NEW YORK, Dec. 6, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, Andaz 5th Avenue announces the appointment of Cornelia Samara to the position of General Manager. Ms. Samara brings sixteen years of hotel operations experience and a true passion for hospitality management that will continue to lead the award-winning property to new levels of service, style, and quality.

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Cornelia Samara has spent almost ten years with Hyatt Hotels & Resorts, where she has held managerial positions at properties such as Park Hyatt San Francisco and Park Hyatt Washington D.C. Ms. Samara has also held leadership positions at various other urban and resort properties, allowing her to experience all aspects of hotel operations across a variety of nation-wide destinations.

Cornelia Samara's true passion for hospitality began many years prior to her first hotel experience. A German National of Palestinian and German descent, Ms. Samara has pursued a life of world travel and has lived and visited numerous countries around the world. She once circled the globe in 30 days, making stops in Pakistan, Japan, Thailand, Taiwan, Korea, the Philippines and more. She also spent one year living in and learning about Singapore. Ms. Samara felt that to truly experience a destination she must immerse herself in the local culture and explore every aspect of the area's traditions, cuisine, art and history. This same philosophy was what enticed her to accept the position of General Manager at Andaz 5^th Avenue. 

"I was drawn to Andaz 5^th Avenue because of the deep connection it has to the local culture of New York City," says Cornelia Samara. "I have joined an incredible team that shares my passion and enthusiasm for creating unique and personal experiences and I look forward to working alongside them as we continue to exceed the expectations of our guests."

Ms. Samara graduated Summa Cum-Laude from Hawaii Pacific University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Travel Industry Management. In her personal time, Ms. Samara enjoys pursuing her interests in exploring new destinations, hiking, food and wine. 

About Andaz

Global in scale while local in perspective, Andaz delivers an innovative hospitality experience and attentive, uncomplicated service designed to accommodate guests' personal preferences. Hotels in this collection reflect the unique cultural scene and spirit of the surrounding neighborhood and are dedicated to creating natural and vibrant living spaces where travelers can indulge in their own personal sense of comfort and style. For more information and reservations, visit www.andaz.com.

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