Hoyt H. Harper II is senior vice president, Brand Management for Starwood Hotels & Resorts. In this capacity, Harper is responsible for aspects of the Sheraton Hotels & Resorts, Starwood’s largest and most important global brand and the Four Points by Sheraton brand, Starwood’s second largest brand. Harper’s responsibilities include; marketing, guest experience management, product development and owner relations.  An industry veteran, Harper has more than 25 years of experience in the travel and hospitality industry.

Prior to his current role, Harper, served as Senior Vice President  Business Development & Marketing Programs, where he was responsible for developing strategic alliances and partnerships for Starwood, as well as developing loyalty and membership programs, sponsorships and promotions. Prior to that, Harper held the position of vice president, marketing programs, where he oversaw the successful development and launch of Starwood Preferred Guest , Starwood’s award winning loyalty program. Harper was also responsible for developing an array of global marketing alliances with travel, credit card, business services, leisure programs, consumer product companies, sponsorships and promotions, including the launch of Starwood’s award winning co-branded credit card with American Express and sponsorship of the PGA Tour.  During his tenure with Starwood, Harper has solidified dozens of global marketing alliances, including over 25 global airlines, Microsoft, Sony, Core Fitness and American Express.

As a respected eight-year veteran of ITT Sheraton, Harper served as vice president and director, marketing programs & partner marketing. While in this position, Harper received the Harold S. Geneen Award, ITT’s highest achievement award for marketing.

Prior to joining ITT Sheraton, Harper spent 11 years in the travel industry, holding such positions as vice president and general manager of Lifeco Services’; vice president of marketing for Thomson Vacations, Inc. based in Toronto; director of leisure marketing for Avis Rent A Car in Garden City, New York and director of operations for Thomson Vacations in Chicago.

Harper graduated from Carthage College in Wisconsin.  In 2005, Harper was received Carthage’s Distinguished Alumni Award.  In July of 2006, Harper was elected to the Board of Trustees.

Black Enterprise Magazine has name Harper one of the most power African Americans in Corporate America.  In 2006, Lodging Magazine named Harper as one of the lodging industry’s Top Innovators for the Year for “mastering the alchemy of brand renewal” with the Four Points by Sheraton brand.  Harper is based in Starwood’s corporate headquarters in White Plains, NY.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with approximately 860 properties in more than 95 countries and 145,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. Starwood® Hotels is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels and resorts with the following internationally renowned brands: St. Regis®, The Luxury Collection®, Sheraton®, Westin®, Four Points® by Sheraton, W®, Le Méridien® and the recently announced AloftSM and ElementSM Hotels. Starwood Hotels also owns Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., one of the premier developers and operators of high quality vacation interval ownership resorts. For more information, please visit www.starwoodhotels.com.