Eisner to receive Lifetime Achievement Award

Sep 23, 05 | 7:51 am

Michael D. Eisner, CEO of The Walt Disney Company, will be honored at the 5th Annual Americas Lodging Investment Summit (ALIS), January 23-25, 2006, at The Westin Century Plaza Hotel & Spa in Los Angeles, Calif. Eisner will receive the prestigious ALIS Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of The Walt Disney Company's accomplishments in the lodging and tourism industries, and Mr. Eisner's commitment, leadership, and service to his many philanthropic interests.

A major contributor to the entertainment and lodging industries, Eisner assumed his current position in 1984 and immediately implemented a number of successful growth strategies. In 1984, Disney had only four hotels with 2,500 guest rooms, and now has 36 hotels, including Disney Vacation Clubs, with more than 35,000 guest rooms.

Under Eisner's leadership, Disney opened Disneyland Paris; expanded the Walt Disney theme parks; acquired Capital Cities/ABC, which included the ABC television network and equity ownership in ESPN, The History Channel, Lifetime, A&E, and E!; developed such leading Internet sites as Disney.com, ESPN.com, ABCNews.com, ABC.com, and FamilyFun.com; acquired Miramax Pictures; created Walt Disney Theatrical, which produced Beauty & the Beast, Aida, and The Lion King; and developed the Disney Cruise Line. This month, Disney opened its 11th theme park in Hong Kong.

In addition to his duties at The Walt Disney Company, Eisner serves on the boards of the California Institute of the Arts, Denison University, American Hospital of Paris Foundation, the Yale School of Architecture Dean's Council, Aspen Institute, and the World Trade Center Memorial Foundation, and is a member of The Business Council. In 1996, he and his wife Jane established and funded The Eisner Foundation, a philanthropic organization that helps improve and enrich the lives of underserved children. The Eisner Foundation gives approximately $7 million per year to non-profit organizations in the Los Angeles and Orange County areas of Southern California.

Michael has developed an incredible company that has made a huge difference to travel and tourism throughout the world, said Jim Burba, ALIS Conference Chair. "Under his leadership, Disney not only has developed a large and significant hotel company, but in the development of its world-renowned theme parks, it also has stimulated new tourism demand around the world and created countless opportunities for others in the travel and tourism industry. He is an incredible business leader and truly deserving of this prestigious award from our industry."

Co-hosted by the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) and Burba Hotel Network (BHN), the two-and-a-half day event is designed to address the unique needs of the hospitality investment community and provide a meeting and networking place for hotel executives, investors, lenders, developers, and professional financial advisors. ALIS features an extensive array of seminars hosted by leading experts and investors discussing important trends and identifying new opportunities. Proceeds from ALIS will benefit the educational, research, and training missions of the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Foundation, AH&LA's not-for-profit affiliate.

Online registration is now available via the ALIS Website at www.ALISconference.com. An early bird discount of $150 is available through September 30. For general event information and sponsor opportunities, contact Jonathon Zink, BHN associate, at (949) 574-3900 or jzink@burba.com.

AH&LA is a 95-year-old dual membership association of state and city partner lodging associations throughout the United States with some 10,000 members nationwide, representing more than 1.3 million guest rooms. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., it provides members with advocacy on Capitol Hill, public relations and image management, education, research and information, and other services to ensure a positive business climate for the U.S. lodging industry. Individual state associations provide representation at the state level and offer many additional cost-saving benefits.

BHN brings together more than two decades of experience developing and organizing the world's most prominent gatherings of the hotel and tourism investment community. At these events (over 50 conferences completed and/or in development), the investment community has come together to network, conduct business and learn about the latest industry trends. They have become "must attend" events for those interested in investing in hospitality real estate. The BHN Web site at www.BURBA.com, is the gateway for information about the conferences BHN produces, as well as providing a direct link to important players in the hospitality investment world, including lenders, brokers, architects, designers and hotel industry-related organizations.