More than 3,000 delegates attended the 15th annual Americas Lodging Investment Summit (ALIS) in January held at the JW Marriott and Microsoft Theater L.A. LIVE in Los Angeles.
Co-hosted by the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) and Burba Hotel Network (BHN), the conference’s theme “Where’s the Peak?” looked at the hotel industry’s future.
Throughout the conference, individuals and properties were honored. The lifetime achievement award was given to Hasmukh P. (H.P.) Rama, chairman and CEO of JHM Hotel, while 1 Hotel South Beach in Miami was awarded full-service development of the year. The Aloft South Beach was awarded development (select/limited service) of the year. The single asset transaction of the year was given to the Waldorf Astoria New York, and the merger and acquisition of the year when to InterContinental Hotels Group/Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants.
In addition, Gilda Perez-Alvarado, managing director of JLL Hotels & Hospitality, was named the Jack A. Shaffer financial adviser of the year, and the ISHC Pioneer Award was given to Lyndall De Marco, founder of Youth Career Initiative (YCI).
Special focus was also given to contributions given by ALIS to American Hotel & Lodging Education Foundation (AH&LEF). ALIS contributions have provided scholarships for 1,207 students in 120 schools, generated $2.3 million for research projects, and $5.3 million to the development of hotel industry projects, and provided funding for lodging management and hospitality and tourism management in 518 high schools.
