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Joe Lavin

Joe Lavin

Joe Lavin

Visiting Lecturer

Marketing and Tourism
550 Statler Hall
Email: jel67@cornell.edu

Professional Biography

Joe Lavin is founder and CEO of HarborStone Hospitality, an entrepreneurial venture that develops and owns hotels and provides general consulting in the hospitality industry. Through the recently formed Green Visions, LLC, Lavin purchased and is majority and operating partner of the historic Norwich Inn, located in Norwich, VT. From 2002 through 2004, Lavin was executive vice president and managing director of Marriott International’s Marriott ExecuStay, the company’s corporate housing division. During his tenure at ExecuStay, Lavin successfully introduced the corporate housing industry’s first franchise program. He was an active board member of the Corporate Housing Providers’ Association (CHPA). From 1997 through 2001, Lavin served as senior vice president, Franchising, for Marriott’s five limited-service brands. Under his leadership, Marriott’s franchising business achieved substantial growth and currently comprises 70 percent of Marriott’s limited-service portfolio. In addition, Lavin spearheaded the creation of the company’s newest lodging brand, SpringHill Suites, which has grown to nearly 200 hotels in only seven years. He was instrumental in the development and roll-out of the Fairfield Inn “New Blue” revitalization strategy, including introduction of the Fairfield Inn prototype. Lavin formerly served at Choice Hotels International in a number of leadership roles from 1984 to 1997. With over 30 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Lavin holds a bachelor’s degree in Hotel Administration from Cornell University. He is a past president of the Cornell Hotel Society, and serves as president of the Cornell Hotel Society Foundation and on the Advisory Board of the Leland C. and Mary M. Institute for Hospitality Entrepreneurship at the Cornell Hotel School.

Courses Taught

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