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AHLA Foundation hosted nearly 1,000 attendees from across the hotel industry at the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place for the annual ForWard conference this week. Over three days, industry leaders gathered to share knowledge and hear from dynamic speakers focused on celebrating, championing, and creating community for women in hospitality. This year’s conference theme, “Right the Narrative,” centered on the power of storytelling and the importance of amplifying the stories and voices of women in the hotel industry.

AHLA Foundation hosted nearly 1,000 attendees from across the hotel industry at the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place for the annual ForWard conference this week.

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.

IHG Hotels & Resorts has unveiled the IHG LIFT program aimed at supporting and enhancing opportunities for historically under-represented groups in the hotel ownership domain. With an allocation of over $30 million over the next five years, the program will address barriers like access to capital and provide resources throughout the hotel lifecycle for eligible owners in the U.S. and Canada. IHG LIFT stands for Leadership, Inclusivity, Facilitation, and Transformation, reflecting the industry's ongoing evolution.

During Monday’s Mercer County Board of Education meeting West Virginia State Auditor JB McCuskey presented the Leona Ketz Award to Julienne Smith.