Abdul M. Suleman

President & CEO

Mr. Suleman has over thirty years of experience in the hospitality industry with a leading global hotel corporation, and has earned a reputation for successful hotel turnarounds where he has taken underperforming hotel properties into profitability. Mr. Suleman’s professional accomplishments include openings of new hotels and takeovers of financially challenged properties. In 1994, Mr. Suleman founded Equinox Hotels which serves in the various roles of hotel acquisition, development, asset management, project consulting and manage full-service hotels in major markets throughout the United States and around the world. Equinox’s focus is on continuous profitable growth and generating maximum return on investment.

Prior to forming Equinox Hotels, Mr. Suleman served in senior management positions with Hyatt Hotels Corporation for over twenty-two years. He was directly responsible for many major Hyatt Hotels. He has served on the board of directors for multiple organizations and is an active participant in numerous community activities. Suleman graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from Brigham Young University. He has been an invited speaker at many prestigious hotel schools throughout the United States.

Activities

Regional Vice President and Managing Director – Hyatt Hotels Corporation San Francisco, California: Responsible for management and growth of Hyatt Regency San Francisco (803 rooms), Park Hyatt San Francisco (360 rooms), Grand Hyatt San Francisco (700 rooms), Hyatt at Fisherman’s Wharf (313 rooms), Hyatt Regency San Francisco Airport (793 rooms), Hyatt Regency Albuquerque (400 rooms), and Hyatt Regency Sacramento (500 rooms)

Managing Director – Hyatt Regency Dallas-Ft Worth, Texas: Facilitated the transition of ownership and management following Hyatt’s first acquisition of a 1450 room hotel including two 18 hole golf courses, and seven restaurants and bars, previously operated by AMFAC Hotels. Coordinated a $30 Million renovation program and increased room bookings from 30,000 future booked room nights to 500,000 future booked room nights. Responsible for the dramatically improved Quality of the Product, Service, Employee Attitude, Profitability, Community Relations, and building an excellent relationship with Hyatt’s partners. Hyatt Regency Dallas Fort Worth is the second largest hotel in the Hyatt Hotels in America and the largest airport hotel in the world.

General Manager – Hyatt Regency Dearborn, Michigan: Responsible for completing the renovation of hotel’s 700 rooms. Achieved highest profit levels since the hotel opened. Significantly improved the quality of the product, service and employee attitude and commitment. Efforts resulted in being named Hyatt Manager of the Year in 1983.

Opening General Manager – Hyatt Regency Minneapolis, Minnesota: Directed the opening of the new 540-room Hyatt Regency Minneapolis. Arriving six months prior to opening responsible for all furnishings, decor, layout, employee hiring, sales and marketing. Opened the first and only non-union hotel in the City’s history. Assisted businesses operating 400 showrooms owned and operated by Hyatt. Hotel became profitable from day one.

General Manager – Hyatt City of Commerce Los Angeles, California: Coordinated major renovation of the 300-room hotel including guest rooms, lobby, meeting rooms, two restaurants and the public areas. Turned around the hotel to profitability.

Achievements

• Nominated four times for the Manager of the Year award for Hyatt Hotels Corporation
• Received Manager of the Year award in 1983
• Recognized by Governor James J. Blanchard of the State of Michigan as a major asset to promote tourism in Michigan
• Received Spirit of Life award by the City of Hope, a pilot Medical Center and Research Institute in Duarte, California
• Received an Appreciation Award by Irish Israeli Italian Association of San Francisco for outstanding service to the community
• Honored by the Landsman Organization for outstanding services to the San Francisco community
• February 27, 1985, was designated Abdul M. Suleman Day in Dearborn by proclamation of the Mayor and City Council
• Awarded the Ellis Island Medal of Honor in 2014

Accomplishments

• Proven experience in turnarounds where hotels were unprofitable and with increased productivity and efficiency generated profitability and growth.
• Oversaw a $27 million renovation program to the Hyatt Regency San Francisco which was completed under-budget and ahead of schedule.
• Consistently maintained the quality of the product, service, profitability and growth through entire management career for hotels under his leadership.

• Maintained ongoing high profile positive relationships with Hyatt Corporate Management, the Pritzker family (owners of the Hyatt Hotels Corporation), and the owners of the individual hotels.
• Sustained a high level of mutual respect and trust with the employees of all Hyatt Hotels managed throughout his career. The energy and morale of his employees was always maintained at the highest level.
• Became spokesperson for the Hotel Industry in San Francisco. Represented Hyatt activities involving the City of San Francisco business relations and within the political sector.
• Over the years with Hyatt under his leadership, he was responsible for producing one vice president, nineteen general managers, many executive committee members, and a great number of department heads. Often new managers were brought into the company from outside or from within the Hyatt System to be trained under Suleman’s visionary leadership.

• Maintained professional relationships with Unions in hotel locations throughout the United States. Established a mutual level of respect and trust in all dealings with Unions.

• Generated donations for the underprivileged as well as schools, colleges, and universities.
• Housed the homeless in local area shelters. Assisted in the training and education of homeless people. Founded employment for them through Hyatt Human Resources Department.
• Attended community functions. Joined key organizations in the community enabling Hyatt to become recognized as a “Community Sensitive” Corporation.
• Instrumental in improving opportunities for education and personal growth of the youth of San Francisco community.

• Board of Directors for California Hotel and Motel Association, San Francisco Beautiful, the Downtown Association of San Francisco and San Francisco Chamber of Commerce.
• Vice President, Board member and Executive Committee member of the Hotel Council of San Francisco
• Vice Chairman, Board member and Executive Committee member of the San Francisco Convention and Visitors Bureau.
• Board member of the Industry Advisory Committee to Golden State University Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Management Program.
• Served on the Board of YMCA, American Liver Foundation, United Ways, Boy’s Club, and Bay Area Junior Achievement.
• Invited by the Chancellor of City College of San Francisco to serve on the Blue Ribbon Advisory Panel for promoting vision and guidance on aligning City College to the needs and demands of San Francisco.
• Works with San Francisco annual Fleet Week Youth Excellence Programs that acknowledges the outstanding achievements of foreign born San Francisco High School Seniors with the “Abdul M. Suleman Youth Excellence Award Certificate”.
• Supporter of the San Francisco Unified School District and was Honorary Principal for the Day in 1992, 1993, and 1994.
• Created a program to renovate and restore the Children’s Carousel in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park.
• Started a volunteer program to improve the appearance of San Francisco named Hyatt F.O.R.C.E. (Family of Responsible and Caring Employees). Under this program, Hyatt management and employees were excused twice a month to clean and beautify the streets, which needed the greatest attention.
• Invited by the Mayor of San Francisco to be a member of his Treasure Island Citizens Advisory Committee to plan for its conversion from a military base to civilian use.