Courtyard Hotel director honored by his peers

William Sullivan, BE ’74, managing director of the Courtyard Newark-University of Delaware hotel and the University Conference Centers, was selected by the national organization of Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP) as one of the five recipients of its 2007 Hospitality Technology Award of Merit. The award is presented every five years to individuals who have made a significant innovation or breakthrough that established a path for others in hospitality technology.

HFTP, the global professional association for financial and technology personnel working in hospitality-related businesses, has more than 4,600 members. It recognized Sullivan for “his expertise in hospitality systems design and operations.”

“I am so honored to receive this recognition, especially since the awards are given every five years, and this only is the second group to receive them,” Sullivan says.

Sullivan, who throughout his career has implemented modern technology into business operations to improve service for hotel guests and other customers, also is designated as a certified hospitality technology professional by the organization. Before coming to the Courtyard Newark-University of Delaware in 2004, Sullivan had a 31-year career with the DuPont Co., most of it in hospitality operations with periods of management responsibility for the Hotel du Pont, the DuPont Country Club and what was then the Playhouse Theatre.

He also is an adjunct instructor at UD, teaching a hospitality practicum course, and is a frequent speaker at industry educational conferences.

In other news, the hotel itself has earned a Platinum Award from Marriott Guest Services, based on a guest satisfaction survey score of 92.7 percent for 2006. Only 16 of the Marriott group’s 775 hotels won the award by achieving scores of 90 percent or higher.