Kathleen "Katie" Taylor has been named recipient of the 2012 Cornell Hospitality Innovator Award, an honor given annually by the Leland C. and Mary M. Pillsbury Institute for Hospitality Entrepreneurship at the Cornell University School of Hotel Administration (SHA). Taylor, president and chief executive officer of Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, received the award at the fourth annual Cornell Hospitality Icon & Innovator Awards, Tuesday, June 5, 2012, at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. — Source: CHR
Kathleen "Katie" Taylor has been named recipient of the 2012 Cornell Hospitality Innovator Award, an honor given annually by the Leland C. and Mary M. Pillsbury Institute for Hospitality Entrepreneurship at the Cornell University School of Hotel Administration (SHA). Taylor, president and chief executive officer of Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, received the award at the fourth annual Cornell Hospitality Icon & Innovator Awards, Tuesday, June 5, 2012, at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. — Source: CHR

Kathleen "Katie" Taylor has been named recipient of the 2012 Cornell Hospitality Innovator Award, an honor given annually by the Leland C. and Mary M. Pillsbury Institute for Hospitality Entrepreneurship at the Cornell University School of Hotel Administration (SHA). Taylor, president and chief executive officer of Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, will receive the award at the fourth annual Cornell Hospitality Icon & Innovator Awards, Tuesday, June 5, 2012, at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City.

"We are delighted to recognize Katie Taylor for her outstanding leadership and innovation in the hospitality industry," said Michael D. Johnson, dean and E. M. Statler Professor at SHA. "Katie's innovative approaches to building memorable experiences for guests and quality relationships with employees and business partners will solidify Four Seasons as the world's premier luxury hospitality company for years to come."

Since joining Four Seasons in 1989, Taylor has played a key role in its continued growth and success. The company's portfolio includes 86 hotels and resorts in 35 countries, and there are currently more than 50 projects in some stage of planning or development. Prior to assuming the role of chief executive officer in August 2010, Taylor was chief operating officer. She also served as president of worldwide business operations for seven years.

Taylor has received numerous accolades for her business achievements. She received the Schulich Award for Outstanding Executive Leadership in 2001 and was recognized with a Chairman's Award from the Industry Real Estate Financing Advisory Council (IREFAC) of the American Hotel and Lodging Association in 2003. In 2006 Taylor received the Award for Business Achievement from the Canadian General Counsel; was inducted to the Marketing Hall of Legends in 2009 and accepted the Hennick Centre for Business and Law Medal for Career Achievement in 2010. In 2011, she was honored with the International Society of Hospitality Consultants Pioneer Award, the Chairman's Gold Award from the Ontario Hostelry Institute, was named one of the Top 100 Most Powerful Women in Canada by the Women's Executive Network and became the first woman to receive HOTELS magazine Corporate Hotelier of the World award.

A member of IREFAC, Taylor is also a director of the Royal Bank of Canada and a board member for the Hospital for Sick Children Foundation in Toronto. She is also an avid supporter of United Way Toronto and an active volunteer.

At the awards event in June, Cornell will also honor the Tisch family with the Cornell Icon of the Industry Award. Since its inception in 2009, Cornell Hospitality Icon & Innovator Awards has grown to be the largest event on the SHA calendar, attracting more than 800 of the most influential leaders and innovators in the hospitality and travel industry. The event raises funds to support SHA's scholarships and programs. Current sponsors include: Exclusive Media Co-hosts–Travel + Leisure and USA TODAY; Strategic Marketing and Event Consultant–Amazing Taste, LLC; Strategic Brand Marketing & Design–The CSK Group; Access Worldwide, American Hotel & Lodging Association, American Hotel Register, Baccarat, Banfi Vintners, The Bernstein Companies, Bench Events, Boutique Design, Carlson, Choice Hotels International, Cleverdis, Deloitte, FRANCE 24, Group de Louvre, Hersha Hospitality Trust, Hilton Worldwide, Hospitality Design, Hotel Business, Hotel Management, HotelNewsNow, HotelPlanner.com, HOTELS, Hsyndicate, InterContinental Hotels Group, Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels, The Leading Hotels of the World, Lily Jack, The Lodging Conference, Marriott, Nobu New York, Oneida, PAR Springer-Miller Systems, PhoCusWright, Inc., PwC, Questex Hospitality Group, RLJ Lodging Trust, SchellingPoint, Southworth Development, SpencerStuart, Stonebridge Companies, Sunstone Hotel Investors, Sweet Street Desserts, Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces, Thayer Lodging Group, Thompson Hotels, Vantage Strategy, Veolia Transportation, The Wall Street Journal, Wells Fargo, Wyndham Hotel Group, and Ypartnership.

For more details about the fourth annual Cornell Hospitality Icon & Innovator Awards, please visit or contact Joe Strodel, Jr., director of communications and corporate affairs at SHA, at [email protected] or 607.255.4646.

About the Cornell School of Hotel Administration

The Cornell University School of Hotel Administration is shaping the global knowledge base for hospitality management through leadership in education, research and industry advancement. The school provides management instruction in the full range of hospitality disciplines, educating the next generation of leaders in the world's largest industry. Founded in 1922 as the nation's first collegiate course of study in hospitality management, the Cornell School of Hotel Administration is recognized as the world leader in its field. For more information, visit .

Ashlee McGandy
607.254.1368
CHR

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