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THE BWH HOTEL Group board of directors elected Danny Lafayette as board chairman for 2023. Previously, Lafayette served as vice-chairman of the board of directors and has been a Best Western owner for more than 40 years. Lafayette also served as a Best Western governor for more than 25 years, according to the company. He was elected to the board of directors in 2018 to represent Best Western's District VII, which includes the Northeastern region of the U.S. and the eastern provinces of Canada. "I'm pleased to announce Danny Lafayette as our new chairman of the board," said Larry Cuculic, BWH Hotel Group president and CEO. "Danny has been a trusted member of our organization for over four decades. His deep knowledge of our brand, together with his extensive industry experience, make Danny the ideal selection to serve as Chairman. I look forward to working alongside Danny and his colleagues on the board of directors as we continue to grow our brand, deliver industry-leading customer care to our guests, and drive superior revenue to our hoteliers."

THE REPRESENTATION OF Black and women members on hotel industry boards is on the rise, signaling progress in board diversity, according to recent research commissioned by AHLA Foundation and conducted by Penn State's School of Hospitality Management. The surge surpasses the 2022 averages for firms in the Russell 3000 Index, while indicating multiple gains for the industry. The 2022 data analysis involved 230 board members from 28 companies spanning the years 2016 to 2022, the AHLA Foundation said. Key findings from the report include: In 2022, women held 31.3 percent of independent board seats on hotel public company boards, a notable surgefrom 22.5 percent in 2021. This surpasses the 2022 Russell 3000 Index average of 28.4 percent for women representation.

WYNDHAM HOTELS & RESORTS' board of directors has officially advised the company's shareholders not to support an exchange offer from Choice Hotels International to acquire Wyndham. The offer is "insufficient" and prone to regulatory risks, the board said. Choice announced its latest offer directly to Wyndham stockholders last week. At that time, Wyndham's board said at that time that it would review the offer, though it also said it appeared to be the same as the original offer it rejected in November. On Monday, the board released its official statement rejecting the latest offer. "Choice has, once again, failed to address the major value gap and risks of their offer - which remains virtually unchanged from the terms outlined in their previous unsolicited proposal," said Stephen Holmes, chairman of the board. "The core issues we have articulated remain the same: a likely prolonged regulatory review period of up to 24 months with an uncertain outcome; the pure inadequacy of the offer from a valuation standpoint, including the significant equity component of Choice stock; and the lack of consideration for Wyndham's superior, standalone growth prospects."

THE BHW HOTELS board of directors elected Steve Wahrlich as board chairman for 2025. In addition, the board elected Viral "Victor" Patel as vice- chairman and Rajesh "Raj" Patel as secretary-treasurer. Wahrlich, a former vice-chairman, brings decades of hospitality experience and over 40 years as a BWH Hotels owner to his role as chairman, BWH said in a statement. "I am pleased to announce Steve Wahrlich as our new Board Chairperson," said Larry Cuculic, BWH Hotels' president and CEO. "Steve has been a valued and trusted hotelier for many years. His deep understanding of BWH Hotels, combined with his extensive industry experience, makes him the ideal leader to help direct our board and broader organization. His leadership will be instrumental in advancing our strategic vision, strengthening our market position, and creating lasting value for our hoteliers and guests."

CHOICE HOTELS INTERNATIONAL is accusing the board of directors for Wyndham Hotels & Resorts of not being forthcoming with the company's shareholders regarding Choice's exchange offer to acquire Wyndham. In its counter to the Wyndham board's rejection of the offer, Choice took issue with Wyndham's concerns about getting regulatory approval for the deal and said Wyndham shareholders support the "industrial merits of a transaction." In its original proposal, made public in October, Choice said it sought to acquire all the outstanding shares of Wyndham at a price of $90 per share and shareholders would have received $49.50 in cash and 0.324 shares of Choice common stock for each Wyndham share they own. Choice claimed that is a 30 percent premium to Wyndham's 30-day volume-weighted average closing price ending on Oct. 16, an 11 percent premium to Wyndham's 52-week high, and a 30 percent premium to Wyndham's latest closing price. Wyndham's board unanimously rejected Choice's proposal, calling it unsolicited, "highly conditional" and not in the best interest of shareholders. On Nov. 14, however, Choice sent a letter to the Wyndham board with an "enhanced proposal" intended to address Wyndham's concerns about clearing federal regulations. On Dec. 12, Choice launched its public exchange offer to acquire Wyndham and on Dec. 19 the Wyndham board officially rejected the offer and urged shareholders not to tender shares for the deal.

