Washington, September 9, 2010�Kathleen Taylor, president and chief executive officer of Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, will receive the 2011 International Society of Hospitality Consultants (ISHC) Pioneer Award at the Americas Lodging Investment Summit (ALIS), January 24-26, 2011, in San Diego.  
 
Since joining Four Seasons in 1989, Taylor has played a key role in its growth and success, including the expansion of the company�s portfolio to the present 82 properties in 35 countries, and more than 50 hotels and resorts now under construction and development around the world.  Prior to assuming the role of chief executive officer in August 2010, Taylor was chief operating officer.  She also served as president of Worldwide Business Operations for seven years, overseeing all aspects of the business side of the company, including direction of Four Seasons worldwide hotel and residential product design, construction and development activities, managing the company�s acquisition and corporate planning, overseeing the corporate finance and legal affairs groups, and the corporate human resources and corporation administration areas.
 
Taylor�s business achievements have been recognized with the Schulich Award for Outstanding Executive Leadership in 2001, the IREFAC (Industry Real Estate Financing Advisory Council of the American Hotel & Lodging Association) Chairman�s Award in 2003, CGCA (Canadian General Counsel Awards) Award for Business Achievement in 2006, and induction to the Marketing Hall of Legends in 2009.  In 2010, Taylor received The Hennick Centre for Business and Law Medal for Career Achievement. 
 
A member of IREFAC, Taylor also is a director of the Royal Bank of Canada, chair of the Human Resources Committee, and a member of its Audit Committee.  She is a member of the Cabinet of the Toronto United Way and the Chair of its Endowment Giving Committee.  She is also a member of the board of The Hospital for Sick Children Foundation in Toronto, the chair of its Compensation and Resource Management Committee, and a member of its Research and Learning Tower Capital Campaign Cabinet.
 
Taylor obtained a law degree from Osgoode Hall Law School and an MBA from the Schulich School of Business in 1984.
 
The ISHC Pioneer Award was established in 1996, honoring those in the lodging community based on three criteria: active involvement in the industry, extensive contribution to the industry, and personal/organizational attributes and qualities.  Further details on specific criteria supporting these general categories can be found on the ISHC Website.
 
Co-hosted by the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) and Burba Hotel Network (BHN), the two-and-a-half-day ALIS event features an extensive array of seminars and panels hosted by leading experts and investors discussing important trends and identifying new opportunities.  The conference attracts the lodging industry�s leading hotel executives, investors, lenders, developers, and professional advisory community. Proceeds from ALIS benefit the educational, research, and training missions of the Educational Institute (EI) of the American Hotel & Lodging Education Foundation (AH&LEF), AH&LA�s nonprofit affiliate.
 
Online registration is available via the ALIS Website.  For general event information and sponsorship opportunities, contact Stephany Chen, BHN associate, at (714) 540-9300 or [email protected].