At the ceremony of the 14th Worldwide Hospitality Awards, Puneet Chhatwal, CEO of Steigenberger Group, and Georges Panayotis, CEO of MKG Group, presented the 2013 Lifetime Achievement award to Stewart Bainum's representative, his daughter Barbara Bainum. The founder and former CEO of Choice Hotels International has been selected by the Advisory Board of the Worldwide Hospitality Awards to receive this award, presented annually to a professional in international hospitality who has made a mark on the vocation.Stewart Bainum opened his first hotel in 1957, in Maryland in the United States, marking the beginnings of a small hotel chain, then called Quality Courts Group. The hotel group has rapidly expanded its portfolio to become one of the leading networks in international hotel franchising and today is known as Choice Hotels International. Stewart Bainum is also known for his community involvement, including having founded the Commonweal Foundation, which provides education and support programs for children."On behalf of all employees, officers and partners of Choice Hotels, we are pleased that our founder and former chairman has been selected to receive this prestigious award in honor and recognition of his dedication to our company. Mr. Bainum is an extraordinary man whose long hotelier career is an example for our community", said the president of the Worldwide Hospitality Awards ceremony, Stephen P. Joyce, current President and CEO of Choice Hotels International.