AAHOA recently appointed Viral Patel, Central Midwest regional director, and Nilesh Patel, director at large Eastern Division, to its board of directors for 2024-2025 term. "We are thrilled to welcome Viral Patel and Nilesh Patel to the AAHOA board of directors," said Miraj Patel, AAHOA's chairman. "Their proven leadership and deep-rooted commitment to the hospitality industry make them invaluable additions. Undoubtedly, their expertise will greatly benefit AAHOA and the entire hospitality community as we, the board of directors, continue to advocate for our members as we build tomorrow today." AAHOA recently rebranded its Regional Conferences and Trade Shows as "Hotel Owners Conferences & Trade Shows". The event will focus on initiatives like HerOwnership and HYPE roundtables, fostering connections among industry leaders to promote positive change and empower women and the next generation of leaders.

Jay Shah, former executive chairman of Hersha Hotels & Resorts, recently joined the board of Braemar Hotels & Resorts as an independent director. He has been a senior advisor to Hersha since November 2023 and a trustee since 2006. Shah became executive chairman in January 2023 after serving 17 years as CEO, following roles as president and COO. Dallas-based Braemar is a real estate investment trust specializing in luxury hotels and resorts. "We are excited to welcome Jay to the Braemar Board of Directors," said Monty Bennett, Braemar's chairman. "He brings extensive experience in both the lodging industry and public company matters from his years in executive leadership at Hersha. His expertise in operations and finance will make him a valuable addition to our board."

MARISSA MAYER, FORMER Yahoo! president and CEO, has been nominated to Hilton Worldwide Holdings' board. If elected, she will succeed longtime director Judith McHale, who plans to retire at this year's annual meeting in May. She is currently CEO of Sunshine Products, a startup she co-founded in 2018 that develops consumer apps for automating daily tasks, Hilton said in a statement. "Hilton's board of directors has long benefitted from a seasoned team with the right background and experiences to help continue driving the company forward," said Jon Gray, Hilton's chairman of the board of directors. "We look forward to welcoming Marissa Mayer given her extensive consumer and technology expertise in a time when new technologies are presenting a wide array of opportunities for companies to grow."

BEST WESTERN HOTELS & Resorts is the most recent large hotel company to meet with AAHOA leaders over the association's 12 Points of Fair Franchising. The two parties discussed their ongoing relationship and the needs of the industry. Members of the Best Western team included Larry Cuculic, president and CEO; John Kelly, board chairman; Danny Lafayette, board vice-chairman; Phil Payne, board secretary-treasurer; and board directors Mike Merchant, Ishwar Naran, Viral "Victor" Patel and Stephen Wahrlich, according to AAHOA. Best Western has a portfolio of 19 brands, and approximately 4,500 hotels across all chain scale segments, and it joins G6 Hospitality, parent company for the Motel 6 and Studio 6 brands, in reviewing the 12 points. "Best Western Hotels & Resorts has been a longtime partner of AAHOA - a span of time that includes more than three decades - and we always welcome the opportunity to continue the dialogue for the betterment and prosperity of the entire industry," said Nishant "Neal" Patel, AAHOA chairman. "Our recent meeting underscores how open communication, collaboration, and partnership are key to maintaining a fruitful relationship that benefits both organizations and, ultimately, the industry as a whole."

