Washington, August 13, 2003—Members of the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) Governance and Membership Task Force recently convened to chart the association’s future federation structure. Utilizing recent findings from the Washington Resource Consulting Group’s (WRCG) 2003 study of the association’s governance, the group identified methods to improve the existing membership model as well as recommended long-term goals to benefit members and the entire lodging industry.
To provide the optimal benefits and services to AH&LA members, the task force proposals highlight several issues, including: (1) membership — modifying the management of the state- and property-level groups; (2) governance — reforming the current arrangement of the board of directors; and (3) structure — offering additional advocacy, marketing, communications, research, and educational opportunities. Recommendations will be formally presented to the board of directors at the association’s upcoming Fall Conference in New York City on November 8.
“We are confident that the study’s objective evaluation and the task force’s subsequent recommendations will allow us to carefully and precisely assess, identify, and meet the needs of our various constituents. This process was initially driven by our desire to meet the various needs our members. However, the end result brings forth several initiatives that will be beneficial to every hotelier,” said 2003 AH&LA Chairman Michael K. Handlery, CHA, senior vice president of Handlery Hotels, Inc.
Comprised of a diverse cross-section of the lodging industry, members of the Governance and Membership Task Force represent member state associations, the (current) board of directors, suppliers, management companies, hotel brands, and other business affiliates.
In June 2002, AH&LA commissioned Bethesda, Md.-based WRCG to review AH&LA’s functionality through various assessment phases, such as meetings, telephone interviews, and focus groups. The study was funded by the association’s not-for-profit affiliate, the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Foundation.
To learn more about the methodology of AH&LA’s governance study, contact WRCG President Arlene Sirkin at (301) 469-5000 or afsirkin@keepingmembers.com.
AH&LA is a 93-year-old federation of state lodging associations throughout the United States with some 11,000 property members worldwide, representing more than 1.5 million guest rooms. AH&LA provides its members with assistance in operations, education, and communications, and lobbies on Capitol Hill to provide a business climate in which the industry can continue to prosper. Individual state associations provide representation at the state level and offer many additional cost-saving benefits.
WRCG, is a Washington, D.C.-area-based consulting firm. WRCG provides in-depth, tailored marketing research, facilitation, and consulting services in areas such as member research, product development evaluations, and staff/leadership seminars. The group was founded in 1989 to serve trade associations, professional societies, and other membership-based organization. WRCG’s clients include the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the United Way of America, and the International Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus.
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