Print Preview : Lodging industry luminary Isadore Sharp to receive Lifetime Achievement award at 2005 ALIS

Lodging industry luminary Isadore Sharp to receive Lifetime Achievement award at 2005 ALIS
Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts Chairman and CEO Isadore “Issy” Sharp will be honored at the fourth installment of the Americas Lodging Investment Summit (ALIS), Jan. 18–20, 2005, at The Westin Century Plaza Hotel & Spa in Los Angeles, Calif. The prestigious ALIS Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to Sharp in recognition of his commendable accomplishments in the lodging industry as well as outstanding commitment, leadership, and service to the community.

A major contributor to the lodging industry, Sharp founded Four Seasons in 1960 with the opening of the company’s first property in downtown Toronto. After a decade of trial and refinement, he created a single vision that today has made Four Seasons the leading luxury hotel operator exclusively focused on mid-size luxury hotels and resorts of exceptional quality.Sharp brought his educational background and design and construction expertise to the sole cause of satisfying customers. His leadership skills have attracted the capital sources and loyal employee base needed to create the largest luxury hotel management company in the world. The company continues to create properties of enduring value using superior design and finishes, and supports them with a deeply instilled ethic of personal service.

Additionally, Sharp has been the recipient of several prestigious honors including the Ontario Ernst & Young’s 2003 Entrepreneur of the Year Program’s Lifetime Achievement Award, International Distinguished Entrepreneur Award (1999), “The CEO of the Year” by The Financial Post Magazine (1992), and many more. He also has several community service achievements, such as initiating the corporate sponsorship program in support of the Terry Fox Marathon of Hope and the annual Terry Fox Run program, the largest single-day fund raising event for cancer research worldwide, which has raised over $220 million to date.

“We are delighted that Mr. Sharp will be at ALIS to accept this coveted award because he truly deserves this overdue recognition. An entrepreneur, a pioneer, and visionary who built a great lodging company — he also has shown incredible leadership with his many philanthropic pursuits,” said Burba Hotel Network (BHN) President and ALIS Conference Chairman Jim Burba.

Co-hosted by the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) and BHN, the two and a half day event is designed to address the unique needs of the hospitality investment community and provide a meeting and networking place for hotel executives,investors, lenders, developers, and professional financial advisors. ALIS features an extensive array of seminars hosted by leading experts and investors discussing important trends and identifying new opportunities. Proceeds from ALIS will benefit the educational, research, and training missions of the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Foundation, AH&LA’s not-for-profit affiliate. Vicky Karantzavelou - Wednesday, July 28, 2004