WASHINGTON (January 25, 2019) – The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) today announced several promotions and additions to its staff.

Troy Flanagan was promoted to senior vice president of government affairs and industry relations. Flanagan brings more than 15 years of experience to the role as a policy advocate who works closely with AHLA’s partner state associations and industry allies on issues critical to the hotel industry, including workforce policy and ensuring a level playing field with short-term online rental companies.

“I am thrilled to announce Troy’s well-deserved promotion,” said Brian Crawford, executive vice president of government affairs at AHLA. “He has been instrumental to our advocacy wins at the state and local level, including bringing more transparency, accountability and common-sense regulation to the short-term rental industry in cities throughout the country last year. I am confident Troy will continue to build on that momentum and lead us even further in the years to come."

AHLA leads the hotel industry’s advocacy agenda at the federal, state and local level in collaboration with partner hotel associations throughout the country. AHLA’s 2019 policy priorities include ensuring access to a viable workforce, protecting guests and neighborhoods, and promoting travel and tourism.

Flanagan, who joined AHLA in 2014, was previously a partner at Parquet Public Affairs, where he represented numerous service industry brands and trade associations. Prior to that, he served in government relations roles at International Franchise Association (IFA), ConAgra Foods, Inc. and the Grocery Manufacturers Association.

AHLA previously announced the promotions of Brian Crawford to executive vice president of government affairs and Rosanna Maietta to executive vice president of communications. Maietta also serves as president of the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Foundation. Crawford and Maietta, along with chief operating officer Kevin Carey, together comprise the senior leadership of AHLA.

Additional promotions and hires include the following:

• Maura Morton joined AHLA in January as senior director of communications. Morton, who built her career in hospitality communications, joins AHLA from Linda Roth Associates, Inc., a D.C.-based hospitality public relations firm. She previously worked in internal communications for Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants. 

• Jaymes Best and Madeline Lee have been promoted to senior manager of government affairs. Best, who has been at AHLA since 2015, was previously an intern for Congressman Austin Scott (R-Ga.). Lee joined AHLA in 2015 after serving as an intern and staff assistant for Congressman Scott Peters (D-Calif.).

• Michelle Morenza has been promoted to communications manager. Morenza joined AHLA as a communications coordinator in 2017. She previously served as a public relations and social media coordinator at AIC Hotel Group.

• Olivia Klipa has been promoted to director of conventions and events. She completed her Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) designation in 2018, the highest recognition in the conventions and events field. Klipa, who has been at AHLA since 2016, previously spent nearly four years at The Webster Group, most recently as associate director. 

As the sole association representing all segments of the lodging industry, AHLA is committed to innovative solutions that support small business owners and keep our economy strong. Hotels support 8 million jobs both on-site and throughout the community, representing $355 billion in annual labor income and contributing nearly $600 billion to the U.S. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) while generating $167 billion in federal, state and local taxes. A typical hotel supports more than 250 jobs in the local community.