Hotel Online News for the Hospitality Executive The Woodlands (Houston), Texas, April 2012Benchmark Hospitality International, a leading U.S.-based hospitality management company, has announced that Ellen Sinclair, senior vice president, has been honored with the Mel Hosansky Award for Distinguished Service. The award is presented annually by the International Association of Conference Centers (IACC), the leading professional organization governing the multi-billion dollar conference center industry on five continents. The Mel Hosansky Award for Distinguished Service is IACC’s highest and most coveted honor. “It is such an honor for me to receive this award,” said Ms. Sinclair. “I have a special place in my heart for IACC, and for its contributions to our industry and to excellence in meetings productivity globally. To be recognized in this way by my peers is a profoundly rewarding experience, and I’m grateful.”Ellen Sinclair receives the Mel Hosansky Award for Distinguished Service from Peter Stockmann, president of IACC – The Americas “The Hosansky Award recognizes the best of the best and Ellen Sinclair is certainly in that category,” said Tom Bolman, executive vice president of IACC. “She makes our industry better by challenging the status quo and inspiring her colleagues to seek continuous improvement in everything they do. IACC Americas is a stronger organization because of Ellen’s momentous contributions, particularly to the Learning Network and as a member of the Board of Directors.” Ellen Sinclair was a worthy recipient of the 2012 Hosansky Award for Distinguished Service. A 20-year veteran of the conference center industry and senior executive of Benchmark Hospitality International for many of these years, Ms. Sinclair has been intimately involved in the development and operations of multiple IACC-member properties, including some of the most technologically advanced conference centers in the United States. Additionally, Ms. Sinclair previously served two terms on the Board of Directors of IACC Americas, and actively contributed to the association through her work with the Annual Conference Planning Committee, the Leadership Development Committee, the Membership Development Committee, and serving as Chair of the IACC Learning Network. An educator at heart, Mr. Sinclair has also been instrumental in advancing IACC’s educational programming in a myriad of ways. She helped overhaul IACC’s core competency courses, created a current and user-friendly curriculum for several course offerings, through her work with the Learning Network she led the production of the “Conference Center Concept” DVD and User’s Guide that was distributed to 200 universities as part of their Hospitality curricula and to IACC members for Employee Training Programs. Her extraordinary educational contributions were recognized previously with IACC’s highest educational honor, the Pyramid Award. The Hosansky Award for Distinguished Service was named after the late Mel Hosansky, the longtime editor of Meetings & Conventions and Successful Meetings magazines, who was an ardent supporter of the International Association of Conference Centers and the organization’s objectives.About the International Association of Conference Centers Founded in 1981, the International Association of Conference Centres is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting understanding and awareness of the conference center industry and to giving member properties the tools necessary to provide an exceptional meeting experience. Active members meet a set of stringent Universal Criteria and agree to a Code of Ethics. Currently, the association includes approximately 400 members from the United States, Australia, Canada, Denmark, Sweden, Belgium, France, England, The Netherlands, Germany and Japan. For more information, visit the website at www.iacconline.org. “There are meetings and then there are IACC meetings.”About Benchmark Hospitality International

Benchmark Hospitality International is a leader in the management and marketing of resorts, conference centers, hotels, and Personal Luxury Resorts & HotelsSM. The independent company, launched in 1980, is a worldwide organization operating properties in major metropolitan and resort destinations. Benchmark’s international headquarters is located in The Woodlands, Texas, near Houston. Benchmark Hospitality is also a founding member of the International Association of Conference Centers. The company’s eastern regional office is in New Jersey, western regional office is in Washington, with international offices in Tokyo, Japan, and Santiago, Chile. For the location of Benchmark’s properties and additional information, visit www.benchmarkhospitality.com.This article is copyright protected by Hotel-Online. Reuse by other media or news outlets or organizations is prohibited. Personal use and sharing via social media tools is encouraged.

