WASHINGTON, D.C. – The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) has named Marilou Halvorsen vice president of government affairs and state relations.
In this new role, she will focus on enhancing partnerships with state lodging associations and be involved in state and local government affairs in the northeast. AHLA counts more than 40 state lodging associations as members and works closely with them on industry issues, from advancing policy goals to public awareness campaigns such as the organization’s advanced cleaning initiative.
Based in New Jersey, Halvorsen has served as president and CEO of the NJ Restaurant & Hospitality Association since 2012, representing the state’s 27,000 eating and drinking establishments.
Halvorsen is the latest addition to AHLA’s growing state and local government affairs team, which last month welcomed Jason Riederer as senior director of state and local government affairs for the western U.S.
“AHLA has a long history of collaborating with our partner state associations to support hoteliers and advance our policy goals at the state and local level,” said AHLA president and CEO Chip Rogers. “I’ve known Marilou for a long time, and I’m thrilled to have her join our growing state and local team. She is well-respected in the hospitality industry and understands how critical a thriving hotel industry is to reviving the economy at the local and state level.”
Rogers also announced several promotions, including:
– Chris Burgoyne promoted to senior vice president of government and political affairs
– Kalyn Stephens promoted to senior vice president of executive and strategic initiatives
– The AHLA Foundation Board of Trustees has added CEO to Rosanna Maietta’s title after three years leading the foundation as its president
