hotels, leading to his inclusion in the Top 10 Legendary Hoteliers. Conrad Hilton, an American businessman and investor, lived from December 25, 1887, to January 3, 1979.

He is famous for establishing the Hilton Hotels chain. Hilton was born in San Antonio, New Mexico. His father, Augustus Halvorsen "Gus" Hilton, emigrated from Norway, while his mother, Mary Genevieve (nee Laufersweiler), was a devout Catholic of German ancestry. Hilton had seven siblings: Felice A. Hilton, Eva C. Hilton, Carl H.

Hilton, Julian Hilton, Rosemary J. Hilton, August H. Hilton, and Helen A. Hilton, Baron Hilton. Hilton served Goss military (New Mexico Military Institute), and St.

During his educational years, Hilton attended Michael's College (now the College of Santa Fe) and the New Mexico School of Mines (now New Mexico Tech). Alongside his studies, he joined the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity. In his early twenties, Hilton ventured into politics as a Republican representative in the inaugural New Mexico Legislature following the formation of the state. Furthermore, he dedicated two years to serving in the U.S. Army during World War I.

Hilton's belief in philanthropy was strongly influenced by the Roman Catholic Church and his sisters, as well as his mother who introduced him to prayer and the church during challenging times. This support was evident when he lost a beloved pony or faced financial setbacks. His mother consistently emphasized that prayer was the wisest investment he could make. Hilton's entrepreneurial talents started to grow while working at his father's general store in New Mexico as a young boy. In 1919, he bought Mobley Hotel, a 40-room hotel located

in Texas.

Hilton initially intended to invest his money in a bank, but that plan failed. Fortunately, purchasing the property turned out to be a fortuitous decision. The hotel business thrived, enabling him to enhance his portfolio throughout the state. In 1925, Hilton inaugurated his first skyscraper hotel, the Dallas Hilton, and later expanded into New Mexico. However, difficulties arose when the Great Depression struck, compelling Hilton to sell certain hotels in order to evade bankruptcy.

Despite encountering difficulties, he stayed resolute as the hotels' manager and repurchased them when economic conditions improved. In 1946, he formed Hilton Hotels Corporation and subsequently established Hilton International Company in 1948. This sparked Americans' fascination with international travel and business, making Hilton the inaugural widely acknowledged hotel chain—a remarkable achievement. Though he passed away in January 1979, his legacy thrives as numerous global lodging companies vie for opportunities.

Bill Marriott Jr., also known as John Willard "Bill" Marriott Jr. (born March 25, 1932), currently serves as both Chairman and CEO at Marriott International. He is the son of Alice Marriott and J. Willard Marriott, who played a crucial role in establishing Marriott International.

He attended St. Albans School in Washington, DC and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in finance from the University of Utah. During his time at the university, he was a member of Sigma Chi fraternity. He served as an officer in the United States Navy and is also an Eagle Scout who received the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award.

In 1956, Marriott joined the Marriott Corporation and rose through the ranks to become Executive Vice President and a member of the Board of Directors by January 1964. In November 1964,

he was promoted to president of the company, followed by his appointment as Chief Executive Officer in 1972 and Chairman of the Board in 1985.

Marriott actively engages with various boards and councils associated with U.S., demonstrating his commitment to participation beyond his corporate responsibilities.

Marriott has held multiple positions and roles, including being a member of the S. Travel and Tourism Promotional Advisory Board, the executive committee of the World Travel & Tourism Council, the National Business Council, the board of trustees of the National Geographic Society, and a director of the Naval Academy Endowment Trust. Additionally, Marriott serves as chairman of both the President's Export Council and the Leadership Council of the Laura Bush Foundation for America's Libraries. Notably, Marriott is an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In a 60 Minutes interview,

Mariott discussed his faith with football star Steve Young and church leader Gordon B. Hinckley.

J. Willard Marriott was appointed as an Area Authority Seventy and member of the Fifth Quorum of the Seventy by the church in 1997. In 2004, the Fifth Quorum of the Seventy was divided, and Marriott became a part of the newly-established Sixth Quorum of the Seventy. He held this position until his release on October 1, 2011.

