U of Houston's Hilton College Honors Two

Gary W. Loveman, Chairman of Harrah’s and Howard Schultz, Chairman of Starbucks

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. October 14, 2008

HOUSTON, TX, October 22, 2007. More than 200 guests were on hand as two giants of the hospitality industry were inducted into the Hospitality Industry Hall of Honor at the Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management at the University of Houston on Oct. 17, 2007.

The Hospitality Hall of Honor, now in its 12 year, recognized Gary W. Loveman, chairman, CEO and president of Harrah's Entertainment, Inc., and Howard Schultz, chairman of Starbucks Coffee Company. Bob Ravener, senior vice president of U.S. Partner Resources for Starbucks, accepted the honor for Schultz.

Eric Hilton (center) congratulates Bob Ravener (left) senior vice president of U.S. Partner Resources for Starbucks Coffee Company, and Gary Loveman (right), chairman, CEO and president for Harrah's Entertainment, Inc., on their induction into the Hospitality Industry Hall of Honor at the Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management on October 17. Ravener accepted the award for Howard Schultz. Hilton was inducted into the Hospitality Hall of Honor in 2006.

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"The Board of Overseers is pleased to honor these industry pioneers," said Thomas W. Lattin, professor and managing director of the Hospitality Hall of Honor. "Their significant contributions have truly shaped the landscape of our industry."

Gary W. Loveman, a former associate professor at the Harvard University Graduate School of Business Administration, joined Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. in 1998. Since being named CEO in 2003, Loveman has presided over a period of growth and profitability that culminated in Harrah's 2005 acquisition of Caesars Entertainment, Inc. at $9.4 billion, the largest single transaction in the industry's history. His extensive background in retail marketing and service-management also led to the development and implementation of the gaming industry's most successful loyalty program, Total Rewards. Today, Total Rewards boasts more than 40 million customers. Harrah's performance has earned Loveman the distinction of being recognized as the gaming and lodging industry's Best CEO by Institutional Investor magazine for four consecutive years.

Howard Schultz wasn't the first person to be carried away by the aroma of a well-roasted coffee bean, but the Starbucks Coffee Company leader was undoubtedly the first to turn that reverie into a billion dollar retail operation. His adventure started in 1981 when he traveled from New York to Seattle to check out a popular coffee bean store called Starbucks that had been buying many of the Hammarplast Swedish drip coffeemakers he was selling. In 1983, he bought Starbucks for $3.8 million and implemented a series of employee-friendly practices that were unprecedented in retail, including comprehensive health care coverage for employees working at least 20 hours a week and their domestic partners. Starbucks experienced astronomical expansion in the 1990s and today, Schultz believes that Starbucks is "just getting started."

The Hospitality Hall of Honor recognizes industry leaders who have made great contributions in their fields. It includes the Leaders Gallery, a hallway lined with the portraits of past honorees, and the Hospitality Archives, artifacts provided by the inductees that memorialize their achievements and leadership. The college has been recognizing industry leaders in this manner since 1996.

"The Hospitality Hall of Honor has evolved from a small gathering of friends and associates of a given year's inductees to a week of events managed by a student board of directors from Hilton College," Dean John Bowen said. "Not only do we honor two of our industry's most worthy recipients, but we also provide our students with the opportunity to showcase their knowledge, skills and passion for the hospitality industry."