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Ken Ellens KEN ELLENS COMMUNICATIONS 201-758-2864 201-951-9511-Cell[email protected] Also See: Benchmark Hospitality Adds The 105-key Inn at Rancho Santa Fe to its Personal Luxury Resorts & Hotels Portfolio; New Owners of the Rancho Santa Fe, California Property, JMI Realty, to Launch $12 Million Restoration Project / April 2012 Benchmark Hospitality Names Myra Pasco as Director of Human Resources for the 316-room Cheyenne Mountain Resort in Colorado Springs, Colorado / April 2012 Benchmark Hospitality Names Alex Morrison as Director of Revenue Management for Turtle Bay Resort on Oahu, Hawaii / April 2012 Benchmark Hospitality Names Matt Hagerman as General Manager for the 84-room Willows Lodge in Woodinville Wine Country near Seattle, Washington / March 2012 Benchmark Hospitality Names Ana Fonseca as Director of Sales & Marketing for the 124-room ONE Bal Harbour Resort & Spa in Miami Beach, Florida / March 2012 Benchmark Hospitality Promotes Jacqueline Humes to Area Director of Finance; Responsible for both the 124-room ONE Bal Harbour Resort & Spa, Miami Beach and the 160-room Marenas Resort, Sunny Isles Beach, North Miami in Florida / March 2012 Benchmark Hospitality Appoints Perry Kokotis as Executive Chef for Chicagos World of Whirlpool, a Brand and Product Experience Conference Center / March 2012 Benchmark Hospitality Appoints Bibiana Galindo as Controller for the 160-room Marenas Resort in Sunny Isles Beach, Florida / March 2012 Benchmark Hospitality Appoints Colleen Pace as Director of Sales for the 316-room Cheyenne Mountain Resort in Colorado Springs, Colorado / March 2012 Benchmark Hospitality Appoints Kanwaljeet ‘Rikki’ Boparai as General Manager for the 124-room ONE Bal Harbour Resort & Spa in Miami Beach, Florida / February 2012 Benchmark Hospitality Appoints Jeff Wardlaw as General Manager for the Hotel Contessa in San Antonio, Texas / February 2012 U.S. News & World Report Names 19 Benchmark Hospitality Hotels & Resorts to ‘Best Luxury Hotels List’ for 2012 / February 2012 Benchmark Hospitality International Appoints Brian Mulhall as Director of Sales for the 295-room Eaglewood Resort & Spa in Itasca, Illinois / February 2012 Benchmark Hospitality International Appoints Miguel Diaz as Director of Sales and Marketing for 159-suite Marenas Resort in Sunny Isles Beach, Florida / February 2012 Benchmark Hospitality International Launches ‘BE’, A Private Label Chain Code for Travel Professionals / January 2012 Sales Team Expanded at The Chattanoogan Hotel in Tennessee, Operated by Benchmark Hospitality International; Traci Parker Promoted to Senior Sales Manager, 3 Sales Managers Hired / January 2012 Benchmark Hospitality International Adds Santa Fe’s Eldorado Hotel & Spa to Management Portfolio / January 2012 Marketing ‘Greenness’ to the Luxury Traveler – A Case Study: Bardessono, Yountville, Napa Valley / Jim Treadway, General Manager / December 2011 Benchmark Hospitality International Opens Tokyo Conference Center Ariake; Benchmark Japan’s Second IACC Conference Center in Tokyo / December 2011 Five Benchmark Hospitality International Chefs Present A Culinary Tour of Italy in Seven Courses at James Beard House in New York City / December 2011 Benchmark Hospitality International Names Guy Tomlinson as Controller for the 316-room Cheyenne Mountain Resort in Colorado Springs, Colorado / December 2011 Benchmark Hospitality International Names Chris Nelbach as Director of Revenue Management for the Hotel Contessa in San Antonio, Texas / December 2011 Benchmark Hospitality International Honored with Four Adrian Awards from the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International / December 2011 Benchmark Hospitality International Names Lisa Blair as Director of Catering for the Sorento Hotel in Seattle, Washington / December 2011 Benchmark Hospitality International Names Randall Obrecht as Director of Food & Beverage for the Sorrento Hotel in Seattle, Washington / November 2011 Benchmark Hospitality International Names Tom Cupo as Managing Director; To Oversee Operations of The Chattanoogan in Tennessee and The Inn at Virginia Tech and Skelton Conference Center in Virginia / November 2011 Benchmark Hospitality International’s Chefs to be Featured at James Beard House, New York; The Seven Course Dinner to Occur December 15, 2011 / November 2011 Benchmark Hospitality International Adds the 124-room ONE Bal Harbour Resort & Spa in Miami Beach, Florida to its Management Portfolio / November 2011 Benchmark Hospitality International Appoints Laura Batchelor Director of Operations at The Chattanoogan, Chattanooga, Tennessee; Will continue role as Director of Conference Services / October 2011 Benchmark Hospitality International Appoints Andrew Powers as Executive Chef for the 55-room Sorrell River Ranch Resort & Spa in Moab, Utah / October 2011 Benchmark Hospitality International Appoints Michael van Emmenes as Director of Food and Beverage for Lansdowne Resort in Leesburg, Virginia / October 2011 Benchmark