Phoenix, AZ August 21, 2017—Harry Javer, Producer and Co-Founder of The Lodging Conference, one of the industry’s leading events for Hotel Owners, CEO's and Deal Makers, announced today that Jonathan M. Tisch, Co-Chairman of the Board and a member of the Office of the President of Loews Corporation, and Chairman and CEO of its subsidiary, Loews Hotels & Co, has been selected as the recipient for the 2017 Above and Beyond Humanitarian Award. The award will be presented at The Lodging Conference on October 31, 2017.
The prestigious Above and Beyond Award is presented annually to a hospitality leader who is highly regarded for having given back to the industry or their community. Past recipients include Minaz Abji, Executive Vice President, Host Hotels & Resorts; Jack DeBoer, Chairman, Value Place; John Q. Hammons, Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, John Q. Hammons Hotels & Resorts; Michael Leven, President and COO, Las Vegas Sands Corp.; Joe McInerney, President & CEO, McInerney Hospitality International; Leland C. Pillsbury, Co-Chairman & CEO, Thayer Lodging Group; Hasmukh (H.P.) Rama, CEO & Chairman of the Board, JHM Hotels; and Randy Smith, Chairman and Founder, STR.
Believing you can do well and good at the same time, Tisch is a champion of corporate responsibility and active citizenship. More than 25 years ago, he initiated the Loews Hotels Good Neighbor Policy, a recipient of the US President's Service Award. He is vice chairman of the Board of Trustees of his alma mater Tufts University, and is also the naming benefactor of the Jonathan M. Tisch College of Civic Life at Tufts. And last year he was honored by the NYU School of Professional Studies with the naming of the Jonathan M. Tisch Center for Hospitality and Tourism, of which he has been a driving force for years.
Recognized as a statesman for the multi-billion dollar travel and tourism industry, Tisch is a leader both nationally and locally in New York City. He is chairman emeritus of the United States Travel Association, and previously founded and served as chairman of the Travel Business Roundtable, as well as the American Hotel and Lodging Association. For nearly six years he was chairman of NYC & Company, the city’s official tourism agency, and was chairman of New York Rising, established to bring back visitors and revive the economy after 9/11.
“As a third generation hotelier and someone who has worked within the travel and tourism industry for over thirty years I am privileged to accept this year’s Above and Beyond Award,” said Jonathan M. Tisch, Chairman and CEO, Loews Hotels & Co. “To be included with the past recipients, representing some of the most influential and renowned names in travel is a great honor.”
“We are thrilled to have Jon Tisch as this year's recipient of The Above and Beyond Award,” said Harry Javer, Producer and Founder of The Lodging Conference. “This distinction is all about giving back and there is nobody who has given more to our great industry over the past thirty years. From legislative issues to educating the next generation to industry initiatives, Jon is always generous with his time and financial contributions. He is the embodiment of what a hospitality leader should be.”
Under his leadership, Tisch engineered Loews Hotels’ expansion and emergence as a luxury hotel company with a widely praised culture that places value on partnerships that empower team members, exceed customers’ expectations, contribute to communities, and improve the bottom line. Tisch was recently voted “Hotelier of the World” by HOTELS magazine.
A co-owner of the New York Giants, Tisch was instrumental in bringing the 2014 Super Bowl to the metropolitan area and served as co-chair of the NY/NJ Super Bowl Host Committee. Crain’s New York Business named him one of the "Top Ten Most Influential Business Leaders" and inducted him to their Hall of Fame, which recognizes individuals who have transformed the City in both their professional work and in their civic and philanthropic activities.