NEW YORK—The Hotel Association of New York City has revealed its new slate of officers for 2015-16, including the election of Vijay Dandapani, president and COO of Apple Core Hotels, as chairman.
Dandapani, a longtime member of the Hotel Association’s executive committee and board of directors, is a veteran of the city’s hotel industry with experience in property acquisition, hotel renovations and new technology implementation. He has been instrumental in Apple Core’s growth and development since joining the company in 1993.
“It’s a tremendous honor for me to serve as chairman of the Hotel Association and to work alongside our esteemed president, Joe Spinnato, in leading one of the industry’s most venerable organizations in the greatest city in the world,” Dandapani said. “I am pleased and honored to succeed Geoffrey Mills, who has been an effective chairman and an integral part of our board of directors for more than a decade. On behalf of the entire organization, we thank him for his exemplary service.”
A native of India, Dandapani was recognized in 1998 by Crain’s New York Business as one of the top 100 minority business leaders in New York City. In 2002, the Asian American Business Development Center, New York selected him as one of 50 Outstanding Asian Americans in Business, an award presented by Hector Barreto, administrator of the United States Small Business Administration. Dandapani also serves on the boards of directors of NYC & Company, the New York State Hospitality & Tourism Association and the International Hotel Motel & Restaurant Show.
The association’s other officers for 2015-16 are:
Vice Chairman: Hervé Houdré, general manager, InterContinental Barclay (InterContinental Hotels Group)
Secretary: John Fitzpatrick, president and CEO, Fitzpatrick Hotel Group—North America; Fitzpatrick previously served as chairman from 2011-12
Treasurer: Leland Lewis, general manager, Roosevelt Hotel (Interstate Hotels & Resorts)
Joseph E. Spinnato will continue to serve as the Hotel Association’s president—a post he has held for 27 years—through 2015, when he will retire,.
Established in 1878, the Hotel Association of New York City, Inc. is one of the oldest professional trade associations in the nation, according to the group. Its membership includes 275 hotels in New York City, representing more than 76,000 rooms and 50,000 employees.