AH&LA Honors Stevan Porter's Legacy with 2009 Young Leader Award

In memory of Stevan Porter, former president of the Americas for the InterContinental Hotels Group, the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) will honor an exemplary lodging employee under age 30 who has demonstrated superior professional dedication, leadership, and a fresh perspective to their job at an AH&LA member company. The new Stevan Porter Emerging Hospitality Leader of the Year Award will be awarded for the first time during the national Stars of the Industry Award Luncheon on June 24, 2009, during AH&LA's Summer Summit in Chicago. This award is organized in conjunction with the association's launch of the Under 30 Gateway, the new membership category dedicated to providing hospitality professionals age 30 and under with tailored professional development and networking resources.

The award recipient should illustrate 'out of the box' thinking in their professional and personal life, a dedication to the industry by actively participating in association, community, or industry programs. They should also be actively involved in community service in either the local or national arena.

'Our industry suffered a great loss with the passing of Stevan Porter last August,' said AH&LA president/CEO Joseph McInerney, CHA. 'We could think of no better way to celebrate the life of this compassionate, dedicated, and forward-thinking individual, than to recognize a young individual who exemplifies the characteristics that made Steve successful throughout his established lodging career.'

The deadline for applications is February 16, 2009. Award applicants must be age 30 or younger on this date to qualify. Priority will be given to applicants who are members of the AH&LA Under 30 Gateway, which offers complimentary enrollment to any employees of AH&LA member organizations. Applicants in some states must apply for this national award via their state lodging association, rather than to AH&LA directly. Self-nominations are accepted. More information on eligibility requirements and online application forms can be found at www.ahla.com/stars.

AH&LA's Under 30 Gateway is free for association members who qualify based on age and $95/year for individual members. In addition to various networking and career development programs, benefits of Gateway membership include access to a password-protected Website featuring professional development resources and interactive Q&As, mentorship and networking opportunities both online and in person, and complimentary subscriptions to The Gate eNewsletter and Lodging magazine.

For more information, please visit www.ahla.com/Gateway, or contact Jessica Soklow, manager of media relations, at jsoklow@ahla.com.

Serving the hospitality industry for nearly a century, AH&LA is the sole national association representing all sectors and stakeholders in the lodging industry, including individual hotel property members, hotel companies, student and faculty members, and industry suppliers. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., AH&LA provides members with national advocacy on Capitol Hill, public relations and image management, education, research and information, and other value-added services to provide bottom-line savings and ensure a positive business climate for the lodging industry. Partner state associations provide local representation and additional cost-saving benefits to members.

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