Former Starwood Executive, Tina Edmundson, Joins Marriott to Head Company's Lifestyle Brands
BETHESDA, Md., Aug 13, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX News Network/ -- Marriott International, Inc. (NYSE: MAR) announced today that Tina Edmundson will join the company in a newly created role -- Senior Vice President, Lifestyle Brands and Renaissance Operations.
Edmundson, a former Starwood luxury group and W executive, will lead brand strategy and operations and help provide marketing oversight for the Renaissance and Renaissance Club Sport brands which represent a global distribution of more than 140 hotels. Recent investments of over $2 billion by owners and franchisees have propelled the Renaissance brand as a premier group of lifestyle hotels and resorts that feature the body of a full service with the soul of a boutique.
She will also provide strategic oversight and operational direction for the emerging and much anticipated Edition hotel brand. Edition, Marriott's newest and most innovative hotel experience, is being developed in collaboration with Ian Schrager and already has an exciting global pipeline of new properties with the first opening in 2009.
"Tina brings to our company proven success in building exciting, relevant brands, and we are very pleased she believes the dynamic brands of the future are at Marriott International," said William J. "Bill" Shaw, president and chief operating officer.
Effective mid-September, Edmundson will report to Don Semmler, executive vice president, global brand management and operations. She most recently served as senior vice president of brand operations for Starwood's luxury group where she was responsible for defining and executing strategies to establish the W brand as a leader in the "lifestyle" lodging category. She also led the repositioning of the St. Regis brand in the luxury segment.
Earlier in her career, Edmundson served as General Manager of the Westin Philadelphia, and held a range of management posts in hotel operations, both at the corporate and property level. She received her B.A. from the University of Bombay, India and her Masters in Hotel and Restaurant Administration from the Conrad N. Hilton School at the University of Houston. Edmundson and her husband and daughter will reside in the Washington, D.C. area.
MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL, INC. (NYSE: MAR) is a leading lodging company with more than 3,000 lodging properties in the United States and 66 other countries and territories. The company is headquartered in Bethesda, Md., and has approximately 151,000 employees. In fiscal year 2007, Marriott International reported sales from continuing operations of $13 billion. For more information or reservations, please visit our web site at www.marriott.com.
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