Mark Hoplamazian, Hyatt Hotels Corp. president and CEO, has been named the 2025 Cornell Hospitality Icon of the Year. The award, established by the Cornell Peter and Stephanie Nolan School of Hotel Administration, will be presented at the Cornell Icon and Innovator Awards in New York City on June 3.
Appointed to his current role in December 2006, Hoplamazian has led Hyatt’s IPO, overseen its growth, and helped define its purpose over 18 years: to care for people so they can be their best, Cornell said in a statement.
“We are excited and honored to recognize Mark as this year’s Cornell Icon,” said Kate Walsh, dean of the Nolan Hotel School. “Mark is a tremendous leader who, with his deep care for every colleague, guest, and stakeholder, embodies the essence of hospitality. He leads Hyatt – and our industry – with heart, mind, and soul, and is an inspiration and model for our Cornell students. We could not think of a more fitting leader to honor as our Industry Icon.”
Previously, he was president of The Pritzker Organization, the financial and investment advisor to Pritzker family businesses. Over 17 years, he advised several family-owned companies, including Hyatt Hotels Corp. He also worked in international M&A at The First Boston Corp. in New York.
Hoplamazian serves on the executive committees of the American Hotel & Lodging Association, WTTC, and World Business Chicago. He is a Brand USA board member, chairman of Skills for Chicagoland’s Future, and part of the Henry Crown Fellowship’s Discovery Class. He also sits on the Commercial Club of Chicago’s civic committee, co-chairs its Public Safety Task Force, and is a VF Corporation board director.
Andrew Karolyi, dean of the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business, said the event reaffirms the Nolan Hotel School’s leadership in global hospitality and travel.
“We look forward to another successful Icon & Innovator Awards celebration this year,” he said. “Congratulations to the new awardees, but I also want to congratulate our exceptional Nolan School leadership, faculty, staff, students, and alumni. We are so proud.”
The Cornell Hospitality Icon and Innovator Awards is the Nolan School of Hotel Administration’s largest annual event, gathering global hospitality and travel leaders and serving as a key fundraiser for the school’s need-based scholarships.
In January 2024, Shatterproof, a national nonprofit tackling the U.S. addiction crisis, recognized Hoplamazian at its seventh Hospitality Heroes Reception in Los Angeles, held alongside the Americas Lodging Investment Summit, for mobilizing hospitality leaders to raise awareness and combat addiction stigma.
