New York, May 31, 2011: HVS Executive Search is pleased to announce the HVS Hospitality Leadership Awards for:

• Top-Performing CEO 2010 to Mark S. Hoplamazian of Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H).
• Top-Performing Board 2010 to LaSalle Hotel Properties (NYSE: LHO).

Keith Kefgen, CEO of HVS Executive Search, and Steve Rushmore, President & Founder of HVS, will present the awards to the winners during the 33rd Annual New York University International Hospitality Industry Investment Conference. The award ceremony will take place on Monday, June 6 2011, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the 16th Floor Sky Lobby at the New York Marriott Marquis.

This is the 18th year of the award presentation to the Top-Performing CEO, and the 13th year for the Top-Performing Board award.

The Top-Performing CEO of the Year Award is presented annually to the CEO who offers the best value to shareholders based on a Pay-for-Performance model designed by Keith Kefgen of HVS Executive Search. The model compares CEO compensation to such indicators as stock appreciation, market capitalization, and increases in EBITDA or FFO, to determine the top-performing CEO.

This year’s winner Mark S. Hoplamazian has been a member of the board of directors of Hyatt Hotels Corporation since November 2006. He has served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company since December 2006, as interim President from July 2006 to December 2006, and Vice President from August 2004 to December 2004. Mr. Hoplamazian is a member of the Discovery Class of the Henry Crown Fellowship at the Aspen Institute. He is a member of the board of directors of New Schools for Chicago and Chairman of the National Advisory Council on Minority Business Enterprise under the U.S. Department of Commerce.

HVS Executive Search has presented the Top-Performing CEO Award each year since 1994. Past winners include Jeffery H. Boyd, Stephen Holmes, Jon E. Bortz, William McCarten, Stephen Bollenbach, Hasu Shah, Jonathan Tisch, David Litman, Charles A. Ledsinger, Jr., J.W. Marriott, Jr., Isadore Sharp, Michael Leven, Barry Sternlicht, Stephen Bollenbach, Tony Wilson, David Simon, and Michael Rose.

The Top-Performing Board of the Year Award is presented annually to the board that is most effective in leading a public hotel company. Using a corporate governance model designed by Keith Kefgen, HVS Executive Search tabulates rankings that compare board makeup, independence, committee structure, conflicts of interest and a commitment to pay-for-performance.
This year’s winner LaSalle Hotel Properties is a leading multi-operator real estate investment trust (REIT) owning 35 upscale full-service hotels, totaling over 8,700 guest rooms in 13 markets in 9 states and the District of Columbia. The company focuses on owning, redeveloping and repositioning upscale full-service hotels located in urban, resort and convention markets. LaSalle Hotel Properties seeks to grow through strategic relationships with premier lodging companies.

HVS Executive Search has presented the Top-Performing Board Award each year since 1999. Past winners of the award include Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc., Morgans Hotel Group, Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, Arlington Hospitality, and Choice Hotels.

About HVS Executive Search
HVS Executive Search is the premier executive search and advisory firm providing consulting services to leaders of the hotel, restaurant, gaming and real estate industries. Practice areas include senior-level executive search, mid-management recruitment, compensation consulting and performance management. Our offices are located in New York, London, Hong Kong, Moscow, Mumbai and New Delhi. HVS Executive Search is a division of HVS, a fully integrated consulting firm focused on the hospitality industry. Founded in 1980, HVS is the world's leading specialist in hospitality consulting. With 30 offices globally, HVS offers unparalleled worldwide market expertise.