Still going: 39-year Marriott vet named Chicago GM

Hassan El Neklawy, a 39-year veteran of Marriott International, has been appointed GM of the JW Marriott Chicago.

Hassan El Neklawy. Photo credit:
Marriott International

El Neklawy was most recently GM at the Renaissance Chicago Downtown, a position he held since 2014.

Throughout his career, El Neklawy has held various leadership roles and received numerous accolades for his efforts, including the Financial Excellence Award for the Renaissance Chicago in 2017 and America’s Full-Service Hotel of the Year—Distinctive Premium, in 2016 and 2017 for the Renaissance Chicago.

“With Hassan’s exemplary leadership, extensive Marriott knowledge, and strong work ethic, he is the best person to lead the JW Marriott Chicago team,” Greg Lattin, area VP for Marriott International, said in a statement.

El Neklawy began his career with Marriott in 1979 as a restaurant manager trainee at the Key Bridge Marriott in Arlington, Va. Over the next 17 years, he landed positions at the Vail Marriott Mountain Resort and Minneapolis Marriott City Center. In 1996, he was appointed to his first GM position at the Calgary Marriott Hotel in Alberta, Canada. In 2001, he became the GM of the Marriott’s Lincolnshire (Ill.) Resort before joining the Renaissance Chicago Downtown Hotel.

JW Marriott Chicago, which opened November 2010, is located in the Daniel Burnham-designed Continental & Commercial National Bank building at 151 West Adams Street in Chicago’s financial district. The property offers 610 guestrooms including 29 suites, 44,000 square feet of meeting and event space, 36 breakout rooms, the 8,000-square-foot Grand Ballroom and 6,000-square-foot Burnham Ballroom. In addition, the property offers The Florentine, a modern Italian, fine dining restaurant and Spa at JW, a 20,000-square-foot spa and fitness center.