Chevy Chase, MD | Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration recently recognized Bill Marriott, Jr., Fred Malek, and Trip Schneck for their thought leadership and contributions to the hospitality industry. Bill Marriott received the “Icon of the Year” award for his lifelong industry leadership and his extraordinary civic and philanthropic contributions. Fred Malek and Trip Schneck, co-founders of TIG Global, received the “Innovators of the Year” award for their dedication in assisting hospitality professionals worldwide with capturing market share and driving direct revenue to their businesses online.

“We are truly humbled to receive such a prestigious industry honor from the Cornell Hotel School,” said Trip Schneck, president and co-founder of TIG Global. “We are truly thankful to our clients and partners that have supported us as we launched new services and expanded into new territories.”

As co-founders of TIG Global, the premier internet marketing company for hospitality and travel, Malek and Schneck lead the company in serving an extensive portfolio of clients internationally, including hotels, resorts, hospitality ownership and management groups, restaurants, spas, and destination marketing organizations. Over the past year, the creative firm drove over $700 million in online revenue to its clients and received over twenty-five awards for excellence in web design and web marketing, including twelve Adrian Awards from the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI).

“Innovation, and the risk that goes with it, is the key to developing better and more efficient solutions," said Fred Malek, CEO of TIG Global. “During this time of decreased lodging demand, it is innovation that we need more of in order to succeed and it is an investment in innovation that will provide a high return on investment in the future.”

Marriott, Malek, and Schneck will be honored at the School’s annual awards dinner on June 2, 2009, at the Marriott Marquis in New York. The event is open to the public and TIG Global clients and colleagues are encouraged to attend. For more information on the awards dinner, visit www.hotelschool.cornell.edu/industry/events/awardsdinner.html.