Barry Sternlicht CHAIRMAN , CEO , STARWOOD CAPITAL GROUP New York City
Ted Teng PRESIDENT AND CEO , THE LEADING HOTELS OF THE WORLD New York City vote : HOTELSMAG . COM / 2018
Now running an investment firm focused on global real estate , hotel management , oil and gas , and energy infrastructure since 1991 , Sternlicht has long been known for his hotel investments and brand development , ranging from the creation of W hotels to his eco-brand , 1 Hotels .
For the past 26 years , Sternlicht has structured investments with an asset value of approximately US $ 92 billion , which has included some 2,900 hotels . In 2008 , Sternlicht founded SH Group , a hotel management company , which owns and manages Baccarat Hotels & Resorts and 1 Hotels .
From 1995 through early 2005 , Sternlicht founded and acted as chairman and CEO of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide . During his tenure , he employed more than 120,000 people with 895 properties in 100 countries .
The Harvard Business School grad also serves as chairman of Starwood Property Trust , the largest commercial mortgage REIT in the U . S . and French crystal maker Baccarat .
Starwood Capital , its affiliates and externally managed public companies employ more than 3,800 professionals , while approximately 9,000 additional employees are involved with a dozen portfolio operating companies .
Sternlicht ’ s humanitarian efforts have garnered prestigious national honors such as JDRF ’ s Man of the Year , JDRF ’ s Living and Giving Award and JDRF ’ s Chairman ’ s Award .
Since joining Leading in 2008 , Teng has been dedicated to reigniting the 90-year-old brand . Holding firm to his motto , “ Preserve , Enhance , and Invent ,” he has honored Leading Hotels ’ commitment to the art of independent hotelkeeping and core values of excellence , while creating an innovative and modern Leading Hotels .
Teng has focused on reimagining and redefining a differentiated business model to successfully lead the company into the future . Through a collaborative approach with the collection ’ s more than 400 hotel members , the model fosters co-creation and innovation opportunities with passionate and like-minded hoteliers . In recent years , Teng created and implemented a new membership model , guided the business from a product-centric to customer-centric model and is leading the transformation of the brand ’ s loyalty program .
Teng ’ s nearly 40-year career is rooted in the global hospitality industry . Prior to joining Leading Hotels , he led the growth of hotel brands , serving as president and COO of Wyndham International , and president , Asia Pacific , for Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide .
A graduate of the Cornell University School of Hotel Administration , Teng has an MBA from the University of Hawaii . A global citizen , he was born in Shanghai , China , grew up in Hong Kong , and emigrated to the U . S . at age 13 .
April 2018 hotelsmag . com 13