Longtime Donor Makes 6th Consecutive Gift at Six-Diamond Level

Washington, D.C., September 28, 2015 RLJ Lodging Trust contributed $5,000 to the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Foundation's (AH&LEF) 2015 Annual Giving Campaign. This donation marks the company's sixth consecutive $5,000 donation. The Annual Giving Campaign is the Foundation's key yearly fundraiser that supports its core missions, including providing scholarships to hospitality management students, funding grants for pertinent industry research such as diversity and technology advancement, and promoting hospitality as a career of choice.

We are so appreciative to RLJ Lodging Trust for their longstanding support of the Foundation and its programs and their role in strengthening the lodging industry as a whole, said AH&LEF president & CFO Joori Jeon. RLJ has set a strong precedent and clear message that their financial contributions ensure the continued success of our industry.

RLJ Lodging Trust is a self-advised, publicly-traded real estate investment trust focused on acquiring premium-branded, focused-service, and compact full-service hotels. The company's portfolio consists of 126 hotels with approximately 21,000 rooms, located in 22 states and the District of Columbia. RLJ Lodging Trust hotels operate under well-recognized global brands, including Courtyard by Marriott, Residence Inn by Marriott, Hilton Garden Inn, Homewood Suites by Hilton, Hyatt Place, and Embassy Suites.

AH&LEF is the not-for-profit affiliate of the American Hotel & Lodging Association and is funded solely by charitable donations from progressive hospitality leaders and companies within the industry. In 2014, AH&LEF disbursed more than $1 million to prepare promising college students for a career in hospitality, to attract and retain talented industry professionals, and to fund valuable research for the industry. Since the Foundation's inception, more than $18.5 million has been distributed through its scholarship, education, outreach, and research programs.

For more information about donating, contact Michelle Poinelli, senior vice president of foundation programs, at (202) 289-3181 or mpoinelli@ahlef.org or visit www.ahlef.org.