The Hunter Hotel Investment Conference is set to present Fred Cerrone, founder and chairman of Hotel Equities, with the 2023 Hunter Conference award for excellence and inspiration.
"Fred's dedication to our industry is surpassed only by his devotion to the associates of Hotel Equities," Lee Hunter, chairman of the conference and COO of Hunter Hotel Advisors, said in a statement. "Those who work with Fred know him as Coach. The nickname is a testament to his ability to lead, inspire, and develop the individuals around him. His legacy is clear in the strength of Hotel Equities and the many lives he has touched over his storied career in hospitality."
Before launching Hotel Equities in 1989, Cerrone held key management positions with hotels across the country and became a general manager at age 21. In 1993, he became one of Marriott International’s initial franchise partners.
After spending nearly three decades growing Hotel Equities to a company that today has more than 200 hotels under management, Cerrone turned the day-today operations over to his partner, Brad Rahinsky, current president and CEO. Cerrone now spends much of his time promoting the hospitality industry to young people entering the workforce and serving on the advisory boards of Georgia State University’s Cecil B. Day School of Hospitality Administration and Marriott’s Homes and Villas Brand. Cerrone is also the chairman of InStep Ministries and teaches monthly “Foundations” classes to current and potential leaders within the company.
“I first met Fred in the mid-1980’s when he was running Southern Host Hotels, managing a number of properties leading up to the creation of Hotel Equities," said Chuck Pinkowski, owner of Pinkowski & Company and chairman of The Hunter Award Committee. "His passion and leadership in the industry were thrilling to see through the performance and development of his company—a great foundation for the years to come and the Excellence and Inspiration to follow."
Rahinsky will present Cerrone with the award at the Hunter Conference on March 22 at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis.