Cataldo named hotel association board chair

Jerome F. Cataldo, president/chief executive officer of Hostmark Hospitality Group, has been named 2020 chair of the board of directors for the Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association. Cataldo was elected by the IHLA membership for a one-year term.

IHLA is a trade association that represents the lodging industry in Illinois and is comprised of more than 500 hotels and their employees, as well as industry partners and suppliers. IHLA serves as the industry's advocate on political issues, provides a variety of member benefits, and offers educational programming.

Cataldo, whose career in hotel operations began in 1982, has occupied a variety of positions within HHG. He currently identifies acquisition, development, and management contract opportunities; directs the expansion of strategic business relationships with institutional owners and investment funds; and directs the company's relationship with real estate brokers, hotel owners, financial and institutional fund managers, and hotel franchise companies.

He serves as vice chair of DePaul University's School of Hospitality Leadership Advisory Council and formerly served on the Kendall College Les Roches School of Hospitality Management Advisory Board. Cataldo has been a regular lecturer at Roosevelt University's Manfred Steinfeld School of Hospitality and Tourism Management and Florida International University's Chaplin School of Hospitality and Tourism Management. He was formerly on the Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau's board of directors.

Cataldo received a Bachelor of Science degree in finance from Marquette University and a Master of Business Administration in finance from DePaul University. He was named 2018 Honorary Alumnus of the Year by The School of Hospitality Business at Michigan State University.