New York – April 17, 2017 —The Penn State Hotel & Restaurant Society (PSHRS) is proud to announce a distinguished group of sponsors honoring hotel industry legends and innovators Leland Pillsbury and Ray Schultz at a gala reception at the historic Nittany Lion Inn on April 20, 2017. The award and events commemorate the Penn State University School of Hospitality Management’s 80th year of service and leadership in the hospitality industry. It coincides with a day of thought leadership activities at the School, and the University’s 2017 Blue-White Weekend and football game.
Lee Pillsbury will receive the society’s Hospitality Industry Executive of the Year Award and Ray Schultz will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Sponsors of the gala event, based on their level of financial participation:
Old Main Sponsor Hilton
Nittany Lion Sponsor Marriott International, Inc.
Blue Sponsors Eastdil Secured First American Title Jones Lang LaSalle M. Frenkel Communications, Inc.
White Sponsors DiamondRock Hospitality Group Four Seasons Hotels Hersha Hotels and Resorts Frederic V. Malek The Nittany Lion Inn Park Hotels and Resorts PepsiCo PSAV RSM US LLP
Patrons Ashford Jason Bayona and Brittany Markwis Budge & Co, LLC Robert Carl William R. Kidd Concord Wiltshire Companies Constrata Tech Consulting Duetto IHG New Castle Hotels and Resorts Shaner Hotels Group Thayer Lodging Brookfield Hotel Properties The Food and Beverage Association of America The Plasencia Group, Inc. Wells Fargo
Donna Quadri-Felitti, Marvin Ashner Director of the School of Hospitality Management, said, “We are deeply appreciative of the support of these amazing industry leaders, as we honor two legendary hospitality pioneers amidst two days of robust discussions focused on thought leadership and interaction with students, faculty and distinguished guests. As we advance our school’s unique assets into the future, we look forward to a rich and memorable and event.”
For 80 years, the Penn State School of Hospitality Management has provided outstanding leadership for a global and dynamic hospitality industry – offering innovative programs, research, service to the profession, alongside world-class faculty, staff, and students. The school inspires all students to pursue excellence in scholarship, exhibit a strong work ethic, and become successful and ethical hospitality leaders.
To learn more about the dinner and reserve attendance, please visit www.hhd.psu.edu/shm/hospitality-executive-year-event.
About the Honorees Leland (Lee) Pillsbury is co-founder and co-chairman of Thayer Lodging Group, a Brookfield Company; founder of the Pillsbury Institute for Hospitality Entrepreneurship at the Cornell School of Hospitality Administration; and Chairman of the Board of Interstate Hotels and founder of numerous other companies. He joined Thayer Ventures recently in the role of managing director, and is a pioneer in supporting industry education and innovation at all levels.
Among other businesses, Pillsbury co-founded Thayer Lodging Group, where he spent more than 20 years overseeing strategic expansion and a successful sale to Brookfield Asset Management. He is now a senior advisor to Brookfield Global Lodging. He began his career with a 19-year tenure with Marriott Hotels, where he rose to the position of EVP, revamping the group’s pricing strategies, creating the industry’s first revenue and yield management systems and more. Pillsbury has launched and directed close to 20 companies since that time.
Last year, Pillsbury funded the Mary M. and Leland C. Pillsbury Trustee Scholarship, providing financial aid to help students achieve success at Penn State.
Raymond E. Schultz, also known as Ray, has been the Chairman and President of RES Investments LLC since January 1999. Schultz served as the Chief Executive Officer of Promus Hotel Corporation, as the Chief Executive Officer and President of the Hotel Division of Promus Companies Incorporated and as the Chief Executive Officer and President of the Hampton Inn/Homewood Suites Hotel Division.
Schultz began his career in hospitality after graduating from Penn State with a degree in labor management, servicing the Holiday Inns account for IBM after he got out of the Air Force as an F-89 pilot. After leading the development of the Holidex system, he ultimately joined Holiday Inns, Inc. where he held leadership positions including Vice President of Information Systems, and Chief Marketing Officer. He founded the Hampton Inn brand. He has been a Director of TBC Corp. and Equity Inns Inc. and a Member of the Advisory Board at North Central Group. He served as a Director of Choice Hotels International Inc., and Chairman and CEO of Promus Hotel Corporation.
Presently, he participate in the industry through Schultz Hospitality LP a hotel investment firm.
Ray and his wife Erin are proud of their support of Penn State, including among other gifts, endowed scholarships for students from eastern PA coal region, and the first endowed Dean's position at Penn State, which is held by Ann C. Crouter, the Raymond E. and Erin Stuart Schultz Dean of the College of Health and Human Development.
