Academy of Hospitality and Tourism hosts dinner to recognize Muss, Leven and Brooklyn borough president Markowitz Jan. 29

The Academy of Hospitality and Tourism (AOHT) will honor New York developer Joshua Muss and Michael Leven, former president and CEO of US Franchise Systems along with Marty Markowitz, the Brooklyn borough president at a dinner on January 29th at the New York Marriott Brooklyn. The theme of the event will be "The Best of Brooklyn: Past, Present and Future" and it will celebrate key players who have contributed to the evolution of Brooklyn and Tourism. The master of ceremonies of the event will be Tiki Barber, NBC correspondent and analyst and former New York Giants star running back. The event, which is sponsored by the Academy of Hospitality and Tourism, will also pay a special tribute to The New York Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge. Tickets for the event are priced at $600 per chair and tables start at $5,000. Money raised from the event will be used to support a variety of programs for the AOHT. "The Academy of Hospitality and Tourism connect students with a thriving industry," said Bunny Grossinger, a member of the AOHT Advisory Board. "This dinner helps fund many of the programs we provide to allow our students take advantage of the opportunities available in New York City's hospitality and travel industries. Joshua Muss is president of the Forest Hills based Muss Development LLC which is one of the largest development companies in NYC. Michael Leven is the former president and CEO of US Franchise Systems which franchises the Microtel, Hawthorn and Best Inns & Suites hotel brands. Prior to this, Leven was president and COO of Holiday Inn. The Academy of Hospitality and Tourism is a partnership of the public and private sectors. The Academy operates as a school within a school offering industry-specific education. It is a two-to-four year program under the auspices of the NYC Dept. of Education and the National Academy Foundation (NAF). It is designed to introduce high school students to all facets of the travel industry, to identify career paths and to teach economic and social concepts related to travel and tourism. The academy operates in 10 schools across the five boroughs of NYC with 800 students involved in the program.