About US

The Key to New York City Hospitality!

Serving the Hotel Industry since 1878,  HANYC (Hotel Association of New York City)  is the oldest hotel association in the US and one of the oldest professional trade associations in the nation . Its founders’ mission was to establish an association that would serve as the voice of the hotel industry, supporting its members with the highest standard of services and best available resources. Today the Hotel Association of New York City is an internationally recognized leader in New York City’s $5 billion tourism industry, representing  nearly 300 of the finest hotels with over 80,000 rooms and approximately 50,000 employees.

300 of the finest hotels

80,000 rooms

approximately 50,000 employees

In a city that serves as a global center for entertainment, media finance and culture, the hospitality industry plays a pivotal role. HANYC continues to anticipate the growing needs of its member hotels within New York City’s ever changing economic and political climate. The Association advocates on behalf of its members on a variety of legislative areas besides setting the standard for training, best practices and cooperative initiatives with a number of key New York City stakeholders. 

Labor/ Legal Counsel
Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP

Public Relations
The LAK PR Group

Fire Protection and Public Safety

Environment Protection

Legislative Representation

Kasirer
CMW Strategies LLC

International/National Involvement

"As the go-to source for New York’s hotel industry, HANYC is its proactive voice on all matters pertaining to hospitality. It advocates, educates, communicates and innovates to ensure the long term health and vitality of the industry. "
Vijay Dandapani
President and CEO of Hotel Association of New York City

Vijay Dandapani

President and CEO

Fred Grapstein

Chair

Shane Cookman

Vice Chair

John Fitzpatrick

Treasurer

Steve Batta

Secretary

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Steve Batta

Group President
Highgate

Richard Born 

Owner
BD Hotels

Dan Briks

General Manager
Martinique on Broadway, Curio Collection by Hilton

David Chu

President & Chief Business Officer
GAM Hospitality

Derrick Carlo

Vice President of Labor Relations,
North & Central America
Accor Hotels

Kaizad Charna 

Senior Vice President of Operations
Highgate Hotels

Shane Cookman 

Area General Manager
Fitzpatrick Hotel Group

Travis Cutler

Senior Director of State Government Affairs
Marriott International

Vijay Dandapani

President and CEO
Hotel Association of New York City

Michael D'Angelo

Head of Labor Relation
Hyatt Hotels

Christine Devers 

General Manager
W New York - Times Square

John Fitzpatrick

President and CEO
Fitzpatrick Hotel Group

Fred Grapstein 

Executive Vice President
Extropy Hotels LLC

George Greene

Vice President, Labor
​​Marriott International​

Maya Ginor

Vice President
MCR

Gerry Hughes

General Manger
​​Courtyard by Marriott Manhattan Midtown East

Wei Huang

Senior Vice President of Human Resources
Highgate

John F. McPartlan

General Manager
New York Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge

Jaime Novikoff

Counsel, Labor Relations
Hilton Hotels

18

Alex Novo

General Manager
The Times Square EDITION

Erik Palmer

Area Managing Director
Highgate Hotels

John Rieman

General Manager
JW Marriott Essex House

Joel Rosen

President
GFI Hospitality LLC

Luigi Romaniello

Managing Director
Waldorf Astoria

Mark Sanders

General Manager
New York Hilton Midtown

Joanna Sanchez

General Manager
W Hoboken

Merav Segev

Senior Vice President of Operations
Highgate Hotels

Russell Shattan

MCR Hotels

Robert Snyder 

President
Tishman Hotel Corporation

Sofia Vandaele 

General Manager
Intercontinental New York Barclay

Steve Batta Highgate Hotels
Vijay Dandapani Hotel Association of New York City
Michael D’Angelo Hyatt Hotels
Fred Grapstein Extropy Hotels LLC
John Rieman JW Marriott Essex House New York
Robert Snyder Tishman Hotel Corporation
         
