News for the Hospitality Executive |
Washington,
April 24, 2013 –
The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) announced the
winners
of the John Whitaker Award and the State Leadership Awards during
the first day of the association’s annual Legislative Action Summit
(LAS). In addition, J.W.
Marriott, Jr., executive chairman and chairman
of the board Marriott International, Inc., was presented with the first
AH&LA Voice of the Industry Award.
Vail Brown, CMHS, vice president of global business development and marketing for STR, received the 2013 John Whitaker Award, which is presented to an outstanding Certified Master Hotel Supplier for their dedication to and innovation within the industry. The AH&LA Allied Executive Council nominates the award recipient, which is named for a long-time hospitality veteran who served as international sales manager for SICO America, Inc., until his death in 2007. She is a founding member and current chair of AH&LA’s Women In Lodging Executive Council. She also mentors students at different universities and works with the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Foundation student scholarship recipients. The State Leadership Awards were created in 1998 to honor standout members in each partner state association who help implement and strengthen programs. Award recipients, who are chosen by AH&LA’s partner state associations, included the following: Ricky Johnson Owner/General Manager, Comfort Inn Mountain Home, AR David C. Britton, CHA General Manager, Holiday Inn Torrance Torrance, CA George Fischer Managing Director, Destination Hotels & Resorts, Inverness Hotel & Conference Center Englewood, CO Jim McManemon General Manager, Ritz Carlton Amelia Island Amelia Island, FL Marc Friday General Manager, Planters Inn on Reynolds Square Savannah, GA Dale McFarland General Manager, Keylime Cove Indoor Water Park Resort Gurnee, IL Brian Comes General Manager, Hyatt Regency Indianapolis Indianapolis, IN Ed Buchert General Manager, Holiday Inn Lafayette Lafayette, LA Philip E. Stamm General Manager, Hyatt Regency Boston Boston, MA Lucy Weeder, CHA General Manager, Best Western Plus Grant Creek Inn Missoula, MT Paul E. Clark Former Owner, Comfort Inn & Suites Blackwell, OK Tim Zugger General Manager, Doubletree Hotel & Suites Pittsburgh City Center Pittsburgh, PA Jose Estrompa General Manager, Radisson Hotel Providence Airport Warwick, RI Ken Maples Owner, Quality Inn & Suites/Comfort Inn & Suites Pigeon Forge, TN Pratik Patel President, JMP Hospitality Inc. San Antonio, TX James Charlton Graves Owner and Operator, Graves Mountain Lodge, Inc. Syria, VA Buck Drossart General Manager, The Pointe Hotel & Suites Minocqua, WI The Voice of the Industry award was presented to Mr. Marriott in recognition of his vast contributions to enhance the profile of the lodging industry, including the building of successful relationships in Congress and several Presidential administrations. The Legislative Action Summit is sponsored by American Express, Cornell University School of Hospitality Administration, Heartland Payment Systems, and HD Supply. For more information on the State Leadership Awards or the John Whitaker Award, please visit www.ahla.com. About the AH&LA
Serving the hospitality industry for a century, AH&LA is the sole national association representing all sectors and stakeholders in the lodging industry, including individual hotel property members, hotel companies, student and faculty members, and industry suppliers. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., AH&LA provides members with national advocacy on Capitol Hill, public relations and image management, education, research and information, and other value-added services to provide bottom-line savings and ensure a positive business climate for the lodging industry. Partner state associations provide local representation and additional cost-saving benefits to members. For more about AH&LA, visit www.ahla.com |
Contact: Kathryn Potter [email protected] |