Katherine Lugar to depart the AH&LA

The American Hotel & Lodging Association's President and CEO Katherine Lugar will depart the organization later this year to become president and CEO of the American Beverage Association. The AH&LA has initiated a search for her successor.

Katherine Lugar. Photo credit: AH&LA

During Lugar’s five-year tenure at the AH&LA she led a transformation of the organization, including tripling membership and revenue; aligning the policy interests of brands, owners and management companies; driving public policy campaigns on a host of issues; serving as a voice for public policy officials at all levels of government; and making its political action committee one of the largest among all trade associations.  

“I am fortunate to have worked with the outstanding staff and leadership of the American Hotel & Lodging Association,” Lugar said in a statement. “Together, we have made significant strides over the past five years. While I will dearly miss working with and for leaders of America’s iconic hotel companies and the truly exceptional AH&LA staff, I am confident that the success of the organization will only continue and expand. It has been a true honor to represent this innovative and dynamic industry.”

“We are grateful to Katherine for her dynamic leadership, passion and drive to make the AH&LA a highly effective force for the industry," Mark Carrier, chair of the AH&LA, said. "We wish her the very best as she takes on this new position. With the outstanding staff and leadership in place at AH&LA, along with a strong board and executive committee comprised of our industry’s top leaders, we are well positioned for the future.” 

“Over the past five years, Katherine and her team bolstered and improved every facet of our association’s operations. Today, AH&LA’s advocacy efforts, engagement of industry leadership, financial strength and political wherewithal have never been better. There is no doubt that the momentum we have achieved will only lead to new successes,” added Geoff Ballotti, vice chair of AH&LA.

“Katherine’s efforts on AH&LA’s behalf have set the stage for an effective future. With the talented team currently in place at AH&LA and Katherine’s hands-on role during the transition, we fully expect to be well positioned for the upcoming year," said Jon Bortz, AH&LA secretary-treasurer and HotelPAC chair. "The work the AH&LA undertakes for an industry employing millions of workers is critical and we look forward to continued success.”

The Washngton, D.C.-based American Hotel & Lodging Association is the largest national association solely representing all segments of the 8 million jobs the U.S. lodging industry supports, including brands, hotel owners, REITs, chains, franchisees, management companies, independent properties, bed and breakfasts, state hotel associations and industry suppliers. The AH&LA represents more than 54,000 properties that supports $1.1 trillion in U.S. sales, and generates nearly $170 billion in taxes to local, state and federal governments.