LINA PATEL IS Red Roof's new director for strategic franchise initiatives. In the new role, Patel will direct the growth of Red Roof among diverse and underrepresented corporate and franchise communities. Patel has been a hotel owner for 23 years, according to the statement. Prior to joining Red Roof, she was the member of one of the industry's largest franchise advisory committees. In 2007, Patel joined the board of LPS of USA, a non-profit religious, cultural, and non-political organization providing support to American immigrants from India's Leuva Patidar region. She will report to Matthew Hostetler, Red Roof's chief development officer, the company said in a statement. "Lina is one of the strongest advocates for growth and diversity in our industry, and we are delighted to have her join our team as director of strategic initiatives," said George Limbert, president of Red Roof. "She brings a unique and multi-faceted background as a franchise owner, industry executive and AAHOA board member to her new role," Limbert added. Patel, who joined the board of AAHOA in 2017, played a role in launching the organization's HerOwnership program in 2022 - to help further foster, promote, and empower women entrepreneurs in hospitality sector. "With six years on the board of AAHOA, Lina has a deep understanding of the challenges everyday hotel owners face, as well as their paths to success, which she has demonstrated by example in her own career," Hostetler said. Hostetler said 35 percent of Red Roof's franchise system is represented by women.

CHOICE HOTELS INTERNATIONAL has named its eight nominees for the board of directors for Wyndham Hotels & Resorts to be voted on in Wyndham's 2024 shareholder meeting. The nominees, including Jay Shah, executive chairman at Hersha Hospitality Trust, are expected to support Choice's bid to acquire Wyndham despite multiple rejections by the latter. In response, Wyndham said it will evaluate the nominees as part of its due diligence, but it also said the nominees were "hand-picked to push through their offer." Along with Shah, Choice's nominees are: Barbara Bennett, founder and principal executive of business consulting firm Bennett West LLC. Emanuel Pearlman, founder, chairman and CEO of investment management and financial consulting firm Liberation Investment Group. Fiona Dias, digital commerce consultant who served as the chief strategy officer of online shopping service ShopRunner from 2011 to 2014. James Nelson, CEO of real estate investment trust Global Net Lease, Inc. Nana Mensah, founder, chairman and CEO of food packaging and processing equipment exporter 'XPORTS Inc. Susan Schnabel, founder and co-managing partner of buyout fund advisor aPriori Capital Partners. William Grounds, principal of his advisory business Burraneer Capital Advisors LLC. "These nominees are proven leaders with wide-ranging expertise across relevant industries, including deep proficiency in the hospitality and franchising sectors," said Stewart Bainum, chairman of Choice's board of directors. "We are confident the nominees' industry, finance, governance and board experience will greatly benefit Wyndham shareholders. Most importantly, if elected, the nominees will exercise their independent judgment to serve Wyndham shareholders' best interests, which Choice believes is to move with urgency to maximize the value that could be created for them through a combination with Choice."

HYATT HOTEL CORP. formed an advisory board to enhance well-being offerings, initially focusing on meetings and events. The Wellbeing Collective Advisory Board will oversee guest experiences, including well-being menus, culinary programs and sleep wellness initiatives at select hotels. Hyatt will also expand the Wellbeing Collective, a growing collection of properties offering well-being experiences for groups and meeting attendees, the company said in a statement. "Whether traveling for business or leisure, now more than ever, our guests are seeking meaningful experiences that foster connection, build community, and enhance their mental, emotional, and physical well-being," said TJ Abrams, Hyatt's vice president for global well-being. "The new advisory board unites leading voices across industries to help us innovate around how people gather and elevate the travel journey through intentional well-being offerings, ensuring our guests and customers leave feeling rejuvenated and fulfilled."

CHOICE HOTELS INTERNATIONAL is continuing its bid to acquire Wyndham Hotels & Resorts after twice being rejected by Wyndham's board of directors. Now Choice has launched an exchange offer "to present its compelling proposal directly to Wyndham shareholders" and plans to nominate its own candidates for Wyndham's board. However, Wyndham's board continues its refusal to accept the offer, saying it remains substantially the same as the last bid it rejected and does not address the board's concerns about the deal's regulatory viability and benefits to stockholders. It also said in a statement that Choice currently owns less than 1.7 percent of Wyndham common stock and is "restricted from further purchases without antitrust approval."

