SHATTERPROOF, A NATIONAL nonprofit addressing the U.S. addiction crisis, will recognize Mark Hoplamazian, president and CEO of Hyatt Hotels Corp., for his contributions to mobilizing hospitality leaders to raise awareness and challenge the stigma surrounding addiction. The event will be during Shatterproof’s seventh annual Hospitality Heroes Reception on Jan. 23 during the Americas Lodging Investment Summit at the J.W. Marriott in Los Angeles.
Hoplamazian and Hyatt have been longtime supporters of Shatterproof and its mission to end the addiction crisis, Shatterproof said. Recently, Hyatt served as the presenting sponsor for Shatterproof’s annual walk in Chicago, the city where Hyatt is headquartered. The upcoming event aims to generate funds supporting Shatterproof’s initiatives to reshape how addiction is treated in America.
In 2023, Hyatt and more than 60 hospitality companies sponsored the event in solidarity with Shatterproof’s mission and its founder and CEO, Gary Mendell—a former hotelier and chairman of HEI Hotels & Resorts, according to Shatterproof. Moreover, the event raised more than $2 million, contributing to solutions for addiction and addressing the public health crisis in the U.S.
Hyatt’s participation helps create scalable solutions to support families recovering from addiction, Shatterproof said. Studies show that the hospitality industry is impacted by substance use disorders at a rate double that of other sectors, making Shatterproof’s mission particularly relevant to Hoplamazian and Hyatt.
“I am humbled and honored to receive the Shatterproof Hospitality Hero Award and recognize the tremendous opportunity for the hospitality industry to bring awareness to such an important cause,” said Hoplamazian. “True to our purpose of care, Hyatt is proud to support this work, especially in consideration of how significantly the hospitality industry at large is impacted by substance use disorders.”
Mendell established Shatterproof a decade ago following the loss of his son to addiction, aiming to spare other families from similar pain. Since inception, more than 100 hotel companies and 500 employees have raised more than $5 million to support Shatterproof’s mission.
“I am pleased to honor Mark Hoplamazian this year,” Mendell stated. “I am grateful for his commitment to end the devastation caused by the disease of addiction and save lives. His leadership is making a profound impact in reducing the stigma of addiction and bringing much-needed changes to lower high rates of addiction within the hospitality industry. With Hyatt leading in support, we anticipate significant change and hope it encourages other companies to join forces with us.”
3H Group Inc., led by Hiren Desai as president and CEO, recently broke ground on Hyatt Hotels Corp.’s first Hyatt Studios property in Mobile, Alabama, and the upper-midscale, extended-stay hotel is scheduled to open in early 2025.
