GEOFF BALLOTTI, PRESIDENT and CEO of Wyndham Hotels & Resorts will be recognized by UJA Federation of New York at its annual Hospitality Division event in June. The event is held in conjunction with the NYU Hospitality Investment Conference and will raise funds to support UJA-Federation’s annual campaign, which supports a wide network of nonprofits.
UJA Federation will hold the event on June 4, at 4:30 p.m. at the Marriott Marquis in New York City. The federation works with a network of hundreds of nonprofits in New York, Israel and 70 other countries to provide $180 million in grants affecting 4.5 million people annually.
“For 15 years, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts has supported UJA and the vital work it does caring for those in need while creating and fostering diverse communities where all are welcome,” Ballotti said. “Together with my hospitality colleagues, we’ll celebrate the extraordinary work of UJA and how it improves lives in communities across the globe.”
Ballotti was selected because he is “one of the finest leaders and changemakers in our industry, said Jonathan Tisch, executive chairman of Loews Hotels and UJA’s Hospitality Division chair.
“Geoff is passionate about ensuring all people are treated with dignity and respect and this honor reflects that commitment in both his professional and philanthropic efforts,” Tisch said.
The UJA Hospitality Division committee members are Bruce Blum, Liberty Hotel Advisors, LLC; Richard Born, BD Hotels; Jonathan Falik, JF Capital Advisors; Mark Gerstein, McKinsey & Co.; Mark Gordon, Intrinsic Hotel Capital; Michael Lefkowitz, Triumph Hotels; Michele Mahl, The Agency; Gary Mendell, HEI Hotels & Resorts; David Pepper, Choice Hotels International, Inc.; Stacy Silver, Silver Hospitality Group LLC; Brian Schwartz, The Elliot Group; and Evan Weiss, LW Hospitality Advisors.
Last year, Ballotti became the second recipient of the Arne Sorenson Social Impact Leadership Award. The award is presented by the American Hotel & Lodging Association, the American Hotel & Lodging Foundation and the BHN Group. The award is named after Arne Sorenson, the former president and CEO of Marriott International who passed away in 2021, and in December of that year David Kong, the recently retired president and CEO of Best Western Hotel Group, was the inaugural recipient.
Red Roof President Zack Gharib, far right, participates in a panel discussion at AAHOA’s 2025 Convention and Trade Show.
