When members of ASFONA (Association of Starwood Franchisees & Owners – North America) convene in the nation's capitol this week, they will be privy to the latest information on critical initiatives that affect the 1.8 million-employee U.S. travel industry. The ASFONA Board of Directors meeting, taking place on October 7th and 8th at the W Hotel in Washington DC, will feature high-level presentations from some of the industry's most sought-after speakers from the hotel and travel industry's most powerful organizations. These will include:

  • Katherine Lugar - President & CEO, American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA)
  • Christopher Thompson - President & CEO, Brand USA
  • Roger Dow - President & CEO, The U.S. Travel Association
  • Bobby Bowers - Senior Vice President, Smith Travel Research

Serge Rivera, President-The Americas of Starwood Hotels & Resorts, will also be in attendance at the meeting to discuss the key business issues of the day. Each of the presentations to the ASFONA Board will highlight the most recent developments in key industry initiatives, including the recently approved mandate for Brand USA to promote the U.S. to global markets, in order to attract an increased number of international tourists and resulting revenue for the industry. ASFONA recently joined with the AH&LA in its support of Brand USA's bid for congressional reauthorization, which was approved at a June subcommittee hearing on Capitol Hill.

Headquartered in Washington, DC, AH&LA is the sole national association representing all sectors and stakeholders in the lodging industry, including individual hotel property members, hotel companies, student/faculty members and industry suppliers. Brand USA, established by the Travel Promotion Act of 2010, is the public-private partnership created to help attract millions of new international visitors by promoting the U.S. as a premier travel destination. The U.S. Travel Association is the national, non-profit organization representing all components of the travel industry to the association's 1,350 member organizations. Collectively, these three associations serve to support the interests of U.S. travel industry, which generates $2.1 trillion in economic output.

"We have strategically chosen Washington DC as the location for this gathering, in order to drive home the importance of important legislative issues, and to allow us access to some of the greatest minds in the hotel, travel and business sectors," said John Shingler, ASFONA president. "We are staunchly committed to providing our members with the knowledge and tools they need to prosper, and we have assembled a 'dream team' of experience and expertise from some of the most powerful organizations that are leading our industry into the future."

Additional presentations to the ASFONA board meeting will focus on current trends and industry performance data, including an updated economic forecast by Smith Travel Research (STR). Senior corporate management representatives from Starwood Hotels & Resorts will also present valuable information on Starwood's new franchise organization and various other business issues affecting ASFONA members.

The ASFONA Board of Directors comprises owners and franchisees of Starwood branded properties, as well as a select group of associate members that represent top-tier industry suppliers of products and services to the hotel industry. For more information on ASFONA, please visit www.asfona.com.

About ASFONA

ASFONA is an independent non-brand affiliated hotel owner/operator association, whose purpose is to independently and informally represent investors, owners and management companies in developing relationships and communicating pertinent business interests to the major international hotel companies. For more information, please visit www.asfona.com.

John Shingler
ASFONA President
713-523-1352
ASFONA