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THE AHLA FOUNDATION, is re-launching its ForWard program, created to advance women in leadership and ownership within the hotel industry, and plans to integrate the program with the recently acquired Castell Project, an organization focused on promoting women in hospitality leadership. Also, the foundation presented the 2023 Peggy Berg Castell Award to Julienne Smith, IHG Hotels & Resorts' chief development officer for the Americas. The integration of ForWard and the Castell Project will result in a unified platform offering resources, events, professional development, and community-building opportunities, the AHLA Foundation said in a statement. "There is tremendous opportunity for us to do more to celebrate, champion, and create community for women," said Anna Blue, president of AHLA Foundation, the charitable arm of the American Hotel and Lodging Association. "AHLA Foundation is uniquely positioned to collaborate across industry and invest in the women who are advancing hospitality."

AAHOA'S THIRD ANNUAL HerOwnership Conference will be held Sept. 12-13 in Redondo Beach, California, featuring speakers and sessions to help women succeed in hotel ownership. The event includes three breakout sessions focused on the conference's pillars: hotel ownership, mental health and wellness, and executive leadership. "As the son of a woman hotelier, I am well aware of the remarkable women who have shaped our industry and continue to drive it forward," said Miraj Patel, AAHOA's chairman. "Their dedication, innovation and leadership are vital to our success. We must continue supporting and empowering these women to lead and succeed. AAHOA does so through the HerOwnership initiative and conference, celebrating women's successes in our industry and providing tools to help them connect, learn, and expand their thinking." Keynote speakers include Neeti Dewan, author, speaker, and CEO, on "Mindset Makeover: Personal and Business Growth Strategies of Top Women Hoteliers," and Raji Brar, co-founder of the Bakersfield Sikh Women's Association and COO of Countryside, on "Building Bridges: The Power of Women in Political Engagement," AAHOA said.

SHEILA JOHNSON, FOUNDER and CEO of Salamander Collection, will receive the 2024 Peggy Berg Castell Award at The Lodging Conference 2024 in Phoenix on Oct. 8. The award, presented by the AHLA Foundation's ForWard initiative, recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to advancing women in hospitality. Johnson, who has developed properties in the U.S. and Jamaica, is active in professional sports, the arts and humanitarian causes. Johnson's Salamander Collection is the largest Black-owned luxury hotel company in the U.S. and ranks among the largest minority- and women-owned businesses in Washington, AHLA Foundation said in a statement. "It is hard to imagine an industry leader who embodies the principles of the Peggy Berg Castell Award more than Sheila Johnson," said Anna Blue, AHLA Foundation's president. "She has been an inspiration in so many areas throughout her career and continues to set standards for excellence in the hotel industry." The foundation said an independent group of industry leaders and stakeholders selected Johnson as the fifth recipient of the annual award. Recipients are principled leaders who champion inclusion in the hotel industry, creating new paths for women to advance. Julienne Smith, chief development officer for the Americas at IHG Hotels & Resorts, received the 2023 Peggy Berg Castell Award.