WASHINGTON, D.C.—AHLA Foundation, the charitable arm of the American Hotel and Lodging Association (AHLA), honored Julienne Smith, Chief Development Officer, Americas, IHG Hotels & Resorts, as the 2023 recipient of the Peggy Berg Castell Award. Presented at The Lodging Conference on September 20, the award highlights women trailblazers who are paving the way for more women to rise to the top of the hospitality industry. In her role overseeing the growth of IHG Hotels & Resorts in the Americas region, Smith’s leadership has paved the way for her own successes as well as the success of others. She is actively involved...

Name: Emma Jacobs Title: Social Purpose and Sustainability Manager Company: Legacy Vacation Resorts Years in Current Position: Two years Primary Responsibility: “Leading our Social Purpose initiatives, getting our teams involved, volunteering, doing cleanups, fostering a healthy ecosystem. We have a heavy focus on electrifying and transitioning to renewable energy.” Organization’s most significant accomplishment in social purpose and sustainability: “We are ever-focused on the future with ambitious goals including getting to Net Zero carbon emissions by 2030, reducing water usage per check-in (UPC) 25 percent and energy UPC 10 percent by 2025, and achieving 100 percent renewable energy company-wide by 2030. We are well...

MIAMI—SH Hotels & Resorts, the sustainable hotel brand management company that operates 1 Hotels, the mission driven luxury lifestyle hotel brand inspired by nature; Baccarat Hotels; and Treehouse Hotels, announces the appointment of Pranav Jampani as Vice President of Sustainability. In this role, Jampani will lead the company’s sustainability efforts, leveraging more than 15 years of experience in corporate sustainability and responsibility to reinforce SH Hotels & Resorts’ position as a leader in sustainable hospitality. Jampani will take the lead in advancing sustainability efforts across SH Hotels & Resorts, with a primary focus on 1 Hotels, the first mission-driven luxury...

ROCKVILLE, MD.—Choice Hotels has a long history of creating and bolstering hotel ownership opportunities for underrepresented minority entrepreneurs. The person who has led that effort for the last three years and been involved with it for many more is being honored for his work by an organization that is deeply familiar with it. John Lancaster, Choice Hotels’ Vice President for Emerging Markets, Franchise Development and Owner Relationships, received the “Chairman’s Award” from the National Association of Black Hotel Owners, Operators & Developers (NABHOOD), which advocates on behalf of African American hoteliers. The award was presented by NABHOOD President and CEO...

BOSTON—The grass will be greener at SGA as Sadaf Jafari, LEED AP BD + C, CPHC begins her tenure as Director of Sustainable Design with the architecture and interior design firm. Bringing experience from both architecture and engineering fields, Jafari’s ability to build cross-functional teams primed for collaborative execution will further solidify SGA’s pursuit of environmentally minded design innovation. The firm’s leadership plans for this strategic hire to provide clients with a more holistic approach to design across geographic markets and industry verticals. “I am excited to join this passionate team of diverse professionals who are already so committed to...

MALDIVES—Ocean conservation is a core pillar for OUTRIGGER Resorts & Hotels and the newly appointed resident marine biologist at OUTRIGGER Maldives Maafushivaru Resort, Danielle Stanley, has ambitious plans for guest interaction and participation. As part of OUTRIGGER Zone—the premier beach resort brand’s global conservation initiative on marine and environmental protection—guests can join in and learn about conservation activities at the resort. Stanley, a dual British-South African national, who grew up in Tanzania, took over her new post with OUTRIGGER Maldives Maafushivaru Resort in March. Activities at the resort include coral planting, whale shark and manta excursions, showing marine-themed documentaries, holding arts...

NEW ORLEANS—New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center Director of Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility Linda Baynham was recently recognized as one of five local Travel and Tourism Week (NTTW) Champions by New Orleans and Company, the city’s destination marketing organization. Honored during the weeklong celebration, NTTW champions are individuals in the industry who are passionate about their chosen field and create positive impacts in the community. Each of the five champions represents a different sector of the hospitality and tourism industry. As Director of Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility, Baynham establishes company-wide sustainability and corporate social responsibility goals for the Convention Center. She...

BERLIN—Torsten Loos is the new COO of Berlin-based budget group a&o Hostels. He has been with the company since 2002 and, as Director of Operations, has been responsible for the operation of the total of 40 properties with 35 general managers and more than 1,000 employees since 2014. During this time, he has developed and established a new management trainee program and the a&o Academy, among other things. The top issue and motivation for Loos as COO remains: “Budget yes, but the focus is on quality.” The key to this for Loos is “consistent employee qualification.” He shares, “Optimized cost structure is a basic...

GAUTENG, SOUTH AFRICA—Adrian Gardiner, well-known conservationist, entrepreneur and Founder and Chairman of the conservation-focused hotel group, the Mantis Collection, recently received a Global Humanitarian Award from American Humane—the United States’ first national humane organization, and the world’s largest certifier of animal welfare. The Award is “in recognition of Gardiner’s dedication to wildlife conservation, to saving animals and their habitats that has laid a road map for other private entities to invest in conservation,” said American Humane CEO, Dr. Robin Ganzert. “He could apply his sharp business sense anywhere, yet he’s chosen to invest his talents in wildlife conservation. American Humane...

NASHVILLE, TENN.—1 Hotel Nashville, Nashville’s first mission-driven sustainable luxury hotel, announced the appointment of Onal Kucuk as General Manager. Kucuk will spearhead all operations and strategic goals for the property, and oversee the 178 guestrooms and 37 suites, as well as 1 Kitchen Nashville, Harriet’s Rooftop, Neighbors Café, and Bamford Wellness Spa. Most recently in the role of general manager at The Guild Hotel in San Diego, Kucuk brings extensive experience in luxury and lifestyle hotels. Previously, Kucuk spent several years with Hyatt, from Ventana Big Sur, a luxury coastal resort, to Thompson Chicago, a chic hotel in the Gold...