Remarks by Lucio Caputo – GEI President
It is with great pleasure that – on behalf of GEI and myself – I extend the most cordial welcome to Joseph Cozza, a Marriott International executive for over 30 years who is currently part of the global sales organization and serves as the Catering Sales Director for the Northeast Region.
A Magna Cum Laude graduate of Fairleigh Dickinson University, Mr. Cozza has held various executive positions with Sheraton, Hyatt, and Fairmont hotels. In recent years he was also Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Cipriani USA. He played a major role during the pre-opening and opening of the Grand Hyatt New York in 1980 and the New York Marriott Marquis in 1985.
Mr. Cozza is an active member of the hospitality industry and various philanthropic organizations. He is founder and former president of the New York Chapter of the National Association of Catering and Events (NACE). He serves on the Board of Directors of Inside Broadway and was a previous Board member of the Little Sisters of the Assumption and the Sports Angels.
His professional affiliations include the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI), the Italy-America Chamber of Commerce, French American Chamber of Commerce and the American Theatre Wing. He is also a member of the Food and Beverage Association of New York and of Les Amis d’Escoffier Society.
His awards and recognitions include the Emma Lazarus Award, given by the Associated Builders and Owners of Greater New York for his contributions to the city’s business community. He was the honoree for the Hospitality and Tourism Division of the Cardinals Committee, and received the Outstanding Achievement Award for food and wine from the Italian Wine and Food Institute. In 2006 he was named Hospitality Professional of the Year by the Food and Beverage Managers’ Association of America and was presented with the 2007 “Man of the Year” award by the Les Amis d’Escoffier Society. Most recently, in April 2018, he received the Civic and Cultural Award from the Clarion Music Society.
We are very grateful that Mr. Cozza has taken the time out of his very busy schedule to be with us today, and we look forward to hearing about the new activities of Marriott International, as well as his thoughts on the various changes that have affected the hospitality, food and entertainment industry in recent years.
I am pleased, therefore, on behalf of GEI, to present Joseph Cozza with the “GEI Friendship Award” in recognition of his many outstanding accomplishments in the hospitality sector.