Sam Thorpe from Laguna Niguel, CA Wins Cornell University Hospitality Business Plan Competition

ITHACA, NY (05/17/2011)(readMedia)-- Sam Thorpe from Laguna Niguel, CA, a senior at the Cornell University School of Hotel Administration, was part of a team that was awarded third place and $2,500 in the Cornell University Hospitality Business Plan Competition for the "Exclusive Route" business concept.

The Cornell Hospitality Business Plan Competition (CHBPC) is sponsored by the Leland C. and Mary M. Pillsbury Institute for Hospitality Entrepreneurship. The three final teams were chosen from 28 original teams and presented their complete business ideas and oral presentations to a panel of hospitality executives and venture capitalists. The final panel was comprised of Tony Capuano, EVP Global Development of Marriott International, Inc.; John Metz, president of RREMC, LLC; and Leland Pillsbury, co-Chairman and CEO of Thayer Lodging.