The American Hotel & Lodging Association named its 2025 officers, executive committee and board of directors.
Vision Hospitality Group Founder and CEO Mitch Patel will lead the board of directors as chair; Marriott International Group President, U.S. & Canada, Liam Brown will serve as vice chair; Davidson Hospitality Group CEO and President Thom Geshay will serve as secretary/treasurer; and Hilton Supply Management President and Global Head Anu Saxena will serve as chair of the AHLA Foundation Board of Trustees.
Patel succeeds Hilton Chief Financial Officer and President, Global Development, Kevin Jacobs, who served as AHLA’s board chair in 2024 and will continue on the board as immediate past chair. Pebblebrook Hotel Trust Chairman and CEO Jon Bortz continues as chair of the HotelPAC Advisory Council.
“AHLA has assembled an impressive and diverse group of hospitality leaders who will help advance our issues as a new administration is coming into office,” AHLA President and CEO Rosanna Maietta said in a statement. “I’m confident this board will build on our record of advocacy victories and ensure that hoteliers across the country can thrive and provide lasting careers for millions of employees.”
“I’m looking forward to a busy, exciting year working alongside this exceptional group of hospitality leaders,” said Patel. “It’s our duty to tell the story of our dynamic industry to lawmakers at every level of government and show them that policies that help hoteliers lead to jobs and thriving communities. I’m also excited to keep building on AHLA’s legacy as a group that connects people in our industry through must-attend events, and to continue our work in areas such as anti-human trafficking efforts and sustainability.”
AHLA’s Board of Directors and Executive Committee include leaders from all sectors of the lodging industry, including brands, owners, real estate investment trusts (REITs), management companies, branded properties, independent hotels, and state associations. New members for 2025 are:
AHLA Executive Committee
- Navin Dimond, founder and chairman, Stonebridge
- Carol B. Dover, president and CEO, Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association
- Amanda Hite, president, STR
- Jagruti Panwala, president and CEO, Wealth Protection Strategies
- Craig Smith, CEO, Aimbridge Hospitality
AHLA Board of Directors
- Omer Acar, CEO, Raffles and Fairmont, Accor
- Jean-Luc Barone, president and CEO, White Lodging
- Dina Belon, president, StayPineapple
- Laura Calin, SVP, Oracle Hospitality
- Dawn Gallagher, president, hospitality, Crescent Hotels & Resorts
- Clark Hanrattie, partner, HEI
- Ash Kapur, CEO, InTown Suites and Uptown Suites, Starwood Capital Group
- Kris Kielsa, EVP and GM, Institutional North America, ECOLAB
- Pete Patel, president and CEO, Promise Hotels
- Luis Segredo (HTNG), CEO, Data Travel, Hapi
- Chad Sorensen (HAMA), CEO, CHMWarnick
- Jonathan Wang, founder and CEO, EOS Investors