The American Hotel & Lodging Association's (AH&LA's) annual Legislative Action Summit (LAS), April 1-2, at the JW Marriott in Washington, D.C., brings together hundreds of hotel owners, senior executives of corporate brands, management companies, independent hoteliers, and general managers who will engage in important policy discussions with their industry peers and colleagues.
The Cornell School of Hotel Administration and the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) will co-present the Cornell/AH&LA Women in Senior Leadership Lunch and Panel, Monday, March 31, 2014, 12:30–2:30 p.m., at the Willard InterContinental in Washington, DC. Held during the AH&LA Legislative Action Summit, the event will feature senior women leaders in hospitality as they discuss upcoming transformations in the industry. Register here to attend the lunch and panel titled "Predicting the Game Changers in the Global Hospitality and Travel Industry." "We are excited to collaborate with AH&LA on this important event," said Meg Hardie Keilbach, assistant dean of alumni affairs and development, SHA. "Our panelists know the pulse of the industry and will offer tremendous insight into the most pressing topics and trends." "One of the missions of our initiative is to spotlight leading women in the industry, and this powerhouse panel certainly accomplishes that," said Thea Sargent, chair of the AH&LA Women in Lodging Executive Council and general manager of Disney's Contemporary Resort. "This event provides women at all levels of our industry the opportunity to gain important insight and network with executives from across the country." Cathy Enz, Ph.D., the Lewis G. Schaeneman, Jr. Professor of Innovation & Dynamic Management, Cornell School of Hotel Administration, will moderate the panel, which will include the following speakers: • Ellen Brown, Executive Vice President of Acquisitions & Development, Denihan Hospitality Group • Kristin Campbell, Executive Vice President and General Counsel, Hilton Worldwide • Debbie Marriott Harrison, Global Officer of Culture and Business Councils, Marriott International, Inc. • Kate Henriksen, Senior Vice President, RLJ Lodging Trust • Christie Hicks, Senior Vice President, Starwood Sales Organization, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide The cost is $40 for Cornell alumni and AH&LA members and $55 for non-alumni/members. Click here to register. Event sponsors are the Cornell Hotel Society Washington DC/Baltimore chapter, Hilton Worldwide, Hyatt, STR, Willard InterContinental Hotel, and Wyndham Worldwide. If you have questions or would like to partner with Cornell on this event, contact Jennifer Macera at [email protected].
Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH), one of the world's largest hotel companies, is pleased to announce today that its president and CEO, Steve Joyce, has assumed the chairmanship of the International Franchise Association (IFA). With a career in the lodging industry spanning over three decades, Joyce has led Choice Hotels since 2008, and has a proven track record of developing and growing some of the best-known hotel brands in markets worldwide. Joyce has long been involved in the lodging and franchise industries and the global business community. Joyce comes into the role of IFA chairman after previously serving as IFA's Vice Chairman. A long-standing IFA member, Joyce has held many additional leadership roles, including serving in the leadership chairs since 2011 and a board member since 2001, IFA Educational Foundation Executive Committee first vice chairman (2012-2013) and Franchisor Forum chairman (2003-2010). He has served on multiple IFA committees that provide guidance to the organization, including chairing the Long Range Planning Committee in 2009, as well as chairing the IFA 2014 Convention Committee.
The 25th annual HSMAI's MEET National event, presented by Questex Hospitality + Travel, will be held Sept. 3-4 at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington and is expected to attract more than 1,250 attendees.
The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) has named the 2014 board of directors. All members are new to the board of directors, which is comprised solely of C-level lodging executives representing the full scope of the lodging sector, including brands, owners and REITs, management companies, independents, and state associations. The AH&LA board meets twice yearly to discuss a broad range of industry and association-related issues.
The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA), the sole association representing all segments of the 1.8 million-employee lodging industry, will hold its 17th annual Legislative Action Summit (LAS) on April 1-2 at the JW Marriott in Washington, D.C.
Jervis will join The Embassy Row Hotel after serving as the General Manager, along with other positions held at Terranea Resort, by Destination Hotels & Resorts, outside of Los Angeles, California. Prior to his five years at Terranea, Jervis enjoyed successful tenures in senior management roles with The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, Grand Wailea Resort and Spa, and Marriott Hotels
The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) – the voice of the global business travel industry – today announced Senator Mary L. Landrieu (D-LA) will deliver the opening keynote at The Masters Program 2014 being held February 10-11, 2014 in Washington, D.C.
A hospitality industry veteran, Katigbak has over seven years of transient sales experience in the Washington D.C. luxury hotel segment. He joins Capella from Mandarin Oriental, D.C., where he served as Associate Director of Sales, overseeing the transient segments, and also the corporate negotiated market and entertainment sector. He was also responsible for developing the property's diplomatic audience and creating key partnerships with organizations such as The Smithsonian Institution.
