Kirby Payne, CHA, has been named chairperson of the Fund Development Committee at the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Foundation (AH&LEF), the not-for-profit affiliate of the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA).
The primary function of the committee is to raise monies for the AH&LEF Annual Giving Campaign, which was initiated in 1998. The drive, which has a current goal of $65,000, solicits corporations and individuals for annual contributions to support AH&LEF’s core missions of providing scholarships to hospitality management students; funding important industry research in areas such as room tax, energy management, and ADA requirements; as well as promoting hospitality as a career of choice through high school curriculum programs and workforce development initiatives. Last year, the Foundation disbursed more than $750,000 through its programs.
“One of my goals for this campaign is to increase the giving pool to include not only the larger corporate gifts, but also encourage smaller contributions from hotel level management staff,” said Payne. “Our industry is known for its generosity and we encourage hoteliers to nurture this culture of giving by encouraging its employees to contribute to philanthropic organizations like AH&LEF. If you’re in the hotel industry for the long-term like I am, it is important that we all take an interest and responsibility in investing in its future.”
Payne is president of HVS/American Hospitality Management Company, a business he began in 1988. The Tiverton, Rhode Island-based company operates limited- and full-service hotels for third parties and its own affiliates; undertakes consulting assignments, including litigation support for selected clients; and provides asset management, oversight management, and receivership services for institutional hotel owners. Payne served as the 2002 AH&LA chairman.
Payne joins other industry luminaries in leading this AH&LEF committee. Past chairpersons include Mike Patel, CHA, president of Diplomat Hotel Corporation; Joseph R. Kane, Jr., CHA, president of Days Inn Worldwide, Inc.; and Stephen J. Belmonte, president and CEO of Hospitality Solutions.
For more information about the AH&LEF Annual Giving Campaign, contact the foundation at (202) 289-3100, givingcampaigns@ahlef.org, or visit www.ahlef.org. You may contact Payne directly at (401) 625-5016 or KPayne@HVSInternational.com.
AH&LA is a 95-year-old dual membership association of state and city partner lodging associations throughout the United States with some 10,000 property members nationwide, representing more than 1.4 million guest rooms. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., it provides members with advocacy on Capitol Hill, public relations and image management, education, research and information, and other services to ensure a positive business climate for the U.S. lodging industry. Individual state associations provide representation at the state level and offer many additional cost-saving benefits.
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