Former President of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company Available for Speaking Events Through The Ritz-Carlton Leadership Center(R)

CHEVY CHASE, MD--(Marketwired - Dec 1, 2015) - The best way to better your business or organization is to learn from those who have spent years doing the same for their own. Through The Ritz-Carlton Leadership Center®, companies have access to leaders within The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company and the best practices that helped them achieve success.

The most recent addition to the list of elite speakers is Simon Cooper, former president of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company. Cooper served as president from 2001 to 2010, and under his leadership the luxury hotel company developed The Ritz-Carlton Residences and the exclusive Ritz-Carlton Reserve, and was consistently recognized as the top choice in the industry; it was ranked #1 in the J.D. Power and Associates North America Hotel Guests Satisfaction Index Survey and named The Luxury Institute's Most Prestigious Luxury Brand for multiple years, and won the Condé Nast World Saver Award 2009 for the Community Footprints program.

As a frequent leadership speaker, Cooper frames his talks around global operations, focusing on crisis leadership, international expansion, global team development, successful team-building and timeless leadership. He has presented to well-known companies and organizations, including Credit Suisse, Charles Schwab, DHL, JP Morgan and Harvard Business School.

"The best 'outcomes' occur when employees, at all levels of an organization, are completely aligned with the vision of that organization," Cooper says. "The Ritz-Carlton Leadership Center enables me to partner with world-class companies at different stages of their journey toward global excellence and share the vital role that leadership talent plays in their long-term success."

His own global view started in England, where Cooper was born and raised, and developed in Canada, where he earned an MBA from the University of Toronto. It also lent to his roles at Marriott International, where, at different times, he served as President and Managing Director for Asia Pacific, President of Marriott Lodging Canada and Senior Vice President for Canada and New England.

Cooper's speaking role at The Leadership Center is a natural fit; he launched it in 2000. "He has always been a fan and supporter of The Leadership Center and recognizes its significant value to the brand," Diana Oreck, vice president of The Leadership Center, says. "Simon is an extraordinary leader, speaker and global citizen. I could not be more delighted that he has decided to speak on behalf of The Leadership Center."

Speaking engagements are just one of the offerings from The Ritz-Carlton Leadership Center. Organizations can attend courses and presentations, obtain advisory services and learn how to apply The Ritz-Carlton methodology for customer service, employee engagement and leadership development to their own business. The center also hosts the annual Your Journey to Service Excellence conference; the next will be held in Naples, Florida on October 13, 2016.

About The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, LLC
The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C., of Chevy Chase, Md., currently operates 90 hotels in the Americas, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and the Caribbean. More than 30 hotel and residential projects are under development around the globe. For more information or reservations, visit the company web site at www.ritzcarlton.com, and for the latest company updates, visit news.ritzcarlton.com. The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR).