The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) announced the winners of the 2009 John Whitaker Award and 2010 State Leadership Awards during the first day of the association’s annual Legislative Action Summit (LAS).

Hans Disch, vice president, general manager of lodging for domestic North America and Latin America, Dometic, LLC, received the 2009 John Whitaker Award, which is presented to an outstanding hotel supplier for their dedication to and innovation within the industry. This annual honor is named for a long-time hospitality veteran who served as international sales manager for SICO America, Inc., who died suddenly in 2007. Disch was selected for the honor by his peers on the AH&LA Allied Executive Council.

The State Leadership Awards, formerly known as the Most Valuable Volunteer Awards, were created in 1998 to honor standout members in each partner state association who help implement and strengthen programs. Award recipients, who are chosen by AH&LA’s partner state associations, included the following:

• Arkansas Hospitality Association
  Larry Farrar
  General Manager, Hilton Metro Center, Little Rock
  
  
• California Hotel & Lodging Association
  Bhupen Amin
  Chief Operating Office, Lotus Hotels & Investments, Inc., Walnut Creek
  
  
• Colorado Hotel & Lodging Association
  Cindy Johnson
  Director of Human Resources, The Broadmoor Hotel, Colorado Springs
  
  
• Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association
  Carlos Molinet
  General Manager, Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina, Fort Lauderdale
  
  
• Georgia Hotel & Lodging Association
  Robert Woolridge
  General Manager, Marriott Atlanta Airport Gateway, Atlanta
  
  
• Hawaii Hotel & Lodging Association
  Fred Orr
  General Manager, Sheraton Princess Kaiulani Hotel, Honolulu
  
  
• Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association
  Andrew Schwebel
  General Manager, Chicago’s Essex Inn, Chicago
  
  
• Indiana Hotel & Lodging Association
  Phil Ray
  General Manager, Omni Severin Hotel, Indianapolis
  
  
• Maryland Hotel & Lodging Association
  Michael Henningsen
  Vice President, Plamondon Hospitality Partners, Frederick
  
  
• Massachusetts Lodging Association
  John Murtha, CHA
  General Manager, Omni Parker House Hotel, Boston
  
  
• Michigan Lodging & Tourism Association
  Cindy Bowen
  General Manager, Lexington Lansing Hotel. Lansing
  
  
• Montana Innkeepers Association
  Steve Wahrlich, CHA
  Owner, Best Western Clock Tower Inn. Billings
  
  
• New York State Hospitality & Tourism Association
  John Irvin
  General Manager, The Otesaga Resort Hotel & The Cooper Inn. Cooperstown
  
  
• North Carolina Restaurant & Lodging Association
  Doyle Parrish
  Owner/Partner, Summit Hospitality, Raleigh
  
  
• Oklahoma Hotel & Lodging Association
  Joe Martin, CHA
  Owner, Stillwater Hospitality, LLC. Stillwater
  
  
• Oregon Lodging Association
  Marc Dryden
  Owner/Partner, Best Western Inn at Face Rock, Bandon
  
  
• Pennsylvania Tourism & Lodging Association
  James C. Miles
  Vice President, Hershey Resorts. Hershey
  
  
• Rhode Island Hospitality Association
  Walter Andrews
  General Manager, Newport Marriott Hotel & Spa, Newport
  
  
• Texas Hotel & Lodging Association
  Al Deberry
  Area Director, East Central Texas, Tharaldson Lodging, Flower Mound
  
  
• Vermont Hospitality Council
  Sheri Baraw Smith
  General Manager, Stoweflake Mountain Resort & Spa, Stowe
  
  
• Virginia Hospitality & Travel Association
  Patrick M. Foley, CHA
  General Manager, Baywood Hotels, Alexandria
  
  
• Wisconsin Innkeepers Association
  Kirk A. Drusch, CHA
  Vice President and General Manager, Brookfield SuitesHotel & Convention Center, Brookfield
  
  
• Wyoming Lodging & Restaurant Association
  John Eastman
  Owner, Inn on the Creek, Jackson

For more information on the John Whitaker Award or the State Leadership Awards, please visit www.ahla.com.