Deptula has more than 40 years of experience in the hospitality industry and is currently the general manager of the Surrey Hotel in New York City.  Throughout his career he has held various positions at: the Plaza Hotel, St. Regis Hotel and the Regency Hotel, all in New York City.  Deptula is the chairman of the Hotel Association of New York City (HANYC) and has served in various capacities for the New York Hotel Executive Club, the Front Office Managers Association of New York, the Madison Avenue Business Improvement District and the Marty Lyons Foundation.  Deptula is a graduate of Manhattan College and has attended the General Manager Program at Cornell University.

Lussi is currently vice president of the Lake Placid Resort Hotel & Golf Club in Lake Placid, New York, and serves as chairman of the New York State Hospitality & Tourism Association (NYSH&TA). She replaces retiring Board member Robert Holt of Best Western Inns & Suites (Cooperstown, NY), as one of two NYSHTA representatives serving on the Board.

Board members for the 2005 IH/M&RS include: 

• Chairman, Chester S. Deptula, Surrey Hotel (New York, NY); 
• Treasurer, Joseph E. Spinnato, Esq., of the Hotel Association of New York City, Inc. (HANYC); 
• Secretary, Daniel C. Murphy of the New York State Hospitality & Tourism Association (NYSH&TA); 
• Joseph McInerney of the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA); 
• John Russell of Yesawich, Pepperdine, Brown and Russell and Hospitality Artists, LLC (Orlando, FL); 
• Cristina F. Lussi of Lake Placid Resort Hotel & Golf Club (Lake Placid, NY); 
• Xavier S. Lividini (New York, NY); 
• Paul Riedel of Holiday Motel (Williamsville, NY) and 
• Gene Rupnik of Rupnik Hospitality Management (Springfield, IL).

The International Hotel/Motel & Restaurant Show is sponsored by the American Hotel & Lodging Association; the Hotel Association of New York City, Inc.; the New York State Hospitality & Tourism Association, and is managed by George Little Management, LLC (GLMÒ).