Liam Brown Named Chair of AHLA Board for 2026;

The American Hotel & Lodging Association has announced its 2026 officers, Executive Committee, and Board of Directors, including new appointments and leadership transitions.

The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) released its list of officers, Executive Committee members, and Board of Directors for 2026. Liam Brown, Group President, U.S. & Canada at Marriott International, will serve as the Board of Directors’ chair. Thom Geshay, CEO & President of Davidson Hospitality, has been named vice chair, and Jon Stanner, President & CEO of Summit Hotel Properties, will serve as secretary/treasurer.

Brown is scheduled to retire from Marriott in June 2026. Upon his retirement, he will step down as AHLA board chair, and Geshay will assume the chairmanship in accordance with AHLA bylaws. Brown succeeds Mitch Patel, Founder and CEO of Vision Hospitality Group, who served as board chair in 2025 and will continue on the board as immediate past chair.

Jon Bortz, Chairman & CEO of Pebblebrook Hotel Trust, will continue as chair of the HotelPAC Advisory Council. Anu Saxena, President & Global Head of Hilton Supply Management, will serve a second term as chair of the AHLA Foundation Board of Trustees.

The 2026 AHLA Executive Committee includes Bill Elliott, President & CEO of Wisconsin Hotel & Lodging Association, and Jeff Horwitz, Senior Partner at Proskauer, as new members.

New appointees to the 2026 AHLA Board of Directors are Plato Ginos, President of Shaner Hotel Group; Amanda Hite, President & CEO of STR; Lisa Lombardo, President of ARK Holdings; Rob Mangiarelli, CEO of Atrium Hospitality; Wendy Mertz, CIO of Virgin Hotels; Lyndsay Monge, EVP Asset Management at Peachtree Group; Ben Perelmuter, CEO of Remington Hospitality; Ben Rafter, CEO of Hotel Equities; DJ Rama, CEO of Auro Hotels; Ryan Rivett, President & CEO of My Place Hotels; Sarah Beth Urban, President & CEO of Tennessee Hospitality & Tourism Association; and Eva Wassermann, Senior Managing Director, Acquisitions at GEM Realty Capital.

AHLA’s leadership structure for 2026 includes representatives from hotel brands, ownership groups, management companies, independent hotels, service providers, suppliers, and industry associations.

The full rosters for the 2026 Executive Committee and Board of Directors are available on the AHLA website.