ALL-FEMALE ‘POWER PANEL’ TO DISCUSS ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL CHANGE AT ALIS CONFERENCE

press release

'Winds of Change' Panel Addresses Challenges and Opportunities for Hoteliers in New Administration

San Diego, December 22, 2008 — The Americas Lodging Investment Summit (ALIS), January 26 -28, 2009, will feature a panel of well-known female political analysts critically examining the future of hospitality in light of the fluctuating economic climate and incoming Obama Administration. Top executives will share their insights with an audience of established hotel investors, developers, and other industry professionals during A New Year, a New Government, and Winds of Change in Washington D.C. – What Do The Results Of The Recent Historic Election Mean For The World, The Country, And For The Hotel Industry?

This lively talk show-formatted panel will be hosted by former award-winning producer, reporter, and news anchor Kathleen Matthews, current EVP, global communications & public affairs, Marriott International, Inc., and former co-anchor, ABC News 7, Washington D.C., and co-host, Capital Sunday. Her guest panelists include Marlene Colucci, executive vice president for public policy, American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA); Kellyanne E. Conway, president and CEO, the polling company, inc./WomanTrend; and Celinda Lake, president, Lake Research Partners.

“We’re thrilled to have assembled a panel of some of hospitality’s most influential and knowledgeable women in Washington,” said BHN President and Conference Chair Jim Burba. “Their well-rounded experience in diverse facets of governmental relations will provide our conference attendees with a high-level look at what to expect coming down the pike in 2009 in terms of the new Administration and general economic landscape.”

The presentation will be held on Wednesday, January 28, from 9:40 – 10:25 a.m., at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront, the conference host hotel. The panel is complemented by other ALIS sessions and workshops on topics offering a critical analysis of the economy, capital markets and finance, owner investments and asset management, development, acquisitions, management and franchising, vacation ownership, international opportunities, and green hotels.

Proceeds from the conference benefit the educational, research, and training missions of the Educational Institute (EI) of the American Hotel & Lodging Education Foundation (AH&LEF), AH&LA’s not-for-profit affiliate. For general event information, online registration, and sponsor opportunities, contact Jonathon Zink, BHN conference manager, at (714) 540-9300 or jzink@burba.com, or visit the ALIS Website. For information on the AH&LA or AH&LEF, visit www.ahla.com. Press interested in more information on ALIS are invited to contact Jessica Soklow, AH&LA media relations manager, 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.

AH&LEF is the charitable fund-raising and endowed fund-management subsidiary of the American Hotel & Lodging Association. Founded in 1953, AH&LEF is the premier organization for scholarships, professional certification, and instructional material as well as funding for hospitality industry research.

With more than two decades of experience and over 65 events completed to date, BHN is the worldwide leader in developing and organizing conferences for the hotel and tourism investment community. BHN conferences have become “must attend” events for industry leaders who come together to network, conduct business, and to learn about the latest trends. In addition to ALIS, BHN events include: the Central America Tourism & Hotel Investment Exchange (CATHIE) taking place in Managua in 2009; the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Investment Conference (CHTIC) taking place in Bermuda in 2009; Digital Discovery Day (D3) in New York; the Hotel Investment Conference Asia Pacific (HICAP) in Hong Kong; the Hotel Investment Forum India (HIFI) in Mumbai; and the PATA CEO Challenge in Bangkok. The BHN Website at www.burba.com is the gateway for information about the conferences BHN produces, as well as a direct link to important players in the hospitality investment world.