People: Joan Sills

JOAN SILLS: THE WORLD'S TOP WOMAN HOTELIER

When Joan Sills, '75, was named president of Colony Hotels and Resorts in November, the New York Times hailed her as 'the only woman to head a leading hotel company with worldwide operations.'

'Now that's surprising,' says Sills in reaction. 'I've worked with so many women in the hotel industry.' Based in Minneapolis, Colony comprises 42 properties with nearly 9,000 rooms in hotels, condos and villas stretching from the Caribbean to Thuket, Thailand--with ten properties in Hawaii alone. It is part of the $9-billion Carlson Companies, which includes hotel, restaurant and travel operations. 'We specialize in value-oriented, four-star properties,' explains Joan. 'We focus on families or vacationers who want lots of space. Right now we're in a terrific position because there are so many independent resorts that need help from companies with resources like we have.'

Joan's career success was something premeditated since she grew up in New Jersey, then picked MSU to pursue hotel, restaurant and institutional management. 'I loved MSU,' she recalls. 'My favorite course? I don't remember the name, but we fondly called it 'Flush & Gush 101.' It covered the engineering and structural aspects of buildings.'

After MSU, Joan worked at Holiday Inn, then joined Marriott for 13 years, rising to vice president for strategic planning. In 1990 she became a vice president at Carlson's Radisson Hotels. 'I've been very lucky in my career,' she sums up. 'In this business you work the longest hours and have the craziest problems. But I've met extraordinary people.'

The key to success in her business, she explains, is to 'make organization out of chaos, have vision, focus on going forward and create an atmosphere in which people can succeed.'