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From 1979 through 1997, initially as Senior Vice President of The Woodlands
Corporation and in his present capacity as Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer of Benchmark Hospitality, Mr. Cabaņas was involved in all of the
hospitality related operations of The Woodlands Corporation, a subsidiary of
Mitchell Energy & Development Corp. These properties include the Woodlands
Executive Conference Center and Resort, The Woodlands Country Club, the Exxon
Conference Center, the Tournament Players Golf Course, and The San Luis Resort
Hotel on Galveston Island.
Prior to establishing Benchmark Hospitality, Mr. Cabaņas was Regional
Director of Operations for Stouffer Hotels and responsible for the financial
performance of six hotel and resort properties totaling over 2,000 guest
rooms. During that time he led the opening team for several new hotel projects
and directed the operational responsibilities of an $18 million renovation of
an old landmark hotel in Cleveland, Ohio. His tenure at Stouffer Hotels was
four and one-half years.
Prior to working for Stouffer Hotels, Mr. Cabaņas was responsible for all
of the operating departments of the Doral Hotel and Country Club, a five-star
resort in Miami, Florida. He spent six years with the Doral organization.
A graduate of Florida International University with a Bachelor's Degree in
Hotel and Restaurant Management, Mr. Cabaņas was conferred the title of
Honorary Community Professor by the Dean of The School of Hotel, Food and
Travel Services at Florida International University. He has served on the
Industry Advisory Committee for the Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and
Restaurant Management at the University of Houston, and is a founding board
member and a past president of the International Association of Conference
Centers (IACC). While serving as president, he co-authored with Laventhol
& Horwath "The Uniform System of Accounts for Conference
Centers." In 1988 the International Association of Conference Centers
presented Mr. Cabaņas with The Mel Hosansky Distinguished Service Award in
recognition of his outstanding service to the Association and to the
conference center industry.
