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Hyatt Names Maryam Banikarim Global Chief Marketing Officer

CHICAGO (January 7, 2015) – Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) today announced the appointment of Maryam Banikarim as the company's global chief marketing officer. In this role, Banikarim will be responsible for driving the company's individual brands and the experiences they offer online and offline while working across the organization to facilitate innovation around the guest experience. Banikarim will assume her new role at Hyatt effective January 26, 2015, reporting to Mark Hoplamazian, president and chief executive officer.

"Maryam is an exceptional leader. She brings to Hyatt a wealth of experience working with brands that are experiential, emotional and brought to life in many ways, including through storytelling, all things we believe are essential to our brands and will help us achieve our goal of becoming the most preferred hotel company," said Hoplamazian. "Her energy, creativity and focus on people, along with her passion for innovation and proven track record of results, make Maryam a perfect fit."

"Hyatt has incredibly powerful global brands. Its passion and commitment to providing authentic, caring experiences for its guests and colleagues, alike, is inspiring," said Banikarim. "I am excited to lead the marketing team at such a transformative time in the hospitality business and thrilled to be part of the Hyatt family."

Banikarim joins Hyatt with more than 20 years of marketing expertise across multiple industries. Most recently she was the first-ever chief marketing officer at the Gannett Company, responsible for national sales, company-wide marketing, communications and research. Prior to Gannett, she was senior vice president at NBC Universal and chief marketing officer for Univision Communications, Inc. Before that Banikarim founded a strategy firm, consulting for such clients as Deutsche Bank, Bacardi and Time-Warner. She also worked at Turner Broadcasting, MacMillan Publishing, and was a lead team member for the launch of CitySearch, an early Internet start-up. Banikarim began her career in account management at Young & Rubicam. 

Banikarim earned a B.A. in political science from Barnard College where she was a Harry S. Truman scholar. She also holds an MBA and Masters in International Affairs from Columbia University and serves on the boards of Reporters without Borders, Columbia University’s Alumni Association, the Ad Council, Advertising Week and the Mount Sinai Adolescent Health Center.

Banikarim’s achievements have been widely recognized: The New York Post’s “50 Most Powerful Women in NYC,” Fast Company’s “Fast Fifty” list of corporate trailblazers and trendsetters, Fast Company’s “Top 10 Disrupters,” Crain’s New York Business and Advertising Age’s “40 under 40,” Advertising Age’s “Women to Watch” and most recently Fast Company’s “Most Creative People In Business 1000.” Additionally, she is recognized as a Woman of Distinction by the League of Women Voters of the City of New York and was honored by the Girl Scouts Council of Greater New York.

Banikarim and her family will relocate to Chicago from New York this summer.

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About Hyatt Hotels Corporation

Hyatt Hotels Corporation, headquartered in Chicago, is a leading global hospitality company with a proud heritage of making guests feel more than welcome. Thousands of members of the Hyatt family strive to make a difference in the lives of the guests they encounter every day by providing authentic hospitality.  The Company’s subsidiaries develop, own, operate, manage, franchise, license or provide services to hotels, resorts, branded residences and vacation ownership properties, including under the Hyatt®, Park Hyatt®, Andaz®, Grand Hyatt®, Hyatt Regency®, Hyatt Place®, Hyatt House®, Hyatt Zilara, Hyatt Ziva, Hyatt Residences® and Hyatt Residence Club® brand names and have locations on six continents. As of September 30, 2014, the Company's worldwide portfolio consisted of 573 properties in 48 countries. For more information, please visit www.hyatt.com.

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CONTACT:
Stephanie Sheppard
Hyatt Hotels Corporation
+1 312 780 5399
stephanie.sheppard@hyatt.com