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Hotel Entrepreneur Andrew Dolce To be Honored at Ambassador’s Gala in New York City

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:   Elissa Ruffino (NIAF) 202/939-3106 or elissa@niaf.org


HOTEL ENTREPRENEUR ANDREW DOLCE TO BE HONORED AT AMBASSADOR’S GALA IN NEW YORK CITY

(WASHINGTON, D.C. – April 29, 2009) Andrew J. Dolce, founder and chairman of Dolce Hotels and Resorts, will receive a National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) Special Achievement Award in Business at the NIAF Ambassador’s East Coast Gala on May 19, 2009 in New York City. Held at the New York Marriott Marquis, the gala begins with a cocktail reception at 6 p.m. followed by an awards program, live auction and dinner.

Honorees joining Dolce include James M. Orsini, M.D., director of medical oncology at Clara Maass Medical Center, Natale S. Ricciardi, president of Pfizer Global Manufacturing (PGM) and senior vice president of Pfizer Inc., and Paul A. Sorvino, actor, director, singer, sculptor and best-selling author.

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Andrew J. Dolce, Founder and Chairman of Dolce Hotels and Resorts

Popular Italian singer and songwriter Giada Valenti will perform both the Italian and U.S. national anthems. Rocco B. Commisso, chairman and CEO of Mediacom Communications Corporation, will serve as the gala’s chairman; Commisso received a NIAF Lifetime Achievement Award at the Foundation’s gala in 2006 and is a member of the NIAF Board of Directors. The gala is hosted by Italy’s Ambassador to the United States H.E. Giovanni Castellaneta and Mrs. Castellaneta.

Dolce began his career in the meetings and hospitality industry while working for the American Management Association. He also served as executive vice president for Harrison Conference Services and had been responsible for the development and operation of the Houstonian, the first integrated hotel, conference center, spa and fitness center in Houston, Texas. Dolce started Dolce International in 1981 and now has 23 properties throughout the United States, Canada and Europe.

He served in the U.S. Marine Corps, earning the rank of Captain. A board member and past president of the International Association of Conference Centers (IACC), he also serves on the boards of New York University’s Center for Hospitality, Tourism and Travel Administration and Iona College’s Legal Board of Trustees. A recipient of the Mel Hosansky Award, Dolce was also named one of the “25 Most Influential Executives” in the meetings and travel industries by both Meeting News and Business Travel News magazines. Born in New York, Dolce studied economics at Iona College. He earned a Master’s Degree from Cornell University where he wrote and published a book on economics for the food industry

Gala tickets begin at $400 per person. Attire: Business. For sponsorship and ticket information, contact Carolyn Laurenzano at 202/939-3114 or carolyn@niaf.org.

The National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and promoting the heritage and culture of Americans of Italian descent.