Marriott International’s president, full service hotels for the US and Canada will step down at the end of the year.
Hospitality veteran Jim Kauffman has announced his retirement after a 37-year career with the company.
Kauffman joined Marriott in 1977 as a sales manager and has had leadership roles at hotel, regional and corporate level.
As a hotel general manager he helmed the former Marriott Mandalay Hotel in Dallas and the Philadelphia Marriott.
Kauffman also served as market vice president for Pennsylvania, Southern New Jersey and Delaware, vice president, market management for Northern California, regional vice president for Marriott’s franchise division in Washington, DC, and was also executive vice president for the Western Region.
In 2010 he served as COO, The Americas, Western Region.
Aside from his Marriott career, he has taken a keen interest in hospitality industry training and education.
He serves on the board of the School of Hospitality Business at Michigan State University, the Farmer School of Business at Miami University in Ohio, at Boston University School of Hospitality.
"Jim’s career is a testament to the performance and success he expects of himself and brings out in those around him, including associates, owners and business leaders," said Dave Grissen, group president, Marriott International.
"With a results-oriented approach and talent for coaching others, Jim is an exemplary example of someone who embodies our company culture," Grissen added.
