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Press Release General Management

New Chair: CHLA Advocacy Critical for California Hotels' Future

Improve state's business environment or risk harm to hospitality as economic engine

Kristi Allen of Ensemble Allen will lead the association's efforts against predatory lawsuits and wage mandates affecting 6,000+ California hotels.

CH&LA
California, United States

The California Hotel and Lodging Association and its newly named chair and 32 board of directors announced today they are prioritizing business advocacy for California's more than 6,000 hotels and the well-being of the state's 235,000 hotel employees in 2026.

Predatory lawsuits, onerous taxes and unsustainable wage mandates do harm to our hotels, their employees and our future. These pressures remind us why CHLA's role as a unified, influential advocate for hospitality is essential and why engagement from every member matters. Incoming CHLA Chair Kristi Allen, Executive Vice President, Hotels at Ensemble

Allen succeeds Cormac O'Modhrain, Group Vice President of Asset Management at Sunstone Hotel Investors, who transitions to Immediate Past Chair. Supporting Allen in 2026 is an accomplished slate of officers:

  • Vice Chair: Tom Patton, General Manager/Partner, Ramada by Wyndham Santa Barbara
  • Secretary-Treasurer: David Craig, Senior Vice President, Asset Management Pebblebrook Hotel Trust

CHLA's 33-member 2026 Board of Directors was elected Friday at its annual meeting at the Marriott Long Beach Downtown, including three new members and six renewing members, whose expertise will enhance CHLA's advocacy efforts:

New Members

  • Robert Gleason, President & CEO, Evans Hotels
  • Scott Mills, General Manager, The Garland
  • Steve Choe, Dual General Manager at Marriott International- Moxy + AC Hotel Downtown Los Angeles

Renewed Members

  • Cab Boettcher, Owner, Mar Vista Farm & Cottage
  • Laurenne Douglas, Director of Operations, Pacific Plaza Hotels
  • Jon Handlery, CEO, Handlery Hotels
  • Bijal Patel, CEO and Principal Partner, Coast Redwood Hospitality,
  • Dhruv Patel, President, Ridgemont Hospitality
  • Pragna Patel-Mueller, Founder/CEO, Samata Management
With the support of these leaders, CHLA is positioned to continue leading the fight for our members and the future of hospitality in California. Lynn S. Mohrfeld, CHLA President & CEO

Media Contact

Jesse Geremia

[email protected] 916.554.2660

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We are all about the hotel business! Through advocacy and education, the California Hotel & Lodging Association protects the rights and interests of the California lodging industry. CH&LA is a member-driven non-profit association that helps the industry with everything from legal guidance and lobbying to educational conferences and regional seminars, and everything in between.