The event, held on Thursday, October 10 at the Hyatt Regency O� Hare, was attended by over 700 hotel industry members and supporters.  There were a total of 325 �Stars of the Industry� nominees in seven categories, honoring the outstanding talent and performance of hospitality employees.  The �Hotelier of the Year� award, the industry�s highest honor, recognizes outstanding contributions of leadership, service and exemplary professionalism in the lodging industry.  Miner has now gained entry into the state �Hotelier of the Year� competition. Winners will be announced on December 13, 2002 at the annual Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association meeting at the Hyatt Regency at McCormick Place in Chicago.  Prior to his arrival in Chicago, Miner was the Area Managing Director at the Sheraton New Orleans, overseeing a group of four Starwood Hotels including Sheraton, Westin and W.  He has more than 25 years of experience in the hospitality industry including management positions with Interstate Hotels, Hyatt Hotels and Amfac Hotel Corporation.

Miner is a member of several professional organizations including the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, the Chicago Convention & Tourism Bureau, the Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association, the Executives Club of Chicago, and the Building Industry Council.  Recently, he served on the HELRA (Hotel Employers Labor Relations Association) negotiating committee.  Miner earned a BS in Management from the University of Illinois.  

Located on the Chicago River, the Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers, at 301 East North Water Street, features 120,000 sq. ft. of state-of-the-art meeting space including a 40,000 square-foot ballroom (the largest hotel ballroom in the Midwest) and 1,209 guest rooms including 33 suites.