VIRAL "VICTOR" PATEL and Mahmood "Mike" Merchant are new members of Best Western Hotels & Resorts board of directors. Patel will represent several Midwest states and Ontario, Canada, and Merchant will represent California, Nevada and Hawaii. Patel has been a member of Best Western for more than 20 years, according to the company. He has served as a governor and as the chair of the Best Western Kentucky marketing co-op, liaising between the brand and hoteliers. He is currently the owner and operator of the Best Western Corbin Inn in Corbin, Kentucky, and will represent that state as well as Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin. "I've witnessed tremendous growth within our brand over the years and am excited to join my fellow Board members as we move forward under Larry's leadership," said Patel. "Service is extremely important to me, and I feel grateful to have served my colleagues and community in a variety of roles over the years. I look forward to this new set of responsibilities and am fully committed to serving our hoteliers across the Midwest and parts of Canada and our hoteliers at large."

Tracy Prigmore is the new member of the board of directors for the Castell Project, a not-for-profit that promotes women in the hospitality industry. She is the founder of real estate and development firm TLTsolutions. In 2019, Prigmore began "She Has A Deal," a competition designed to increase hotel ownership and development by women by providing education, networking and investing opportunities. The competition's pitch challenge creates a network of women hotel owners and developers. Vinay Patel, AAHOA vice chairman and president of Fairbrook Hotels in Chantilly, Virginia, is on the advisory board for "She Has a Deal." Prigmore expanded TLTsolutions in 2014 to invest in residential, multifamily and hospitality projects that allowed individuals, families and entities to obtain passive income through investing. The firm has assets in four states. Previously, Prigmore held executive positions in the healthcare industry.

HOSPITALITY INVESTMENT EXECUTIVE Leslie Hale has won the third annual Castell Award instituted by the American Hotel & Lodging Association Foundation, a statement said. The award honors a female trailblazer in the hospitality investment arena who paves the way for more women to rise to the top. The award will be presented at the Lodging Conference on Sept. 20. Hale is the president and CEO of RLJ Lodging Trust and vice chair of the AHLA board of directors, the statement said. She also serves on the board of directors of Macy's, Inc. and Delta Airlines Inc. The female leader is a Howard University Trustee and is a board member of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond's Baltimore Branch. "Leslie is the ideal candidate for this important award," said Rosanna Maietta, president and CEO, AHLA Foundation. "Over the years, her dedication to advancing the hospitality industry sets the gold standard for leadership, she has inspired men and women in our industry, and we are thrilled to honor her leadership."

LESLIE HALE, PRESIDENT and CEO of RLJ Lodging Trust, will join Mit Shah, CEO of Noble Investment Group, for the 10th Annual Bharat Shah Leadership Speaker Series at the Hunter Hotel Investment Conference. The Bharat Shah Leadership Speaker Series was established and endowed in honor of Dr. Bharat Shah at Georgia State's Cecil B. Day School of Hospitality Administration, J. Mack Robinson College of Business. The upcoming series is scheduled for March 21, accessible to registered attendees, special guests, and Georgia State University students. Hale is the first African American woman to lead a publicly listed real estate investment trust. She serves on the board of directors for Delta Airlines, is a trustee of Howard University, and is a board member of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond. Currently, she is the board chair for the American Hotel and Lodging Association. Hale said she was honored to be included in the Bharat Shah series, she said in a statement.

THE AMERICAN HOTEL & Lodging Association has accepted ClubCorp, an owner and operator of private clubs, as a new member, a statement said. The association hopes to attract more clubs with lodging connections. Ron Vlasic, executive vice president of Operations City & Stadium Clubs, ClubCorp, is a member of AHLA's board and former chair of the board. He will remain on AHLA's Board as an individual representative starting June 2022. Founded in 1957, ClubCorp has more than 200 golf and country clubs, city clubs and stadium clubs in 30 states, the District of Columbia, and two foreign countries. It provides services to members and guests.