Eric E. Pfeffer, former chairman & chief executive officer of Cendant Corporation's Hotel Division, continues to serve the company as a consultant on international development issues.

Pfeffer stepped down as leader of the Hotel Division in September 2001, a position he held for three years.  In that role, he oversaw the world's largest lodging franchisor with more than 6,500 hotels open on five continents under the Super 8, Days Inn, Ramadaâ, Travelodgeâ, Howard Johnson, Knights Inn, Villager SM, Wingate Inn and AmeriHost Inn brands.

During his 20-year career as a hotel and franchise executive, Pfeffer has been credited with forging strong relationships among franchisees and colleagues.  He was appointed chairman & chief executive officer in September 1998 after serving as Hotel Division president & chief operating officer. Prior to that, he served as managing director of the company's Global Services division for nearly two years, overseeing international sales and services for Cendant's hotel and real estate brands.  Pfeffer served as president & chief operating officer of Howard Johnson International, a Cendant hotel brand, from 1991 to 1996.

Pfeffer studied hotel and restaurant management at Florida International University, Miami, while working as a front desk agent at a Howard Johnson hotel.  After graduating with a bachelor of science degree in 1977, he accepted a job as assistant manager of the Howard Johnson Hotel in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., which he chose over a job offered by the Westin Plaza Hotel in New York City.  He later said he followed the advice of one of his professors who told him, "Don't be influenced by the glamour of the big time; someone has to be president of Howard Johnson!"

During his career with the Howard Johnson brand, Pfeffer progressed from front desk agent to general manager, area manager, district manager, regional manager, regional vice president, senior vice president of operations, executive vice president and, ultimately, president & chief operating officer.

Florida International University's Alumni Association presented its most prestigious honor, the Torch Award for Outstanding Achievement, to Pfeffer in November 2000 in recognition of his career accomplishments and successes.

In 1995 he was named a member of Travel Agent magazine's Inner Circle because of his work on behalf of travel agents worldwide.

The Shaare Zedek Medical Center of Jerusalem presented Pfeffer with the Raoul Wallenberg "I Care for Children" award in 1996 for his work with numerous civic and educational organizations.

Pfeffer is immediate past president of the International Hotel & Restaurant Association and an advisory board member of Florida International University, the DCT International Hotel Management School in Switzerland and MSI Inc., a technology-systems provider for the hospitality industry based in Phoenix.

Born in Venezuela, Pfeffer's early schooling was conducted in Pamplona, Colombia.  His family later moved to Israel, where he completed his secondary education and served in the Israeli Army.  Pfeffer and his wife, Carla, live in Miami and have two daughters, Jacqueline and Jessica.