DALLAS, June 5, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Ashford
Hospitality Trust, Inc. (NYSE: AHT) today announced that
Chief Executive Officer Monty J.
Bennett has been named the hotel industry's "Top-Performing
CEO of the Year" for 2011 by HVS Executive Search, one of the
world's leading consulting firms serving the hotel, restaurant and
gaming industries.
The award was presented to Mr. Bennett at the 34th Annual
Hospitality Leadership Awards in New
York on June 4, 2012 by
Keith Kefgen, Chief Executive
Officer of HVS Executive Search, and Steve
Rushmore, President and Founder of HVS. The award is
presented each year to the CEO who offers the best value to
shareholders based on HVS's pay-for-performance model. The
model compares financial results relative to CEO compensation, as
well as stock appreciation, company growth and increases in EBITDA
(earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and
amortization). Past winners include Jeffery H. Boyd, Stephen
Holmes, Jon E. Bortz,
William McCarten, Stephen Bollenbach, Hasu
Shah, Jonathan Tisch,
David Litman, Charles A. Ledsinger, Jr., J.W. Marriott, Jr.,
Isadore Sharp, Michael Leven, Barry
Sternlicht, Stephen
Bollenbach, Tony Wilson,
David Simon, and Michael Rose.
Mr. Bennett has served as Founder, Director and Chief Executive
Officer of Ashford since its formation in August 2003. Today,
Ashford has over $4 billion in assets
and has outperformed its peer average in total shareholder returns
on a trailing basis consistently over the past eight years.
"I am honored to receive this award and accept it on behalf of
all of the associates at Ashford who have been instrumental to our
company's success," said Mr. Bennett. "It is their in-depth
asset management experience and dedication to our broad investment
philosophy that have made it possible for Ashford to achieve
industry leading shareholder returns since our IPO. I am grateful
to everyone at Ashford, whose efforts have led to this impressive
industry recognition."
About HVS Executive Search
HVS Executive Search is the premier executive search and
advisory firm providing human capital consulting services to
leaders of the hotel, restaurant, and gaming industries. Practice
areas include senior-level executive search, mid-management
recruitment, compensation consulting, and performance management.
HVS Executive Search is a division of HVS, a fully integrated
consulting firm focused on the hospitality industry. Founded in
1980, HVS is the world's leading specialist in hospitality
consulting. With 30 offices globally, HVS offers unparalleled
worldwide market expertise.
About Ashford Hospitality Trust, Inc.
Ashford is a self-administered real estate investment trust
focused on investing in the hospitality industry across all
segments and at all levels of the capital structure. Additional
information can be found on the Company's website at
www.ahtreit.com.
SOURCE Ashford Hospitality Trust, Inc.