The Chairman of the Board
Peter Simoncelli, The Westin Chicago River North
What are some personal attributes that will help in your new role as GNMAA Chairman?
I’m passionate, committed, enjoy the details but don’t take myself too seriously. Paying attention to detail is almost a prerequisite for this role on one of the great avenues of the world!
What are you looking forward to most?
Getting to know the association members and key business leaders in the city.
Do you have a favorite member program?
The Gala, hands down. Its always the most fun large association event in the city! However, the Golf outing is a close second!
What is the tone you plan to set as our chairman?
We will be celebrating the small victories in these tough economic times.
You talk about celebrating the small victories a lot. Where did that philosophy come from?
It came from within my hotel team at The Westin Chicago River North. One of my key leaders here at the hotel was tired of all of the negativity that comes with a not-so-hot economy. So now, we celebrate the small things and it’s gained momentum! It recently became a “Best Practice” within Westin. I think it is critical for the association to grow, and celebrating the small victories will help us get there.
Tell us something we don’t already know about you.
I played collegiate golf. I grew up adjacent to a golf course and was always impressed with the landscape and overall course conditions. I think I may have ended up in landscape design if I would have had the chance early on in my professional life.
So, if you could golf anywhere today...
Augusta National Golf Course! As for the landscape architecture, I love working with dirt. I am fortunate to get to do that now while maintaining the athletic fields with 20 other parents at my children’s high school. We recently won an award for Top 10 Best High School Facilities for our baseball field.
Not bad! Last question. If your hotel got a cut from the recently passed stimulus package of $787 B, what would you spend it on?
A swimming pool and a full service spa, just above the lobby.
To Contact Peter Simoncelli:
Peter Simoncelli
General Manager
The Westin Chicago River North
320 N. Dearborn Street
Chicago, IL 60610
(312) 321-7174
