Ithaca, NY -- The School of Hotel Administration (SHA) at Cornell University announces that Robert Mandelbaum is the new president of the Cornell Hotel Society (CHS) for 2016. Mandelbaum will lead the executive board of CHS, the 87-year-old alumni association that represents SHA graduates in more than 53 active chapters worldwide. Mandelbaum's twelve-month term as president began January 1, 2016.

In 2016, CHS will continue their fundraising efforts to support SHA student scholarships, as well as faculty visits to chapter events around the world. CHS will offer more professional and social networking events, and hopes to increase alumni engagement through the revival of chapters that have been dormant in recent years.

"I am privileged to work with an executive board of highly accomplished and dedicated CHS leaders that will assist me in the implementation of my personal goal to invigorate and grow our local chapters," said Mandelbaum.

Mandelbaum is the director of research information services for CBRE Hotels Americas Research. He oversees production of the annual Trends® in the Hotel Industry statistical report, along with customized financial and operational analyses for client projects. He helps produce five-year forecasts of performance for six national chain-scales and 59 major U.S. cities using the firm's proprietary Hotel Horizons® econometric forecasting model.

Since graduating from SHA in 1981, Mandelbaum has given back to the school in many ways, including guest speaking in multiple classes, and as contributor and author for the Center for Hospitality Research andCornell Hospitality Quarterly.

An active member of CHS, Mandelbaum has served on the boards for the Northern California and Georgia chapters; as president of both the Georgia and Memphis chapters; as the Southeast regional vice president; and on the executive board as second vice president in 2014, and first vice president in 2015. Additionally, Mandelbaum serves as the CHS liaison and on the board of directors of the Cornell Alumni Association of Atlanta.

About the Center for Hospitality Research

The purpose of the Center for Hospitality Research is to enable and conduct research of significance to the global hospitality and related service industries. CHR also works to improve the connections between academe and industry, continuing the School of Hotel Administration's long-standing tradition of service to the hospitality industry. Founded in 1992, CHR remains the industry's foremost creator and distributor of timely research, all of which is posted at no charge for all to use. In addition to its industry advisory board, CHR convenes several industry roundtables each year for the purpose of identifying new issues affecting the hospitality industry.

Center Members: Accenture • Access Point Financial, Inc. • Barclaycard US • Cvent • Davis & Gilbert LLP • Deloitte & Touche USA LLP • DerbySoft • Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts • Fox Rothschild LLP • Hilton Worldwide • Host Hotels & Resorts • Hyatt Hotels Corporation • IDeaS Revenue Solutions • InterContinental Hotels Group • Jumeirah Group • Marriott International • NTT DATA • Preferred Hotels & Resorts • priceline.com • PwC • The Rainmaker Group • RateGain • ReviewPro • Revinate • Sabre Hospitality Solutions • STR • Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces • Tata Consultancy Services • Wipro EcoEnergy • Wyndham Hotel Group

Julie Pizzuti
607.255.2987
CHR