The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) today named Katherine Lugar, executive vice president of the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA), as its new President and Chief Executive Officer, effective April 17, 2013. Lugar will take over for long-time CEO Joseph A. McInerney, who announced last year that he would be stepping down.
For the past six years, Lugar, 42, has spearheaded RILA’s public affairs efforts. During her tenure at RILA, Lugar established the association as the retail industry’s premier advocate and led a number of important legislative victories, including the reform of debit card swipe fees.
Serving the hospitality industry for more than 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.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. For more about AH&LA, visit www.ahla.com .
