Destination Hotels Appoints Julie Purnell as Senior VP of Acquisition and Business Development
Englewood, CO - January 27, 2015 - Destination Hotels announces the appointment of Julie Purnell as Senior Vice President, Business Development & Acquisitions. In this position, Julie's primary role will be to help lead the company's growth efforts throughout the West region. Based in San Francisco, she will focus on securing new hospitality management contracts and will play a direct role in identifying and leading hotel and resort acquisitions.
Before joining Destination Hotels, for the past two years, Purnell was the Senior Vice President of Acquisitions and Development at Denihan Hospitality. In this role, she was responsible for expanding the James brand and Affinia Collection through securing third-party management contracts and recommending company investment contributions. Prior to this, Purnell was Vice President of Hotel Development for Marriott International's Western Region. At Marriott, she was responsible for driving shareholder value and earnings through the growth of Marriott's full-service hotels in the Western US. Purnell has also held leadership positions at other notable hospitality companies, such as Loews Hotels, House of Blues Hospitality and Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants.
"Julie is a widely recognized, experienced business development leader with multi-dimensional hotel company experience from leading independent, boutique and branded hotel companies," said Russ Urban, Destination Hotel's Business Development and Acquisition Leader. "Julie is a great addition to our team of business development executives."
Purnell is Co-founder of Women's Hospitality Investment Network (WHIN). She has served on planning committees including the NYU Hotel Investment Conference and American Lodging Investment Summit. Additionally, Purnell has spoken on panels at several hospitality conferences and events. In her spare time, she is a parent volunteer at the Cathedral School for Boys and is an avid athlete.
About Destination Hotels
Destination Hotels (Destination) is the largest owner and operator of independent hotels, resorts and residences in the United States. Headquartered in Denver, Colorado, Destination is an industry leader with more than 40 years of hospitality management and development experience. Located in premier destinations, the portfolio is continuously growing with more than 40 luxury and upscale properties from coast to coast. The award-winning company operates 20 golf courses, 19 full-service spas, six IACC-certified conference centers and 130 bars and restaurants. The privately-owned company is a subsidiary of Lowe Enterprises, a Los Angeles-based investment, development and real estate firm. For more information on Destination Hotels, visit www.destinationhotels.com.
Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) is a global leading lodging company based in Bethesda,Maryland, USA, with more than 4,200 properties in 80 countries and territories. Marriott International reported revenues of nearly $14 billion in fiscal year 2014. The company operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership resorts under 19 brands, including: The Ritz-Carlton®, BVlgari®, EDITION®, JW Marriott®, Autograph Collection® Hotels, Renaissance® Hotels, Marriott Hotels®, Delta Hotels and Resorts®, Marriott Executive Apartments®, Marriott Vacation Club®, Gaylord Hotels®, AC Hotels by Marriott®, Courtyard®, Residence Inn®, SpringHill Suites®, Fairfield Inn & Suites®, TownePlace Suites®, Protea Hotels® and MoxyHotels®. Marriott has been consistently recognized as a top employer and for its superior business ethics. The company also manages the award-winning guest loyalty program, Marriott Rewards® and The Ritz-Carlton Rewards® program, which together surpass 50 million members. For more information or reservations, please visit our website at 
