Keith Vieira Named to Shidler College of Business Post

The University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa Shidler College of Business has appointed Keith Vieira, former Senior Vice President of Starwood Hotels and Resorts, as an executive-in-residence beginning this Fall 2014 semester.

Vieira is currently a principal with KV & Associates, Hospitality Consulting, assisting clients in Hawai’i, French Polynesia and Samoa.

The Shidler College of Business Executive-in-Residence program gives students, alumni and faculty the opportunity to learn from and work with a prominent business leader.

Vieira will primarily conduct Personal Branding and Career Development workshops in partnership with the Shidler Career Services and Professional Development office. He will also serve as a guest lecturer and share his experience, knowledge and advice with students, faculty and alumni.

“In today’s market place, personal branding is more important than ever, as ‘everything communicates,’” says Vieira. “Personal branding, coupled with being fully prepared for the job interview process — aka, being able to successfully convey your core values and how the hiring company will benefit from them — is necessary to winning that first and future job.”

Prior to KV & Associates, Vieira was with Starwood Hotels & Resorts for 33 years. Under his leadership as Senior Vice President and Director of Operations for Hawai‘i and French Polynesia, Starwood grew to a combined 14 hotels in those island regions.

Previously he worked as Director of Travel Services, Director of Communications for Sheraton Hotels in Hawai‘i, Vice President Director of Development for Sheraton Hawai‘i/Japan Division, and Vice President Director of Marketing for ITT Sheraton Hotels in Hawai‘i.

Committed to giving back to the community, Vieira has served as a board member for many organizations, including the Blood Bank of Hawai‘i, Hawai‘i Business Roundtable, University of Hawai‘i Shidler College of Business, Catholic Charities Hawai‘i, ‘Ahahui Koa Anuenue and Friends of Hawai‘i Charities. He was on the advisory boards of the Hawai‘i Convention Park Council and YMCA of Hawai‘i.

Vieira has chaired boards for several organizations, such as the Ho‘okako‘o Corporation and fundraising campaigns for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and Aloha United Way. He served two terms as a member of the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority, and served for many years on the Hawai‘i Visitors & Convention Bureau and the O‘ahu Visitors Bureau.

Vieira is a key member of many travel industry organizations, including the Hawai‘i Hotel & Lodging Association, American Society of Travel Agents, Hotel Sales & Marketing Association International, Japan Association of Travel Agents and Travel Industry Association of America.

Born in Hilo, Vieira received a BBA in personnel and industrial relations from the Shidler College of Business.

In 2013, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Hawai‘i announced the creation of The Keith Vieira Ho‘owaiwai a Ho‘ona‘auao Endowed Scholarship at the Shidler College of Business to honor his 36-year career in the visitor industry, 33 of which were spent with Starwood.