Consumer >> CEO Interviews >> November 23, 2009
Stephanie Sonnabend is Chief Executive Officer, President and a member of the board of directors of Sonesta International Hotels Corp., the hotel business her grandfather, A.M. Sonnabend, founded in the 1940s. Ms. Sonnabend oversees the company's 29 hotels, resorts and Nile cruises located in the United States, St. Maarten, Egypt, Peru, Colombia, Chile and Brazil. In 2007 she celebrated her 30th year with the company. Prior to becoming CEO and President in 2003, Ms. Sonnabend served as Sonesta's President since 1996, Executive Vice President from 1993 to 1995 and Vice President of Marketing from 1984 to 1992. Her professional memberships include the World Presidents' Organization, Massachusetts Women's Forum and the Boston Club. She serves on the board of overseers of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and the New England Conservatory of Music, where she chairs the facilities committee. She is currently on the board of directors of Century Bank & Trust and Century Bancorp, where she is a member of the audit and asset liability committees. In 2005 Ms. Sonnabend launched Youth Micro Credit International, a student-run organization whose mission is to spread the word that small amounts of money loaned to people in developing countries can significantly improve their lives. A magna cum laude graduate of Harvard University, Ms. Sonnabend received her master's degree from MIT's Sloan School of Management. Profile
TWST: Please start with a brief history and overview of Sonesta.
Ms. Sonnabend: Sonesta (SNSTA)is a company that was started in the 1940s by my grandfather, A.M. Sonnabend, who was involved in real
