Marriott International (MAR/NYSE) has named Simon Cooper to the position of senior vice president, Canada for Marriott Lodging. Cooper will oversee Marriott`s 11 hotels in Canada including seven full-service hotels, one Courtyard and three Residence Inn hotels. In addition, Cooper will focus on new hotel development within the Canadian region.

Canada provides a strong and attractive market to expand Marriott`s hotel brands, said Todd Clist, president of Marriott Lodging for North America. There is a huge, untapped potential for us in Canada, and Simon`s leadership, contacts and experience will accelerate our growth and development.

An experienced international hotelier, his career began in 1970 at the Young Island Hotel in St. Vincent, British West Indies. He was formerly affiliated with Canadian Pacific Hotels and Resorts; Dan Hotels of Israel; and OMNI Hotels, USA as executive vice president. Cooper most recently served as president and chief operating officer of Delta Hotels and Resorts.

Cooper is active in a number of industry and community organizations. He is a director of the Conference Board of Canada, vice chair of the Board of Governors for the University of Guelph in Ontario, and a fellow of the Board of Trustees for the Educational Institute of the American Hotel and Motel Association. Cooper has been recognized with the Council of Hotel and Restaurant Trainers` 1995 Commitment to People Award and the 1996 Ontario Hostelry Institute`s Gold Award in the Hotelier category. Born and educated in Britain, Cooper holds an MBA from the University of Toronto. His new position will be based in Toronto, Ontario.

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