California Hotel and Lodging Association Advocacy Critical for California Hotels' Future

New Chair: California Hotel and Lodging Association Advocacy Critical for California Hotels’ Future – Image Credit Unsplash

Improve state’s business environment or risk harm to hospitality as economic engine

The California Hotel and Lodging Association and its newly named chair and 32 board of directors announced today they are prioritizing business advocacy for California’s more than 6,000 hotels and the well-being of the state’s 235,000 hotel employees in 2026.

“Predatory lawsuits, onerous taxes and unsustainable wage mandates do harm to our hotels, their employees and our future,” said incoming CHLA Chair Kristi Allen, Executive Vice President, Hotels at Ensemble. “These pressures remind us why CHLA’s role as a unified, influential advocate for hospitality is essential and why engagement from every member matters.”

Allen succeeds Cormac O’Modhrain, Group Vice President of Asset Management at Sunstone Hotel Investors, who transitions to Immediate Past Chair. Supporting Allen in 2026 is an accomplished slate of officers:

Vice Chair: Tom Patton, General Manager/Partner, Ramada by Wyndham Santa Barbara
Secretary-Treasurer: David Craig, Senior Vice President, Asset Management Pebblebrook Hotel Trust

CHLA’s 33-member 2026 Board of Directors was elected Friday at its annual meeting at the Marriott Long Beach Downtown, including three new members and six renewing members, whose expertise will enhance CHLA’s advocacy efforts:

New Members

Robert Gleason, President & CEO, Evans Hotels
Scott Mills, General Manager, The Garland
Steve Choe, Dual General Manager at Marriott International- Moxy + AC Hotel Downtown Los Angeles

Renewed Members

Cab Boettcher, Owner, Mar Vista Farm & Cottage
Laurenne Douglas, Director of Operations, Pacific Plaza Hotels
Jon Handlery, CEO, Handlery Hotels
Bijal Patel, CEO and Principal Partner, Coast Redwood Hospitality,
Dhruv Patel, President, Ridgemont Hospitality
Pragna Patel-Mueller, Founder/CEO, Samata Management

“With the support of these leaders, CHLA is positioned to continue leading the fight for our members and the future of hospitality in California,” said Lynn S. Mohrfeld, CHLA President & CEO.