Despite being Marriott's founder and mentor, J. Willard Marriott's son 'Bill' played a pivotal role in transforming the company into today's flourishing hospitality giant. With over five decades of leadership experience, Bill Marriott expanded Marriott from a family restaurant business to a global lodging corporation with over 3,100 properties located in 67 countries and territories worldwide. He is highly respected within the industry due to his

strong work ethic and meticulous attention to detail. One strategic decision he made that enabled global competitiveness was adopting a franchise model.

Charles Kemmons Wilson, the founder of the Holiday Inn chain of hotels, is renowned for his business innovations and the continuous accolades his company receives as an esteemed workplace. Born on January 5, 1913 in Osceola, Arkansas, Wilson was brought up by his mother Doll in Memphis, Tennessee following the untimely death of his father - an insurance salesman - when he was merely nine months old. Wilson pursued higher education and became a member of Chi Psi Fraternity. He tied the knot with Dorothy Lee.

They had five children: Spence, Robert, Kemmons Jr, Betty, and Carole. Wilson died in Memphis at the age of 90 and was buried there in Forest Hill. Hotel, motel, Holiday Inn. The individual credited with creating the hotel chain, well-known in Rapper’s Delight by the Sugarhill Gang, was none other than Kemmons Wilson. After a highly unsatisfactory vacation experience in terms of the quality of roadside lodging in Washington DC, Wilson took it upon himself to take action.

In 1952, he opened his inaugural hotel in Memphis. Eddie Bluestein, Kemmons' architect, jokingly suggested that it should be named after a Bing Crosby film. However, this idea was embraced and other establishments soon adopted the Holiday Inn name. In 1957, Wilson decided to franchise the chain as Holiday Inn of America, leading to remarkable growth. Wilson's vision involved standardizing the properties, ensuring cleanliness, predictability, family-friendliness, and easy access for travelers on the road.

By 1958, there were 50 locations across the country and 100 by 1959. In 1960, the chain

expanded internationally. The number of hotels reached 500 by 1964, and in 1968, the 1000th Holiday Inn opened in San Antonio, Texas. During this period, the chain achieved market dominance, primarily due to its innovative Holidex reservation system.

In June 1972, Wilson appeared on the cover of Time magazine. The incorporation of clever innovations like indoor pools transformed the perception of the often dilapidated motel into that of a roadside resort, all in line with Kemmons' aspiration for high-quality accommodations while on the move. Barry Sternlicht is the founder, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of Starwood Capital Group, a private investment firm that specializes in global real estate, energy, infrastructure, and securities trading. He also serves as Chairman of Starwood Property Trust, which is currently the largest commercial mortgage REIT in the United States and is traded on the NYSE.

Sternlicht has multiple roles and positions in various organizations. His alma mater, Brown University, appointed him as a trustee. Moreover, he holds positions on the Board of Directors for several companies such as The Estee Lauder Companies, Baccarat Inc., National Golf, Mammoth Mountain, Ellen Tracy, and Field & Stream. Additionally, Sternlicht serves on the International Advisory Board for Eurohypo Bank and the Advisory Board for Zelnick Media. He is also Vice Chairman at Robin Hood and serves on the boards of the Pension Real Estate Association (PREA), Dreamland Community Theatre, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation’s National Leadership Advocacy Program, and Business Committee for the Arts. Born in 1960 in New York City, Sternlicht graduated with magna cum laude honors from Brown University in 1982.

Barry Sternlicht, a distinguished graduate of Harvard Business School in 1986, is well-known for his

expertise in real estate development and his talent for identifying valuable properties and building successful brands. Born in New York City in 1960, Sternlicht completed his MBA at Harvard Business School. After graduating, he joined JMB Realty in Chicago but was terminated before the savings and loan crisis. Fortunately, through a friend's introduction, he secured investments totaling $20 million from wealthy individuals such as the Burden and Ziff families for his own investment company. With additional support from other investors, Sternlicht founded Starwood Capital Group in 1992.

Stemlicht's objective was to acquire multi-family apartment buildings through government auctions during the savings and loan crisis bailout. In 1993, he sold this portfolio to Sam Zell, a real estate magnate, for over 20% of Zell's Equity Residential Properties Trust. When Zell made the company public that same year, Starwood experienced a 100% return. Stemlicht then focused on purchasing hotel sites, merging his interests in architecture and real estate finance. This led to Starwood Capital's acquisition of its first hotels, starting a series of strategic moves that reshaped the hospitality industry. Among these moves was the purchase of Westin Hotels & Resorts Inc, followed by the acquisition of ITT Sheraton Corp one month later.

Sternlicht's wide-ranging interests in capital markets, operations, marketing, and design made the hotel business a perfect fit for him. His innovative ideas and mergers have significantly impacted the hotel industry, contributing to its growth and success. With a valuation of $14.6 billion, Sternlicht's influence continues to shape the industry.

In 1999, he launched the highly popular Starwood Preferred Guest program, which is recognized as the first "no blackout" program in the industry. That same year, he

also established the luxurious ST Regis brand after acquiring the St. Regis Hotel in Midtown Manhattan, a historic hotel with a century-old legacy. The influence of individuals like Kemmons Wilson reached across the Atlantic in the late 1960s when two Frenchmen, Paul Dubrule and Gerard Pellisson, who had worked in America, founded the SIEH (Societe d'investissement et d'exploitation hoteliers) hotel group. Dubrule and Pellisson had personally witnessed the success of hotels located along major highways and suburban areas and were resolute in their determination to introduce this concept to France.

They established their first Novotel hotel in an American-style outside of Lille in northern France. Additionally, They introduced the Ibis brand by inaugurating the Ibis Bordeaux in 1974. The company expanded its portfolio by acquiring the Courtepaille and Mercure brands in 1975, and later adding the Sofitel brand in 1980. In 1982, the SIEH purchased Jacques Borel International, a leading brand specializing in restaurant vouchers. Furthermore, the Group changed its name to the Accor Group in 1983, as it now encompassed restaurants and hotels. In 1984, Dubrule and Pelisson were honored as "Managers of the Year" by France’s Le Nouvel Economiste magazine.

Both men, Jay Pritzker and his counterpart, have made notable contributions to the hospitality and travel sector. However, what truly cemented their status was their commitment to modernizing European accommodations to align with American standards, leading them to establish renowned global brands. Jay Pritzker, also referred to as Jay Arthur Pritzker, was an enterprising American entrepreneur and organizer of conglomerates. He was born in Chicago, Illinois to Fanny (nee Doppelt) and A. N. Pritzker.

Robert Pritzker, the brother of Dan Pritzker's father, played a significant

role in expanding the Marmon Group based in Chicago. He focused on developing the lumber industry and eventually grew the company into a collection of 60 industrial companies. Additionally, alongside his brother Donald Pritzker, he co-founded the Hyatt Hotel chain in 1957 and owned Braniff Airlines from 1983 to 1988.

Establishing the Pritzker Architecture Prize in 1979, he and his wife Cindy were honored with the National Building Museum's Award in 1996. As part of Millennium Park in downtown Chicago, the Jay Pritzker Pavilion was completed in 2004, designed by architect Frank Gehry. It is remarkable to notice that among the Pritzkers, the family who founded Hyatt, every individual is worth mentioning.

The Pritzkers have been dominating the Forbes’ rich list since the beginning and have countless business success stories. While Donald Pritzker was initially responsible for running the hotel company, we are now acknowledging Jay Pritzker for his straightforward yet ingenious realization. In 1957, Jay Pritzker, who was a lawyer and accountant by profession, had been acquiring small companies, a practice he had been engaged in since he was 29 years old. He was sitting at Fat Eddie’s coffee shop in Los Angeles International Airport and noticed that it was extremely crowded.

The hotel, named Hyatt Von Dehn after its owner, was fully occupied. However, the owner, writing his offer of US $2.2 million on a napkin, caught Pritzker's attention. Similar to Kemmons Wilson's desire for high-quality roadside lodging, Pritzker recognized the demand for a luxurious hotel near a major airport, particularly among business executives like himself. Together with his brother Donald, they embarked on constructing hotels near airports in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Seattle, expanding

their operations nationwide and internationally.

In 1967, Pritzker purchased and transformed an unfinished hotel in Atlanta into the Hyatt Regency, the first of its kind with a grand atrium. Despite skepticism, the Hyatt Regency Atlanta thrived and some even doubted rainstorms would occur within its lobby due to its immense size. Pritzker's passing in 1999 did not hinder his lasting impact worldwide. In the midst of most hoteliers focusing on the West, Prithvi Raj Singh Oberoi, also known as Biki Oberoi, turned his attention towards the East.

P. R. S. Oberoi, chairman and CEO of EIH Limited, which is the flagship company of The Oberoi Group and chairman of Oberoi Hotels Private Limited, is the son of late Rai Bahadur M. S.

Oberoi, the founder of The Oberoi Group, has played a pioneering role in the development of the new Oberoi hotels and resorts. Despite initially doing little work, as his father advised him to explore the world, he eventually made a name for himself. In an interview, he revealed that Maidens was the first hotel he managed, although he admitted to not taking it very seriously.

According to him, there used to be a general manager whom he would meet in the afternoon for two hours and then party in the evening. However, everything changed when he established Raj Villas, which featured extensive gardens with luxurious tents and villas. This innovative concept gained attention from international visitors and soon became recognized as one of the finest hotels globally, thus elevating India's status in the luxury hotel industry. Numerous other Oberoi hotels have since been established, often featuring prominently on prestigious lists of top hotels in the world.

He has

received many international awards and titles for his tireless efforts in hospitality. In January 2008, he was honored with the Padma Vibhushan, India's second highest civilian award, for his exceptional service to the country. That same year, he also received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Ernst ; Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards for his role in redefining luxury hotel design standards. Ian Schrager (born on July 19, 1946) is an American hotelier and real estate developer who is often credited with co-creating the Boutique Hotel genre. He first gained fame as a co-owner and co-founder of Studio 54.

Ian Schrager is credited with creating a new genre of hotel lodging. Along with Rubell, he ventured into nightclubs once again and opened Palladium. However, they faced a setback when they were unable to obtain a liquor license. Undeterred, they turned their attention to the hotel industry. With $60,000, they purchased the Executive Hotel and used the hotel itself as collateral due to unusual terms. They reopened it as Morgans Hotel in 1984. Morgans is also home to the successful restaurant Asia de Cuba, owned by NY restaurateur Jeffrey Chodorow. Building on their success, they went on to open Century Paramont Hotel and acquire and renovate the Royalton in 1988.

[6] Rubell, who was diagnosed with AIDS in 1985, passed away the following year. Schrager, known for his involvement in the notorious Studio 54 nightclub in New York, alongside Rubell, had to explore other sources of income after being convicted of income tax evasion at the club. Since he was unable to obtain a liquor license, he purchased the Executive Hotel. In 1984, he

reopened it as the Morgans Hotel, which turned out to be a successful venture. This success led to the opening of the Century Paramont Hotel and the acquisition and renovation of the Royalton in 1988. From there, Schrager founded the Morgans Hotel Group and went on to establish the Delano Hotel in Miami as well as the Sanderson Hotel and the St.

Martin's Lane Hotel, located in London, the Clift Hotel in San Francisco, and the Mondrian Hotel in Los Angeles, were some of the establishments created by Schrager. By 1998, he had become the dominant private hotelier in New York and had gained international recognition for his unique approach to hotel design. These hotels, often referred to as boutique-style or lifestyle hotels, were characterized by their themed, stylish, and aspirational furnishings. In contrast to mainstream hotels, boutique hotels were typically much smaller, with guest room counts ranging from three to 50.

In 2005, Ian Schrager departed from Morgans Hotel Group and established his own company, the Ian Schrager Company. During this time, he worked alongside artist and filmmaker Julian Schnabel on the Gramercy Park Hotel. Eventually, Schrager joined forces with Marriott International and together they created the EDITION hotel brand. The first EDITION hotel opened in Hawaii on October 15, 2010, known as The Waikiki EDITION.