Kevin Kearney, recently retired from Marriott International, Inc. as Executive Vice President, International Hotel Development, and is now a private consultant to the lodging industry. His practice focuses on developers and investors requiring expertise in all areas of hotel development and acquisition.

During his 23-year Marriott career, Mr. Kearney was responsible for Marriott’s lodging development efforts in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (1999-2009), and in Latin America & the Caribbean (1992-1999).

Under his direction, Marriott’s EMEA presence more than doubled, to over 300 properties open or under construction, and he lead the development and implementation of new European prototypes for the company’s highly successful Courtyard by Marriott and Residence Inn by Marriott brands. In Latin America and the Caribbean, Mr. Kearney developed over 25 major hotels for Marriott, including many in new markets for the company, such as Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, and The Cayman Islands.

Mr. Kearney was born in 1961 and is a native of Cleveland, Ohio, USA. He received a Bachelor of Science degree from the School of Hotel Administration at Cornell University in 1983, graduating With Distinction.

Upon graduation, Mr. Kearney joined the accounting firm of Laventhol & Horwath and worked on hotel market studies and other real estate assignments across the mid-Atlantic states. He joined Marriott Corporation in April 1986 as Manager, Hotel Development Planning, and held positions of increasing responsibility in Marriott’s Feasibility Department from 1986 through 1992.

Mr. Kearney is a frequent guest lecturer at leading hotel schools. He resides in Zurich, Switzerland.