NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. (Oct. 25, 2001)-- Three leaders in the hospitality and tourism industries will be honored at a Nov. 7 convocation marking the dedication of the College of Hospitality and Tourism Management at Niagara University.

Michael A. Leven, president and chief operating officer of US Franchise Systems; John Homik, chairman of the board of Inntel Hospitality Management Corp.; and Mario P. Perillo, chairman of Perillo Tours Inc.; will be recognized at a 4 p.m. ceremony in Alumni Chapel.  Buffalo hotel pioneer Ellsworth M. Statler and the foundation named for him will also be recognized.

A special dedication ceremony for the new college will follow in its newly built headquarters in St. Vincent�s Hall.

Leven, a veteran hotel executive who was formerly president and chief operating officer of Holiday Inn Worldwide and a former president of Days Inn of America, will receive the honorary degree of doctor of commercial science.

Based in Atlanta, Ga., U.S. Franchise Systems Inc. was formed in August of 1995 by Leven and an associate, when the company purchased the franchise rights to the Microtel brand.  Since then, the company has acquired the Hawthorn Suites chain and worldwide franchise rights to the Best Inns and Suites.  The company has more than 1,200 properties open or under development.

Homik, a 1947 accounting graduate of Niagara, will receive the Rabbi Samuel Porrath Visionary Award.  The late Rabbi Porrath started the nation�s first baccalaureate program in tourism at Niagara in 1968. 

Headquartered in Ithaca, Homik�s Inntel Hospitality provides professional hotel and restaurant management and development services for both full-service and limited-service hotels, motels and restaurants.  The company also owns six hotels and motels in the Syracuse and central New York areas and plans to open another hotel soon in Oneonta.

Perillo will receive the college�s Lifetime Tourism Achievement Award for developing Perillo Tours into the world�s largest operator of escorted tours to Italy.  The company, which has been operated by three generations of the Perillo family, was started in 1945 in the Bronx by Joseph Perillo, Mario�s father.  Mario, who has come to be known as �Mr. Italy,� took over the business when his father retired.  Mario�s son Steve is now president of the company, which has its headquarters in Woodcliff, N.J.  In addition to Italy, Perillo Tours conducts trips to Hawaii and such European capital cities as London, Paris and Rome.

Statler will be recognized for his pioneering work in developing America�s first modern, commercial hotel, The Statler in Buffalo.  Opened in 1908, the hotel set the standard for the industry for years to come.
 

Statler, who died in 1928, provided for the creation of the Statler Foundation in his will.  Over the years, the foundation has contributed thousands of dollars in scholarships funds for Niagara students.  It also donated the funds for development of a computer lab for the hospitality program.  Most recently, the foundation provided a $1.525 million grant to the university for further development of the hospitality program.