Lindsey Ueberroth was named president of the Preferred Hotel Group in June, and already she has plans to boost focus on quality assurance, industry partnerships and consumer awareness.

In his new role as divisional dean of the New York University Preston Robert Tisch Center for Hospitality, Tourism and Sports Management, Bjorn Hanson plans to boost the school's research offerings and reach out further to industry partners.

The Rezidor-Carlson relationship is mutually beneficial. Both will leverage previous success as Carlson brings Radisson Blu to the U.S.

Sir Richard Branson has the same approach toward hospitality as he has toward the airline industry, where he has been a great innovator: Have fun doing it.

Schwartz started the first Holiday Inn franchise in the Chicago area, eventually owning and operating 12 Holiday Inns. He later served as president of the International Assn. of Holiday Inns.

David Monahan is responsible for developing and overseeing the strategic direction of the property and the day-to-day operations.

Jonathan Douglas focuses on large-scale leisure entertainment and hospitality projects throughout the U.S. and internationally. His design approach centers on making connections that inspire guests to engage with the property physically, emotionally and intellectually.

President and CEO of Best Western said his priorities lie in using the collective power of the industry players to emerge stronger and better in 2010.

Marriott will receive Lifetime Achievement Award at the International Hotel Investment Forum, scheduled for March 8-10, 2010, at the InterContinental Berlin, Germany.

Eddie Abeyta's passion for architecture has driven HKS' initiative to be a design leader in the architectural industry. He has managed the design efforts for a number of award-winning, large-scale projects and is currently designing more than $3 billion in projects across the country.