NEW YORK— A quartet of top CEOs gave a favorable outlook for industry demand at Monday’s opening session and traditional top-gun panel at the 25th Annual NYU International Hospitality Industry Investment Conference, tossing out words like “bullish” and “optimistic,” although still wrapped inside a cloak of cautiousness. Moderated by Lalia Rach, associate dean of NYU’s Preston Robert Tisch Center for Hospitality, Tourism and Sports Management, School of Continuing and Professional Studies, the panel was composed of Stephen Bollenbach, president/CEO, Hilton Hotels Corp.; J.W. “Bill” Marriott Jr., chairman/CEO, Marriott International, Inc.; Marilyn Carlson Nelson, chairman/CEO, Carlson Companies; and Henry Silverman, chairman/president/CEO, Cendant Corp. While Marriott termed the current environment for hospitality like “the perfect storm” of elements affecting the industry, and answering a short-and-sweet “yes,” when asked if this downturn was the worst he’s ever seen, he said he also was “cautiously optimistic” regarding demand for the remainder of 2003. Silverman said he was “bullish, but only relative to where we’ve been.” He added Cendant’s hotel group was encouraged by bookings for summer, which are stronger than in the past, benefiting from the company’s high degree of drive-to properties. Nelson also was bullish, barring anymore “incidents” related to terrorism. Bollenbach joined Marriott in remaining “cautiously optimistic.”