Destination Hotels & Resorts has added The Embassy Row Hotel in Washington, D.C. to its growing portfolio of distinctive hotels and resorts and its expanding Destination Urban Collection in key city centers across the country. Under Destination management, the 231-room property, located at 2015 Massachusetts Ave NW in the heart of Dupont Circle and Embassy Row, will undergo a significant renovation and be repositioned as a contemporary independent boutique hotel for the modern day traveler. The property was acquired by Lowe Enterprises Investors, on behalf of an investment venture that includes Lowe Enterprises, The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America and Allstate Insurance Company.
The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) has long been a strong advocate of the U.S. lodging industry in Washington, regarding key issues that affect the millions of hoteliers across the country each year. At the recent ASFONA (Association of Starwood Franchisees & Owners – North America) Associate Board meeting in Atlanta, AH&LA president/CEO Katherine Lugar presented the association's most recent governmental initiatives to the attending ASFONA board members. The meeting, which was held at Le Meridien – Atlanta in early October, signaled an alliance between the two powerful industry associations, as they joined forces to influence lawmakers regarding legislative and regulatory issues that affect the lodging industry.
With 14 years of leadership experience with Sofitel North America, Jean-Christophe Gras is a promising choice to guide Sofitel Washington DC Lafayette Square. He arrived in the nation's capital from the Canadian province of Quebec, where he spent the last 12 years as General Manager of the five-star Sofitel Montreal Golden Mile. Indeed, Gras was integral to the opening team in Montreal, which became the newest flagship for Sofitel's parent company, Accor, in 2001. In the course of his tenure in Montreal, Gras also spent two years as Regional Vice President, where he supervised all General Managers and led four Sofitel North America addresses.
Marking a major milestone for Washington, D.C., J.W. Marriott, Jr., executive chairman of Marriott International, Mayor Vincent C. Gray, District of Columbia, and dignitaries celebrated the topping off of the Marriott Marquis Washington DC, signifying that the 15-story property has reached its final construction height.
Hospitality industry veteran Mr. Shujaat Khan was recently elected President of Les Clefs d’Or USA, the original and only association of hotel lobby concierges in the United States. Mr. Khan’s career spans three decades as a leader in the concierge profession, holding positions in several of the area’s most noted hotels including the Watergate Hotel and the Capital Hilton Hotel, where he is currently Chef Concierge. The appointment was decided by vote of the body of over 600 members and marks Mr. Khan’s second term presiding over the group; he previously served as president in 2006.
Grace Hotels is pleased to announce two senior appointments following its recent expansion in New England. Stuart Barwise becomes General Manager of the newly acquired Mayflower Grace and Regional General Manager, New England. Ian Grant has been appointed Regional Food & Beverage Director, New England. Barwise and Grant both join from US Hotels, the sister group of Grace Hotels, where they held the roles of Director, Hotel Operations, and Director, Food & Beverage Operations respectively. Each brings a wealth of experience: Barwise has honed his expertise in the hospitality field over a period of 30 years, latterly in leadership positions at prestigious establishments including the White Barn Inn & Spa, Embassy Suites Hotel Portland and The Grand Wailea Resort in Maui, Hawaii, and as Vice President of Lodging and General Manager of the ski and golf resort, Sugarloaf. At US Hotels his role included the oversight of group-wide technology, community and government relations and business development within the New England region.
Questex Hospitality + Travel, the world's largest multinational media, event and e-commerce company serving the global hospitality and travel industry, and the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) today announced a strategic agreement for Questex to manage HSMAI's MEET series of industry-leading events.
Ecker was most recently the Director of Rooms Division for the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center. While there, she successfully reversed declining service scores and implemented processes that significantly increased revenues without compromising quality.
Longtime W Hotel Washington manager Ed Baten has left the District for fairer shores — the beaches of the Caribbean to be exact — and W parent Starwood Hotels & Resorts has hired a new general manager from within the company. Baten oversaw the $90 million renovation of the W Washington, D.C. and was named among the Washington Business Journal's 40 under 40 in 2010. He's leaving W to take a job managing the Sheraton Nassau Beach Resort in the Bahamas. W Hotel Washington has appointed Oliver Servat as its new general manager. Servat comes to D.C. from the W Paris-Opéra, where he was the opening GM. The Toulouse native has been with Starwood Hotels for a decade, serving in various positions with Meridien hotels, including as the director of Le Meridien Etoile, Meridien's flagship property and the largest hotel in Paris.
Guthrie joins the sales & marketing team at Park Hyatt Washington with a vast knowledge working for Hyatt Hotels, having most recently served for five years as Director of Sales at the Hyatt Regency London – The Churchill.
Registration is now open for this year's Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) MEET National, the meeting and event-planning industry's leading show. HSMAI's MEET National, which is focused on Meetings, Events, Education and Technology, is scheduled for Sept. 4-5, 2013, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C.