Stevan Porter

InterContinental Hotels Group announced Friday that Stevan Porter, president, the Americas, died.

Porter held additional duties as global leader franchise strategy and executive director of InterContinental Hotels Group PLC.

As president, the Americas, Porter was responsible for the management, growth and profitability of the company's largest operating region, spanning the United States, Canada, Mexico, Central and South America and the Caribbean. He was responsible for a portfolio of more than 3,000 hotels and resorts under the InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, Hotel Indigo, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Staybridge Suites and Candlewood Suites hotel brands. In his role as global leader franchise strategy, Porter was responsible for the development and deployment of best practices in franchising for the benefit of IHG's global business. Under his leadership, IHG acquired its sixth brand and launched its seventh brand. In 2004, IHG acquired Candlewood Suites and less than two years after becoming a part of the IHG system this underperforming brand's RevPAR has experienced double-digit growth. This strategic hotel addition increased the IHG management portfolio by more than 40 percent in the Americas. Also under Porter's leadership, in 2004 IHG launched its seventh brand Hotel Indigo, the industry's first branded boutique hotel in the lifestyle segment. Hotel Indigo is a brand that delivers a refreshing, inclusive hotel experience in response to prevailing consumer trends.

A 32-year veteran of hospitality and related industry, Porter joined IHG in 2001 as chief operating officer, the Americas. As chief operating officer, he had strategic and tactical responsibility for all company-owned and -managed properties throughout North and South America.

Prior to joining IHG, Porter served with Hilton Hotels Corporation starting in 1990. He held roles of increasing responsibility including senior and executive vice president of operations where he was responsible for overseeing the management of nearly 350 hotels and more than 40,000 employees. Porter began his career in the hospitality industry in 1976 with Stouffer Hotels.

Porter served as an industry expert at various conferences across the nation including with Cornell University, and as Executive-in-Residence at the University of Tennessee. He was on the Board of Directors for the International Association of Holiday Inns and is a member and past chairman of the Business Advisory Council for the Richard T. Farmer School of Business at Miami University. He was immediate past chairman of the American Hotel & Lodging Association Government Affairs Committee. In 2006, he was named chairman of the Discover America Partnership, an effort led by some of America's foremost business leaders to strengthen America's image around the globe, and was also named vice chairman of the Travel Business Roundtable, whose mission it is to educate elected officials about the important economic and social contributions of the travel and tourism industry. Porter also was active with UNICEF, the American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, the United Way, the Center for Elimination of Violence in the Family and other philanthropic endeavors.

In 2005, Porter was awarded the U.S. Fund for UNICEF Corporate Responsibility Award, which honors the company that has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to philanthropic activity benefiting children. In 2004, he was awarded the B'nai B'rith Community Service Award, and in 2003, he received the prestigious Oglethorpe Sword on behalf of the British American Business Group in recognition of his actions to promote the growth of business between the United Kingdom and State of Georgia.

A native of Columbus, Ohio, Porter was a graduate of Miami University and received his Master of Business Administration from Xavier University.