AH&LA plans to replace its membership federation model with a dual membership organization whereby the core members are the individual properties and corporate entities, which would be directly served by both the state and national associations. While the state associations will not be members in any legal sense, they will be key partners with AH&LA and have an essential and important role in implementing policy and delivering benefits and services to members. The new structure will enable AH&LA to better carry out its core functions.

Related Article:
Incoming 2004 Chairman Dedicated To Rebranding AH&LA As Leading Organization For Lodging Industry

William (Bill) J. Hanley, is executive vice president of corporate and member relations for the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA). Prior to joining AH&LA in January 2002, Hanley served as senior vice president and managing director for Cendant Corporation's International Hotel Division. In his new role, Hanley oversees all aspects of the association's membership activities, including marketing and communications, to solidify AH&LA's corporate relations program. Additionally, Hanley works closely with the association's president and chief executive officer, officers, board of directors, and member state associations in determining the direction of the U.S. lodging industry. A 25-year career veteran of the hospitality industry, Hanley has held various executive positions at some of the leading lodging companies including Americana Hotels; Forte Hotels, Inc.; ITT Sheraton Corporation; and Radisson Hotels & Resorts. Also, he is a founding member of Thisco/Pegasus, a global technology company in Dallas that provides an assortment of services to the travel industry. Hanley is a member of the International Franchise Association's International Section and formerly served on the board of the Hotel Sales & Marketing Association International. He served as a captain in the U.S. Army from 1966 to 1970 and is a decorated Vietnam War veteran. He received his bachelor's degree in accounting from Stonehill College in North Easton, Mass., in 1966. Hanley and his wife, Jane, have four children.

AH&LA is a 93-year-old federation of state lodging associations throughout the United States with some 11,000 property members nationwide, representing more than 1.5 million guest rooms. AH&LA provides its members with assistance in operations, education, and communications, and lobbies on Capitol Hill to provide a business climate in which the industry can continue to prosper. Individual state associations provide representation at the state level and offer many additional cost-saving benefits.

Kevin Heilbronner is the US Editor for wiredhotelier.com and hospitalitynet.org, providing streaming multimedia-content for these websites. Based outside of Washington DC, Heilbronner has worked with Hsyndicate to conduct interviews at several hospitality trade shows in the US and Europe over the last couple of years. His column and content are featured in the Hospitality Net weekly newsletter. A familiar voice in Washington, DC, Heilbronner is the stadium announcer for the NBA's Washington Wizards, WNBA's Washington Mystics and WUSA's Washington Freedom. He resides in Centreville, VA and can be reached via email: [email protected].

Tia T. Gordon
Manager Of Media Relations
(202) 289-3153
AH&LA