A Leading Voice for Innovation and a Travel Industry Influencer, Pillsbury Joins ADARA at a Defining Moment in the Company’s Growth
MOUNTAIN VIEW, California, January 27, 2016 – ADARA, the global travel data platform, announces the appointment of Leland “Lee” Pillsbury to the company’s Board of Directors. As 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, a senior advisor at Thayer Ventures (an early-stage investor in ADARA), Chairman of the Board of Interstate Hotels and founder of dozens of companies large and small, Lee Pillsbury brings more than 40 years of experience in the travel industry to ADARA – one of the most exciting technology start-ups in its space.
“We are very pleased to have Lee join our Board as an independent director,” says Layton Han, CEO and Chairman of the Board of Directors of ADARA. “He will bring not just an indefatigable entrepreneurial spirit, but a scope of knowledge and influence in the global travel industry that is unparalleled.”
He concluded, “Lee is a widely-respected leader in the travel business and the highest echelons of the corporate world – a true industry influencer – and we are thrilled to have him join the Board. His experience launching and growing companies, broad-ranging insight into the global travel market, and impressive Rolodex across industries will strengthen and solidify ADARA’s position as it accelerates its worldwide growth and leadership.”
Alongside his new Board Member role, Pillsbury, was co-founder and co-chairman of Thayer Lodging Group, where he spent more than 15 years overseeing strategic expansion and a successful sale to Brookfield Asset Management. Pillsbury 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.
Pillsbury said, “I’m happy to join Layton Han and his team at ADARA at an important inflection point for the company, and the industry. In an era of rapid change and disruption, ADARA provides products, services and deep insights that are helping suppliers make sense of the landscape and grow their businesses. I look forward to helping get that message out to industry leaders worldwide.”
