Shatterproof, a national nonprofit organization focused on improving the way the healthcare system addresses and treats substance-use disorders, has selected STR President Amanda Hite as its 2025 Shatterproof Hospitality Heroes honoree. In a statement, the organization said it was recognizing Hite “for her courage and commitment toward raising awareness of substance-use disorders and ending addiction stigma.” She will be honored during the eighth annual Hospitality Heroes Reception, which will be held during the Americas Lodging Investment Summit on Jan. 29. The event will also raise funds to support Shatterproof and its efforts to transform how addiction is treated in America.
According to the organization, Hite has “expressed pride” in the hospitality industry’s efforts to support people affected by addiction. She has actively participated in Shatterproof initiatives, including the Shatterproof Challenge Rappel, where she rappelled down a building to raise awareness and funds for addiction prevention, treatment and recovery.
At STR, a CoStar Group company, Hite supervises all operational and business affairs tailored to the global hospitality industry. Her industry involvement includes serving on numerous boards and councils, such as the American Hotel and Lodging Association, the U.S. Travel Association, the Executive Council of Women in Lodging and the Forward Sumner Economic Partnership. She also contributes to the Travel and Tourism Advisory Council for the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta and the Industry Advisory Board for the hotel and restaurant management program at Auburn University.
Before her role at STR, Hite was the director of research for the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce, where she focused on economic growth and development within the local business community and broader regional economy. Hite holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Birmingham-Southern College.
Shatterproof
The Hospitality Heroes Reception was created by Gary Mendell, a former hotelier who served as the co-founder and chairman of HEI Hotels & Resorts, and who is now the Shatterproof CEO.
Mendell founded Shatterproof 10 years ago after losing his son to the stigma of addiction. Since its inception, the Hospitality Heroes Reception has raised more than $5 million to help the Shatterproof mission and gathered more than 100 hotel companies and 500 employees.
“Amanda Hite is a true testament of the Hospitality Heroes award due to her personal commitment to educate the public to reduce the stigma of addiction and ensure that people who use substances or have substance use disorders have a path to recovery,” Mendell said in a statement. “We look forward to working with her and STR to raise awareness and bring change to treatment outcomes and research.”
“Studies have shown the hospitality industry is impacted by substance-use disorders at two times the rate of other industries,” Hite said. “My goal is to ensure that we create a national support system to ensure that people living with substance use disorders have access to treatment and resources and can be treated without any shame or judgement.”
The 2025 Shatterproof Hospitality Heroes Committee includes Mike Barnello, Badlands Hotel Capital; James Burba, Burba Hotel Network; Paul Whetsell, CapStar Hotel Company; Ted Darnall, Clark Hanrattie, Anthony Rutledge, and Greg Mendell, HEI Hotels & Resorts; Chris Nassetta, Hilton Hotels and Resorts; Dan Lesser, LW Hospitality Advisors; Bill Reynolds, Marcus Hotels; Joel Eisemann, Noble Investment Group; Mark Woodworth, RM Woodworth Hospitality Advisors; Robert Alter, Seaview Investors; Stacy Silver, Silver Hospitality Group; Gary Mendell, Shatterproof; Thomas Corcoran, TCOR Hotel Partners; Patrick Campbell, Tim Hodes and Merrick Kleeman, Wheelock Street Capital; and Geoff Ballotti, Wyndham Hotels and Resorts.
The 2024 Hospitality Heroes reception will take place on Jan. 29 from 6:30 p.m.–7:45 p.m. at the J.W. Marriott at LA Live in Los Angeles. Tickets and sponsorships will be available at www.shatterproof.org in September.