In addition to releasing the latest edition of her book, Cindy Estis Green has been selected as one of the 12 inductees for the second class of the Cornell Hotel Society’s Cornell Hotelie Hall of Fame.
“Cindy was selected by the nomination/selection committee for her contributions to the industry, as well as to Cornell,” said Ted Teng, chair, Cornell Hotelie Hall of Fame committee, Cornell Hotel Society, and former president/CEO, Wyndham Hotels and Resorts—and a classmate of Estis Green. “Two things changed the most in my 40-year career: ownership of hotels and distribution or how a guest makes a hotel reservation. This was particularly dramatic in complexity in the last 20 years. Cindy has always been on the forefront of this discipline. But, more than that, she has taken her expertise and insights and generously shared them with the entire industry so that we can all perform better.”
While the full list of inductees was not available at press time, Teng said that while there wasn’t a theme going into selecting this year’s class, one quickly emerged. “As we selected individuals, the common denominator emerged as ‘game changers,’ he said. “They didn’t just play the game better; they actually changed the game.”
“I didn’t set out to be a game changer,” said Estis Green. “It just seemed like something was needed. And the world was changing in a way that was threatening to the hotel industry. And I could see it, when others didn’t. I had this bird’s-eye view because I had spent so much time learning about the technology that drives how hotels acquire their business. It is just so funny, either when I think about it or I talk to students who are now in college or graduating from hotel schools. They tell me, ‘I’m not sure what I’m going to do with my career.’ What I did with my career didn’t exist when I graduated from college.”
Her early work with Hilton put her on the path that led her to this recognition. “When they told me I was in charge of the GDS systems and the company’s other distribution systems, it seemed so arcane and not important,” she said. “The guy I worked for said that distribution through third parties was going to change the complexion of the entire industry. It’s just funny that from my first job after my MBA, until now, it’s become like the centerpiece of what drives the industry.”
