Press Release: American Hotel Foundation
December 6, 2000
PARSIPPANY, NJ -- Steven J. Belmonte, president and chief executive officer of Ramada Franchise Systems Inc. and
executive vice president of Cendant Corporation's Hotel Division, has been named chairman of the American Hotel
Foundation.
Belmonte was elected during the organization's board of trustees meeting in New York earlier this week. His one-year
term will begin on January 1, 2001. He succeeds Thomas F. Hewitt, who served three consecutive years.
Belmonte, who has served as an AHF trustee for more than six years, currently is chairman of the organization's
recently established New Century Fund Campaign and has been the foundation's secretary for the last three years.
He assumed the additional role of vice chairman in July 2000.
Earlier this year, he was also a major force in implementing an AHF Industry Awareness Campaign.
Belmonte will play an integral part in developing a fund-raising initiative through the New Century Fund Campaign
to provide scholarships for undergraduate students and hotel employees. The fund also will enable AHF to develop
and enhance training programs, fund research initiatives and support the industry in utilizing the latest technology
services.
During Belmonte's two-year term as chairman of the AHF's Fund Development Committee, the support for the organization's
annual giving campaign grew from zero to nearly $100,000.
"My involvement with the AHF allows me to have a proactive -- not a reactive -- role in the hospitality industry,"
said Belmonte. "Supporting the work of AHF is an investment in the future of hospitality and our future in
it."
Douglas Viehland, AHF president, said the organization has been "blessed with leadership" during the
previous decade, including the chairmanships of John Sharp, Allen Ostroff and Thomas Hewitt.
"Steve represents our leadership for the start of this new century," Viehland said. "Knowing what
he has achieved personally and professionally and his proven leadership already on behalf of the foundation, we
will be well positioned to assure AHF excels in fulfilling its mission of service to the lodging industry during
his tenure as chairman."
Belmonte's support of charitable causes extends beyond the hospitality industry. He currently serves as board chairman
of the Inner City Games and chairman of Childreach's honorary board. He has been honored by that organization with
its prestigious Humanitas Award.
Belmonte, a career hotelier and Chicago native, is responsible for the operation and administration of the Ramada(R)
brand, which includes nearly 1,000 hotels throughout the United States.
AHF is a not-for-profit affiliate of the American Hotel & Motel Association. Over the last 40 years, AHF has
provided funding for industry research, granted scholarships to hospitality management students and helped enhance
public awareness of the lodging industry.
AH&MA, founded in 1910, is a federation of U.S. state lodging associations representing some 11,000 hotels
and more than 1.4 million rooms. AH&MA provides operations, technical, educational, marketing, and communications
services plus governmental affairs representation to the lodging industry.
Ramada Franchise Systems Inc., a subsidiary of Cendant Corporation (NYSE:CD), is a mid-to-upper-midmarket chain
of nearly 1,000 Ramada Limited, Inn and Plaza Hotel properties throughout the United States. Reservations can be
made at any Ramada property by calling 800-2-RAMADA or visiting the brand's Internet site, http://www.ramada.com.
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Contact:
Shelley Gillespie Sgillespie@ahma.com or Douglas Viehland Dviehland@ahma.com both of American Hotel Foundation 202-289-3180