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for Making an Impact on San Francisco�s Hospitality Industry |
| SAN FRANCISCO, June 2, 2003 � The San Francisco
Business Times recently named Niki Leondakis, executive vice president
for Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, as one of the 100 Most Influential
Business Women in the Bay Area for the second consecutive year. Nominated
by coworkers, partners and friends, the 100 winners of this annual award
are women in leadership positions within corporations. The honorees
come from a wide variety of industries ranging from Bay Area government
to law firms, banks and major corporations.
As executive vice president of San Francisco-based Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, Leondakis oversees all operations, marketing, and human resources for the company�s portfolio of 38 hotels and 34 restaurants located nationwide and in Canada. In this high-performance executive-level position with challenging responsibilities, she offers support, mentoring and strategic counseling while acting as a role model for women in the hospitality industry. Leondakis has been a key player in the development of the company�s mission statement and culture statement, in addition to serving on the steering committee and executive committee leading the growth and expansion of hotels and restaurants in the U.S. She started the �Diversity Initiative� program for both hotels and restaurants, in addition to creating the company�s �Mentor Program� aiding in the development and advancement for young women and men in the restaurant and hotel division. Leondakis currently serves on the National Board of Directors for the Women�s Food Service Forum and the National Restaurant Association. She is also a member of the Ambassador Board of San Francisco-based, A Miner Miracle and the Advisory Board for the USF Hospitality Program. Leondakis built a career in the food and beverage industry by working in independent restaurants as well as hotel food and beverage operations. �I am very pleased to have received the 100 Most Influential Women In Business Award for the second consecutive year,� said Leondakis. �Over the past year, I have connected with exceptional leaders in a variety of fields. The San Francisco Business Times� recognition of Bay Area women in leadership positions has created a great sense of camaraderie and reinforces our responsibility to help develop and mentor the business leaders of the future.� Leondakis joined Kimpton Group in 1993 as director of restaurant operations. She initially supervised three of the Kimpton Group restaurants, but eventually took responsibility for 11 of the restaurants. In 1994 she was promoted to vice president of restaurant operations and in 1999, she became senior vice president of restaurant operations. In 2000, Leondakis was promoted to executive vice president. Prior to joining the Kimpton Group, Niki worked as food and restaurant director for the Ritz Carlton Hotel Company in Marina Del Rey, Calif., Atlanta and San Francisco beginning in 1985 to 1993. Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants is a San Francisco-based company known
for its
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Contact:
| Kathleen Bertolani
Director of Public Relations Kimpton Hotel & Restaurant Group 222 Kearny Street, Suite 200 San Francisco, CA 94108 Phone: 415-955-5407 Email: [email protected] |