New York City – 24 February 2017 –
The Hotel Association of New York City has announced new officers for 2017-18, including the election of Hervé Houdré, General Manager at the InterContinental New York Barclay, as its new chairman.
Mr. Houdré, a longtime board member of both the Hotel Association and NYC & Company, is regarded as one of Europe and America’s most respected hoteliers and as an accomplished veteran of New York’s hotel industry. Most recently, he presided over the widely acclaimed $180 million renovation of the Barclay.
“It’s a great honor for me to serve as chairman of the Hotel Association of New York City, an organization that has been a standard bearer for hotels and tourism in this city and the United States for more than a century,” Mr. Houdré said. “My fellow officers and I are committed to providing steady leadership for an industry that welcomes more than 60 million visitors annually and supports tens of thousands of good paying jobs for New Yorkers.”
Vijay Dandapani, president and CEO, Hotel Association of New York City, said, “We are extremely gratified by Hervé’s service as our new chairman and have every confidence in his leadership. I have personally known Hervé as a strong advocate for the hotel industry and as an effective manager, and am pleased at the opportunity to work alongside him in the coming years.”
A leader in the field of sustainable hospitality, Mr. Houdré previously served as chair of the Hotel Association’s Sustainability Committee where he helped advance and recognize sustainable practices at some of New York’s largest hotels. Mr. Houdré published Sustainable Hospitality, a white paper utilized by Cornell University’s Center for Hospitality Research. He has co-edited a book named Hotel Sustainable Development: Principles and Best Practices, published in 2011 by American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute, together with Prof AJ Singh from Michigan State University. Mr. Houdré was named “2006 Independent Hotelier of the World” by Hotels magazine.
Hotel Association of New York City officers for 2017-18:
- Chairman – Hervé Houdré, General Manager, InterContinental New York Barclay
- Vice Chairman – Leland Lewis, General Manager, Down Town Association
- Treasurer – John Fitzpatrick, President and CEO, Fitzpatrick Hotel Group – North America
- Secretary – Steve Batta, General Manager, JW Marriott Essex House New York
- President and CEO – Vijay Dandapani
Established in 1878, the Hotel Association of New York City, Inc. is one of the oldest professional trade associations in the nation. Its membership includes 275 of the finest hotels in New York City, representing more than 76,000 rooms and 50,000 employees.