Jim Abrahamson, CHA, CEO, Interstate Hotels & Resorts, today assumed the role of chair of the board of the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) for 2015 and 2016 during the organization's annual Meeting of the Members in New York.
President and CEO of the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) Katherine Lugar issued the following statement regarding the results from the midterm elections:
The American Hotel & Lodging Educational Foundation (AH&LEF), the not-for-profit affiliate of the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA), is awarding 104 hospitality scholarships to minority students. This total represents more than one-third of the 338 scholarships awarded by AH&LEF this year, which distributed approximately $558,000 through all of its scholarship programs.
Magnuson Hotels announced today its 200th Choice Hotels franchise conversion, the Magnuson Hotel Washington located in Washington, North Carolina.
The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) today announced the appointment Matthew MacLaren as senior vice president of member relations. In this new role, MacLaren will oversee membership, partner state association relations, allied partnership and legal issues. Additionally, new executive staff changes were also announced at AH&LA and the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute (AHLEI).
Joori Jeon will take on a new role adding to her current responsibilities as AH&LA’s chief financial officer and president and COO of the American Hotel and Lodging Educational Foundation, now serving as CEO of AH&LA’s Educational Institute (AHLEI). As we face many new challenges in the evolving worlds of education and training, Jeon’s leadership in close collaboration with current AHLEI President Robert Steele, who has been instrumental in growing the organization globally, will provide the strategic direction necessary to execute and evolve the organization’s mission.
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:
Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) and Westmont Hospitality Group today announced that a Hyatt affiliate has sold the 216-room Park Hyatt Washington to a venture comprised of Westmont Hospitality Group and Thomas Tan, a member of the Bestford Hospitality Group, for approximately $100 million or $463,000 per key. The Purchaser intends to spend approximately $5.5 million in additional capital expenditures over the next three years. A Hyatt affiliate will continue to manage the hotel under a new management agreement.
The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) today announced the appointment of Troy Flanagan as vice president of state and local government affairs. Flanagan brings over 15 years of experience to the new role as a policy advocate who will work closely with AH&LA's state and local partners on issues critical to the hotel industry. He officially joins AH&LA on September 29.
The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) today announced the appointment of Chandler Smith as vice president of communications specializing in government affairs. Smith, former Communications Director for Senator Dean Heller (R-NV), will work closely with the government affairs team to promote the association’s advocacy efforts with national, regional and Hill press. She will also be responsible for developing media strategies to gain more attention for the lodging industry’s significant contributions to job growth and the billions of dollars it adds to the nation’s economy every year.
Smith-Howard brings 30 years of Hyatt experience to her new role at Hyatt Regency Washington. Smith-Howard began her Hyatt career in Housekeeping at Grand Hyatt New York, one of the chain's flagship hotels. She was quickly promoted to Hyatt Regency Kansas City and continued her career in the Rooms Division at Hyatt Regency Chicago, Hyatt Regency Cambridge, Hyatt Regency Baltimore and Grand Hyatt Washington. From 1994 to 2004, Smith-Howard served as the General Manager of Hyatt Regency Fair Lakes. Her success in overseeing a top-to-bottom renovation and managing multi-million dollar contracts earned her the Hyatt Corporation's Manager of the Year Award in 2004.
Smith brings 29 years of experience with Hyatt to his new role at Grand Hyatt Washington, having started his career in 1985 at Hyatt Regency Crystal City. Among his moves across the country, Smith held various management positions in the Rooms Division at Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill, Hyatt Cherry Hill, Hyatt Regency Baltimore, Hyatt Regency Reston, and Hyatt Regency Miami. Smith served as the opening Senior Executive Assistant Manager of Rooms at the former Hyatt Regency Lake Las Vegas resort before joining Hyatt Regency Bellevue as General Manager in 2002. From 2005 to 2008, Smith served as the General Manager at Hyatt Regency Long Beach before returning to the East Coast for his most recent position as General Manager for Hyatt Regency Washington.
As economic recovery resumes and tourism strengthens, Washington, D.C. remains a top draw for leisure, convention, and government demand, with area hotels achieving some of the highest RevPAR levels in the nation. Activity related to Washington, D.C.'s political machinery continues to benefit the area's economy despite the government shutdown and sequestration. Unemployment in the MSA remains well below that of the nation. Visitation levels to D.C. are strong, and visitor spending shot up during 2013, signs that support an overall positive outlook for local business.
David Piscola has been appointed general manger of the historic Capital Hilton, located two blocks from the White House in Washington, D.C. Piscola will oversee the operations of this 547-room landmark hotel, which has been recently renovated and the site of many of Washington's most noteworthy events. He most recently served as general manager of Hilton Atlanta Airport as well as cluster general manager with responsibilities that included Embassy Suites Atlanta Airport. Piscola is a twenty-two year veteran of Hilton Worldwide and has held several executive positions with a primary focus on food and beverage. As general manager of Hilton Atlanta Airport for the past six years, he dramatically improved operating efficiencies and customer service satisfaction scores.
Marking a milestone in the city where it all began, Marriott Hotels, the flagship brand of Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) officially celebrated the highly anticipated grand opening of the company's 4,000th hotel – theMarriott Marquis Washington, DC.
The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) announces the appointment of Rosanna Maietta as senior vice president and department head of communications and public relations. In this role, Maietta will drive the strategic planning for all of the association's internal and external communications and strengthen outreach to mainstream, trade, and political outlets.
A 20-year veteran in the hospitality industry, Hennessy most recently served as Market Sales Leader of Catering for the West South Central (WSC) region at Marriott International. In this role, he led 17 full service properties and successfully launched the WSC Catering Sales Organization. Prior to this, he was Area Catering Sales Leader for 12 Marriott, Renaissance and Residence Inn hotels in Washington, DC, Arlington and Northern Virginia. Previously, he served as Director of Event Planning at the Renaissance Dupont Circle Hotel and Director of Catering Sales & Convention Services at Wyndham City Center Hotel in Washington, DC. Hennessy also held numerous positions in Ireland and the U.S. during his tenure at The Jurys Doyle Hotel Group.
The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA), the sole national association representing all segments of the 1.8 million-employee lodging industry, issued the following statement regarding President Obama's speech today at the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York, highlighting the positive impact of travel and tourism as a domestic economic driver:
Magnuson Hotels, the world's largest independent hotel group, announced today the complete rebranding of the Magnuson Hotel Washington.
The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA)—the voice of the global business travel industry—is pleased to announce that Michael W. McCormick, GBTA executive director and COO, has been named a member of the U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board. As a new member, he joins the Board which serves as the advisory body to the Secretary of Commerce on matters relating to the travel and tourism industry in the United States. Board members represent a broad cross-section of the industry, including transportation services, financial services, and hotels and restaurants, as well as a mix of firms from across the country. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, the Board provides advice that helps the government prioritize the travel and tourism policies that will contribute to growth, including enhanced visa issuance and travel facilitation, increased investment in transportation infrastructure, and research for decision-making.