Steve Batta Highgate Hotels
Ann Peterson The New Yorker, a Wyndham Hotel
Vijay Dandapani Hotel Association of New York City
John Rieman JW Marriott Essex House New York
Michael D’ Angelo Hyatt Hotels
Fred Grapstein Extropy Hotels LLC
Shane Cookman Fitzpatrick Hotel Group
Chris Elko IHG Hotels
Steve Batta Highgate Hotels
Kaizad Charna Highgate Hotels
Shane Cookman Fitzpatrick Hotel Group
Vijay Dandapani Hotel Association of New York City
Michael D’Angelo Hyatt Hotels
Diarmuid Dwyer New York Hilton Midtown
George Greene Marriott International
John Fitzpatrick Fitzpatrick Hotel Group, North America
Fred Grapstein Extropy Hotels LLC
Jaime Novikoff Hilton Hotels
John Rieman JW Marriott Essex House
Merav Segev Highgate Hotels
Russell Shattan MCR Hotels
Sofia Vandaele InterContinental New York Barclay
Steve Batta Highgate Hotels
Vijay Dandapani Hotel Association of New York City
John Fitzpatrick Fitzpatrick Hotel Group, North America
Fred Grapstein Extropy Hotels LLC
Geoffrey Mills GAM Hospitality
Steve Batta Highgate
Shane Cookman Fitzpatrick Hotels
Vijay Dandapani Hotel Association of New York City
Michael D’Angelo Labor Relations/Operations, Hyatt Hotels
Christine Devers Renaissance New York Times Square, W New York Times Square, W New York Union Square
Fred Grapstein Extropy Hotels LLC
Ann Peterson The New Yorker, a Wyndham Hotel
John Rieman JW Marriott Essex House
Sofia Vandaele Intercontinental New York Barclay

W. R. Dadukian Duke Associates

Bunny Grossinger Bunny Grossinger Enterprises

Marilyn Q. Lipman

Arnold Tanner Westchester Country Club

American Hotel & Lodging Association
Chip Rogers, President & CEO

The Broadway League Inc.
Charlotte St. Martin, President

Credit Management Association
Michael Mitchell,CAE, President & CEO

Hospitality Financial & Technology Professionals – New York City Chapter
Elena Mitronich, President

Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International
Consuela Hooblal, President
Kathie Stapleton, Executive Director

Hotel Engineers Association of New York
Sarah Berman, Executive Director

The Leading Hotels of the World, LTD.
Shannon Knapp, President & CEO

Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts
Liza Parker, Chief Operating Officer

New York City Tourism + Conventions
Fred Dixon, CEO

NYC Hospitality Alliance
Andrew Rigie, Executive Director

New York State Hospitality & Tourism Association
Mark Dorr President

New York State Restaurant Association
Melissa Autlio Fleischut, President & CEO

Preferred Hotels & Resorts
Jonathan Newbury, Vice President

RMPG, a York RSG Co.
Liam J. Dunne, President/CEO

Big Apple Greeters.
Alicia Pierro, Executive Director

GENERAL COUNSEL

Saul Finkelstein, Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP

COUNSEL

 

NameEmailDirectCell
DAVID R. ROTHFELDdrothfeld@egsllp.com646-895-7222 
JENNIFER SCHMALZjschmalz@egsllp.com646-895-7213845-519-9119
ROBERT L. SACKSrsacks@egsllp.com646-895-7216917-628-9938
ALEXANDER SORICasoric@egsllp.com646-895-7214 
LOIS M. TRAUBltraub@egsllp.com646-895-7215646-755-2698
JACLYN RUOCCOjruocco@egsllp.com646-895-7217973-902-9489
JOSEPH TANGREDIjtangredi@egsllp.com646-895-7219516-384-6314
OLIVIA HINESohines@egsllp.com646 895-7183 
CARA BROWNELLcbrownell@egsllp.com646-895-7234 
LISA GONZALEZlgonzalez@egsllp.com646-895-7399 
STEVEN R. NEVOLISsnevolis@egsllp.com646-895-7183908-328-8826

 

CONSULTANTS

Kasirer Consulting 

Suri Kasirer, President

Julie Greenberg, Executive Vice President

Dev Avasthi, Vice President, Government Relations

Jovia Radix, Senior Vice President, Government Relations, Corporate Legislation

Brian Daelman, Director, Government Relations, Corporate Legislation

 

CMW Strategies LLC

Michael Woloz, President & CEO of CMW Strategies

Anthony “Skip” Piscitelli, Counsel and Senior Advisor

 

The LAK PR Group.

Lisa Linden, Media Strategist

David Simpson, Senior Vice President

 

FINANCIAL ADVISORS

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Inc.

Wealth Management Advisor

Yatin Doshi, Senior Vice President

AUDITOR

Davis, Ward & Hochman LLP Larry B. Hochman, CPA, Partner

David H. Ward, CPA, Partner

Office of the Impartial Chairperson

Pam Ozoria

Vijay Dandapani

President and CEO

Niki J. Franzitta, Esq.

Vice President of Member Relations and Development

Albert Fernandez

CFO / Controller

Rhea Randhawa

Executive Assistant

Neil Tai

Technology Associate

Tamta Beriashvili

Office Coordinator