Donald Stanczak, president of Food and Beverage Solutions and former senior food and beverage executive for Interstate Hotels & Resorts, died Monday, Oct. 12.
Stanczak spent more than 25 years of his professional career with Interstate, adeptly guiding its food and beverage concepts and operations through the many changes the industry has experienced over the years.
A graduate of the Cornell School of Hotel Management, Stanczak joined Interstate in 1981 as vice president of food and beverage. He came to Interstate with more than a decade of experience in hospitality food and beverage operations, including creating and operating F&B outlet concepts and serving as general manager of the Sears Tower restaurants in Chicago.
Stanczak was one of the most respected leaders in the hotel industry. Under his leadership, Interstate became an innovative and notable expert in the food and beverage industry. He was a founding board member of the Millennium Advisory Board and Cheers magazine and was recognized for his ability to create innovative and award-winning programs. Stanczak won numerous hospitality awards, including the Cheers Beverage Award, Summit Advertising, and Davey and Addy Awards for food & beverage programs he created on behalf of Interstate. He was a renowned speaker who spoke at various trade shows, conferences and events throughout North America.
Stanczak was a mentor to countless Interstate associates and others. While he will always be remembered as one of the top executives in the hotel industry, he will also be remembered as one for whom family was of ultimate importance.
He is survived by his wife Maralyne, two children and four grandchildren.