Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc.® (Host), contributed $5,000 to the AH&LEF Annual Giving Campaign, which supports key research and workforce development initiatives for the hospitality industry.
This is Host’s fifth consecutive $5,000 donation.
The Annual Giving Campaign is the Foundation’s key yearly fundraiser that supports its core missions, including providing scholarships to hospitality management students, funding important research in areas such as room tax, energy management and ADA requirements, as well as promoting hospitality as a career of choice and workforce development initiatives.
Based in Maryland, Host is an S&P 500 and Fortune 500 company, one of the largest lodging real estate investment trusts and one of the largest owners of luxury and upper upscale hotels. Host partners with premium brands in the operation of properties in over 50 major markets worldwide. The company currently owns 104 properties in the United States and nine properties in Canada, Mexico, Chile, Brazil and the United Kingdom totaling approximately 62,000 guestrooms. The company also holds a non-controlling interest in a joint venture that owns 11 hotels in Europe with approximately 3,500 guestrooms and a second joint venture in Asia that is developing seven properties in India with approximately 1,750 guestrrooms.
“We are excited to align our philanthropic efforts with this influential group of hoteliers dedicated to fostering industry development and corporate responsibility,” said Joori Jeon, CPA, CAE, AH&LEF president/COO. “It is clear Host sees how their contributions to the Foundation year after year help effectively cultivate the future of the hospitality community.”
AH&LEF is the not-for-profit affiliate of the American Hotel & Lodging Association and is funded solely by charitable donations from progressive hospitality leaders and companies within the industry. In 2010, AH&LEF will disburse almost $800,000 to prepare promising college students for a career in hospitality, to attract and retain talented industry professionals, and to fund valuable research for the industry. Since the Foundation’s inception, more than $14,5 million has been distributed through its scholarship, education, outreach and research programs.