Mr. Taylor has been an active member of  IACC for several years, most recently serving as an instructor for the association�s Educational Institute.  He has also served on the Technology Committee, the Annual Conference Planning Committee, and the Professional Development Committee of IACC.  

An 18-year veteran of the hospitality industry, Mr. Taylor has been general manager of the North Maple Inn since January 2000.  He was previously the Director of Conference Services for the property and Corporate Conference Services Staff Support overseeing 14 regional centers for Benchmark Hospitality, the management company for the North Maple Inn.   Prior to joining the Benchmark organization in 1996, Michael Taylor was Director of Convention Services at the New York landmark hotel, The Waldorf-Astoria.  

Michael Taylor serves on the Tourism Committee of the Somerset County Business Partnership.  He is also a member of the Board of Directors for the Skylands of New Jersey Tourism Council.  

Mr. Taylor has played an active role in hospitality education throughout his career.  He has lectured at New York University�s Tisch Center (NYU) for Hospitality Tourism and Travel Administration.  He has also served as NYU course instructor of Financial Management for Hospitality and Travel.  

Mr. Taylor earned his Bachelor�s degree from Truman State University, of Kirksville, Missouri, and received his Master of Sciences degree in Hospitality Industry Studies from New York University.  

North Maple Inn at Basking Ridge (www.northmapleinn.com) offers 171 well-appointed guestrooms with 16 spacious suites; 20,000 square feet of dedicated meeting space with 25 conference rooms, including an 84-seat tiered amphitheater; and comprehensive meeting support services.  The hotel also offers Watson�s, a casual lounge; Cuisine, a restaurant serving internationally inspired fare in an open-hearth kitchen; and an elegant ballroom.   North Maple Inn provides complete fitness and recreation facilities for hotel and conference guests.  The property, which was built in 1995 and comprehensively renovated in 2000, is one of the finest hotels in central New Jersey.

North Maple Inn is managed by Benchmark Hospitality, an international hospitality management company based in The Woodlands, Texas.  Benchmark operates luxury resorts, hotels, spas, golf clubs and conference centers throughout the United States, in Canada, and  Japan.  For locations of Benchmark Hospitality properties and for additional information, visit Benchmark�s Web site at www.benchmarkhospitality.com.