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AHLA Foundation Names 2025 Board of Trustees

The American Hotel & Lodging Association Foundation welcomes a new chair and several new and returning board trustees

By Amanda Christensen

The American Hotel & Lodging Association Foundation, part of the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) headquartered in Washington, D.C., named its 2025 board of trustees in January, which includes an array of hospitality professionals at major hotel brands, hospitality companies, and properties. The organization also welcomed the board’s new chair, Anu Saxena, who serves as president at Hilton Supply Management.

Graphic with headshots of the AHLA Foundation leadership. January 31, 2025
Headshots of the AHLA Foundation leadership team || Courtesy of AHLA Foundation

“I am honored to serve as chair of the AHLA Foundation board of trustees during this transformative time for our industry,” says Saxena in a prepared statement. “As we continue to strengthen the hospitality workforce pipeline and create opportunities for growth, I look forward to working alongside my fellow trustees to expand the foundation’s impact and ensure a bright future for hospitality professionals across the nation.”

Among many returning trustees, new professionals joining the board this year include Elliott Estes from Woodmont Lodging in Bethesda, Maryland; Kristie Goshow from Peregrine Hospitality (formerly KSL Resorts) in Denver, Colorado; Máire Griffin from Wyndham Hotels & Resorts in Parsippany, New Jersey; Harshil Patel from Champion Hotels in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Liz Perkins from Apple Hospitality REIT in Richmond, Virginia; Stephanie Piimauna from Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood, Florida; and Eric Terry from the Virginia Restaurant, Lodging, and Travel Association.

“The AHLA Foundation is evolving and expanding to meet the ever-changing needs of our dynamic industry,” says Anna Blue, president of the foundation. “Under Anu’s leadership and with the unwavering support of our board of trustees, we are poised to drive lasting impact through our workforce development initiative. Together, we will harness the power of this momentum to create transformative opportunities for the hotel workforce, shaping the future of our industry with purpose and passion.”

The complete list of the 2025 AHLA Foundation board of trustees includes the following:

  • Anu Saxena, chair: president at Hilton Supply Management in McLean, Virginia
  • Jonathan Stanner, vice chair: president and CEO at Summit Hotel Properties Inc. in Austin, Texas
  • Brian Quinn, secretary/treasurer: chief development officer at Sonesta International Hotels Corp. in Newton, Massachusetts
  • Julienne Smith, immediate past chair: chief development officer for the Americas at IHG Hotels & Resorts in Windsor, England
  • Amber Asher: former CEO at Standard International in New York, New York
  • Jean-Luc Barone: CEO at White Lodging in Merrillville, Indiana
  • Suraj Bhakta: CEO at NewGen Advisory in Phoenix, Arizona
  • Ann Christenson: chief human resources officer at Aimbridge Hospitality in Plano, Texas
  • Greg Cocchiarella: vice president of industry relations at Ecolab Inc. in St. Paul, Minnesota
  • Elliott Estes: principal at Woodmont Lodging in Bethesda, Maryland
  • Andrea Foster: executive vice president of development and hospitality at MindClick in Bend, Oregon
  • Kristie Goshow: chief commercial officer at Peregrine Hospitality in Denver, Colorado
  • Máire Griffin: senior vice president of global communications at Wyndham Hotels & Resorts in Parsippany, New Jersey
  • Jessica Janis: director and practice leader of hospitality at Corning Optical Communications LLC in Charlotte, North Carolina
  • Harry Javer: founder and president at The Conference Bureau in New York, New York
  • John Lancaster: vice president of emerging markets, franchise development, and owner relationships at Choice Hotels in Bethesda, Maryland
  • Malaika Myers: chief human resources officer at Hyatt Hotels Corp. in Chicago, Illinois
  • Kevin Osterhaus: president of global lifestyle brands at Hilton in McLean, Virginia
  • Harshil Patel: vice president at Champion Hotels in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
  • Daniel Peek: president of the Americas region at JLL real estate firm in Chicago, Illinois
  • Liz Perkins: senior vice president and chief financial officer at Apple Hospitality REIT Inc. in Richmond, Virginia
  • Stephanie Piimauna: senior vice president and chief diversity officer at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood, Florida
  • Leticia Proctor: executive vice president at Donohoe Hospitality Services in Bethesda, Maryland
  • Elaine Richard: area vice president of the Americas Eastern region, full service, at Marriott International in Bethesda, Maryland
  • Ryan Rivett: president and CEO of My Place Hotels in Aberdeen, South Dakota
  • Tricia Taylor: president at The Breakers Palm Beach hotel in Palm Beach, Florida
  • Eric Terry: president at the Virginia Restaurant, Lodging, and Travel Association
  • Scott Trebilco: senior managing director of real estate at Blackstone Inc. in New York, New York

ahlafoundation.org

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