Hospitality International Appoints Warren Breaux Corporate Director of National Sales / September 2011 Benchmark Hospitality International Names Todd M. Felsen as General Manager for the 316-room Cheyenne Mountain Resort in Colorado Springs, Colorado / September 2011 Benchmark Hospitality International Partners With USAA Real Estate; Expands Owner Advisory Group / September 2011 Benchmark Hospitality International Names Cindy Gagle Director of Sales & Marketing for Turtle Bay Resort, Oahu / September 2011 Benchmark Hospitality International Appoints Alex Cabañas to the Newly-created Position of President, Business Development and Finance / August 2011 Benchmark Hospitality International Names Michael O’Neil Director of Corporate Accounting / August 2011 Benchmark Hospitality International Names Brad Hayden as Chief Financial Officer / July 2011 Benchmark Hospitality International Names Jim Treadway Vice Chairman of Benchmark’s Advisory Board; Will Continue as General Manager of Bardessono / July 2011 Benchmark Hospitality International Names James Simkins Chief Operating Officer for new Personal Luxury Resorts & Hotels / July 2011 Benchmark Hospitality International Names Brian Dunne Director of Sales & Marketing for Hotel 718, Brooklyn, New York / July 2011 Benchmark Hospitality International Names Lisa Maria Stice Vice President of Global Online Marketing / July 2011 Benchmark Hospitality Names Max Kiebach as Director of Food and Beverage for the 147-room Inn at Virginia Tech and Skelton Conference Center in Blacksburg, Virginia / July 2011 Benchmark Hospitality Appoints John Santangelo Director of Food & Beverage for 295-room Eaglewood Resort & Spa in Itasca, Illinois / June 2011 Benchmark Hospitality International Acquires MTM Luxury Lodging; Launches Personal Luxury Collection with 13 Properties / June 2011 Benchmark Hospitality International Names Michael J. Taylor General Manager for Hotel 718, Brooklyn / May 2011 Benchmark Hospitality International Completes its $20 Million Resort-Wide Renovation of 316-room Cheyenne Mountain Resort in Colorado Springs, Colorado / April 2011 Benchmark Hospitality International Announces $25 Million Hotel Adjacent to Brooklyn’s Historic Downtown; Introducing “Hotel 718” / March 2011 Benchmark Hospitality International Names Danna Holck General Manager for Turtle Bay Resort, Oahu / March 2011 Benchmark Hospitality International Names Jeff Henschel Director of Information Technology / March 2011 Benchmark Hospitality Appoints Rachel Tandy Manager of the Spa and Fitness Center at Eaglewood Resort & Spa in Itasca, Illinois / February 2011 Benchmark Hospitality International Names Maryann White General Manager at The Heldrich / February 2011 Benchmark Provides Travel Confidence to Conference Guests; Lansdowne Resort and Eaglewood Resort and Spa Deliver Real-Time Airport Departure Displays, Boarding Pass Printing / January 2011 Benchmark Hospitality International’s 2011 Top Ten Meeting Trends / January 2011 Benchmark Hospitality International’s Villas of Grand Cypress, Orlando, Achieves Travel + Leisure’s Top 500 Hotels in the World List; Sister Property on Oahu, Turtle Bay Resort, Is A Top 25 Resort in HI / January 2011 Benchmark Hospitality Home Office Contributes Military Care Packages to Armed Forces Personnel in Afghanistan / January 2011 Benchmark Hospitality International Promotes Ted A. Davis to Senior Vice President Sales & Marketing / January 2011 Benchmark Hospitality International Announces Agreement with Virginia Tech to Operate The Inn at Virginia Tech and Skelton Conference Center / December 2010 Benchmark Hospitality International Adds World of Whirlpool, Chicago, to Management Portfolio; Private Day Conference Center to Create Next Generation Insperience Studio / December 2010 Benchmark Hospitality International Names Recipient of the First Annual Bob Zappatelli Award for Culinary Excellence; Beverlie Terra, Executive Chef at Chaminade Resort & Spa, Santa Cruz / December 2010 Benchmark Hospitality Names Taylor Amara as First Recipient of the Bob Zappatelli Culinary Arts Scholarship In Partnership with The James Beard Foundation, New York / December 2010 Benchmark Hospitality International’s Steve Kander Receives Prestigious Certified Specialist of Wine Certification from The Society of Wine Educators; Mentored by Benchmarks Chief Sommelier, Mary Watson-DeLauder / December 2010 Benchmark Hospitality International Named A 2010 “Top Work Place” by The Houston Chronicle; Places in the Top 50 / November 2010 Benchmark Hospitality International’s Hawaii Resorts Achieve Travel + Leisure’s “2010 World’s Best Awards” List as “Top 25 Resorts in Hawaii” / August 2010 Benchmark Hospitality International Announces $20 Million Renovation at Cheyenne Mountain Resort / July 2010 Benchmark’s Turtle Bay Resort A Top 25 Hotel in Hawaii for 2008 According to Travel + Leisure Magazine / July 2008 Benchmark Hospitality International’s Cheyenne Mountain Resort Named One of the “Best Companies to Work For in Colorado”; Only Hotel on List / July 2008