Washington, D.C. (August 13, 2014) -The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA), the sole national association representing all segments of the 1.8 million-employee lodging industry, filed an amicus brief in support of the International Franchise Association's (IFA) motion for a preliminary injunction discriminating against franchisees under the city of Seattle's new minimum wage ordinance. The amicus, which includes the U.S.

Omaha, NE (August 11, 2014) - Congressman Lee Terry (R-NE 02) praised the job growth in the Nebraska hotel industry today on a Heart of the House tour of a Holiday Inn in Omaha. The tour of the 114-room downtown property focused on the thousands of jobs generated by the hotel industry in Nebraska and the millions of dollars it contributes to the local and state economy.

Washington, D.C.,  (August 7, 2014)  - RLJ Lodging Trust contributed $5,000 to the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Foundation (AH&LEF) 2014 Annual Giving Campaign. A longtime donor to AH&LEF, this year marks the company's fifth consecutive $5,000 donation.

Washington, (August 4, 2014) - Randy and Carolyn Smith contributed $5,000 to the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Foundation (AH&LEF) 2014 Annual Giving Campaign. This is their second personal gift at the six-diamond level. Randy Smith is CEO of Smith Travel Research, Inc. (STR), a long-time corporate donor to AH&LEF's Annual Giving Campaign. STR has made seven six-diamond level donations to the Campaign, and before that contributed to the Foundation's New Century Fund Campaign from 2001-2005.

Nancy Johnson, CHA, past chair of the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA), and executive vice president of development of the Americas at the Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, donated $5,000 for the third consecutive year to the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Foundation (AH&LEF) Annual Giving Campaign. Johnson, an AH&LEF board member, has been a supporter of the Foundation and its Annual Giving Campaign for more than a decade.

Kirk Kinsell, president of The Americas, InterContinental Hotels Group, contributed $5,000 to the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Foundation (AH&LEF) 2014 Annual Giving Campaign. The Annual Giving Campaign is the Foundation's yearly key fundraiser that supports its core missions, including providing scholarships to hospitality management students, funding important research in areas such as room tax, energy management, and ADA requirements, and promoting hospitality as a career of choice and workforce development initiatives.

Jill and Paul Kirwin contributed $5,000 to the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Foundation (AH&LEF) 2014 Annual Giving Campaign. The Annual Giving Campaign is the Foundation's yearly key fundraiser that supports its core missions, including providing scholarships to hospitality management students, funding important research in areas such as room tax, energy management, and ADA requirements, as well as promoting hospitality as a career of choice and workforce development initiatives.

The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA), the sole national association representing all segments of the 1.8 million-employee lodging industry, issued the following statement commending passage of the Travel Promotion, Enhancement, and Modernization Act (H.R. 4450) by the House of Representatives on a vote of 347-57:

Minaz Abji, executive vice president of Host Hotels and Resorts, Inc., contributed $10,000 to the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Foundation (AH&LEF) 2014 Annual Giving Campaign. This is Abji's third donation at the Leadership Gift level. Abji previously made five consecutive donations at the six-diamond level. Abji is chair of AH&LEF's board of trustees and a member of the American Hotel & Lodging Association board of directors.

The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA), the sole national association representing all segments of the 1.8 million-employee lodging industry, commends the Senate for today's passage of the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Reauthorization Act (S. 2244) on a vote of 93-4 and issued the following statement: