Cornell Hospitality Icon & Innovator Awards
14th Annual Cornell Hospitality Icon and Innovator awards
June 6, 2023 | 6:00 p.m. | Ziegfeld Ballroom | 141 W. 54th Street | NYC
Thank you to our 2023 sponsors:
Title Sponsor
Diamond Sponsor


Platinum Sponsors






Gold Sponsors









Thank you to the above companies for your support for the tenacious pursuit of excellence and innovation. To learn about opportunities to support this prestigious celebration of achievement, please contact Jennifer Mayo ’13 (CALS), director of external relations, Cornell SC Johnson College of Business, at js372@cornell.edu or 607.255.3101.
About the Cornell Icon of the Industry Award
The Cornell Icon of the Industry Award honors the lifetime achievements of hospitality and travel industry visionaries, for their professional and philanthropic contributions that have transformed the global industry and society.
The Cornell Peter and Stephanie Nolan School of Hotel Administration has selected award-winning restaurateur Danny Meyer, founder, executive chairman, and former CEO of the Union Square Hospitality Group, to receive the 2023 Cornell Hospitality Icon of the Industry Award. Read the full press release.

Past Award Recipients

Randy Smith (2021)
Co-founder and Former Chairman, STR
Chris Nassetta (2019)
President and CEO, Hilton Worldwide
Arne Sorenson (2018)
President and CEO, Marriott International
Isadore Sharp (2016)
Founder and Chairman, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts
Barry S. Sternlicht (2015)
Chairman and CEO, Starwood Capital Group
The Mariani Family (2014)
The Mariani Family &
Banfi Vintners (2014)
James Mariani MBA ’91
Virginia Mariani-Kitt ’82
Harry Mariani
Cristina Mariani-May
John Mariani ’54 (not pictured)

Tom Pritzker (2013)
Executive Chairman, Hyatt Hotels Corporation
The Tisch Family (2012)
The Tisch Family (2012)
James S. Tisch ’75
Andrew H. Tisch ’71
Jonathan M. Tisch

Charles F. Feeney '56 (2010)
Co-Founder, Duty Free Shoppers; Founding Chairman,The Atlantic Philanthropies
J.W. Marriott, Jr. (2009)
Chairman & CEO, Marriott International, Inc.About the Cornell Hospitality Innovator Award
The Cornell Hospitality Innovator Award honors extraordinary leaders who have created, built, or sustained contemporary, market-leading innovation in hospitality and travel enterprises.