Travel sales and distribution pioneer Michael Pusateri died Saturday at the age of 53.

Pusateri's long resume included leading the development and launch of Marriott's website. Besides his work as vice president of interactive account sales and marketing at Marriott, where he worked from 1989 to 1999, Pusateri also served in marketing roles at Holiday Inn and Avis Rent-a-Car. He later led restructuring efforts at the U.S. Travel Association, where he served as COO from 2005 to 2007. More recently, Pusateri was president and CEO of hospitality and tourism consulting group Vantage Strategy and founded Ataway Exchange, a digital marketing community for the travel industry. Services will be Thursday at Lasting Tributes Cremation and Funeral Care in Annapolis, Md., and Pusateri's family has requested memorial contributions to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation in lieu of flowers.