Hotel Online Special Report 
Greater Charlotte Hospitality and Tourism Alliance Names John Giattino “Outstanding Hospitality Person of the Year” for 1999 CHARLOTTE, NC (January 27,2000) – John R. Giattino, Regional Director of Operations for Sunburst Hospitality Corporation, regionally based here, with four (4) hotels in Charlotte (Clarion Hotel-Airport/Coliseum, Comfort Inn-Executive Park, Quality Inn & Suites-Crown Point, and Sleep Inn-University Place), has been awarded the “Tom Phillips Award”, naming him as Charlotte/Mecklenburg’s “Outstanding Hospitality Person of the Year” for 1999, by the Greater Charlotte Hospitality and Tourism Alliance (HTA).
The award, established in 1995, recognizes outstanding achievements in community affairs, efforts made to promote education within the hospitality and tourism industry, and efforts made to protect, promote, and serve the interests of the hospitality industry in the Greater Charlotte area.
Previous award recipients include Greg Panos, a prominent hotel developer and operator, Bob Southern, a respected restauranteur, and Andy Phillips, Owner and Managing Director of the Charlotte Merchandise Mart.
Giattino, who has been certified as a Hotel Administrator by the American Hotel & Motel Association, has been employed with Sunburst Hospitality Corporation since September 1994.
He is an active board member of many organizations in Charlotte, including the Hospitality and Tourism Alliance (HTA), where he also chairs the Workforce Development Committee, the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce, the Charlotte Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, the Better Business Bureau, and the Muscular Dystrophy Association. He is also a Regional Advisory Board Member of the International Operator’s Council (North and South Carolinas), which represents the owners and operators of five Choice Hotels brands: Clarion, Quality, Comfort, Sleep Inn, and MainStay Suites.
In it’s third year in Charlotte, Giattino established a partnership with Charlotte/Mecklenburg Public Schools to create a Hospitality Operations and Management program, available to all CMS junior and senior high school students, providing classroom space at the Clarion Hotel-Airport/Coliseum and creating an authentic work/learning experience to teach these students about careers in the hospitality industry.
Participating students accompany (shadow) various members of the hotel staff during their daily duties throughout the entire school year.
Sunburst Hospitality Corporation owns and manages full service, limited service, extended stay, all suite hotels throughout the United States under such well-known brand names as Clarion, Comfort Inn & Suites, Quality Inn & Suites, Sleep Inn and MainStay Suites. With 82 properties representing more than 11,235 rooms in 26 states, Sunburst Hospitality Corporation is one of the country’s leading hotel and real estate management companies.
Contact: Lauren Bailey (301) 592-3800 Pamala Boyden (704) 523-1400 Also See: Charlotte Convention Visitors Bureau Exceeds Sales Goals for FY1999 / July 1999 Sunburst Hospitality Reports Selling 12 Hotels This Year and Redeploying Capital into Mid-Priced, Extended-Stay Hotels / Oct 1999