WASHINGTON (December 15, 2015) - Distinctive Hospitality Group (DHG) and Lou and Mark Carrier contributed $5,000 to the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Foundation (AH&LEF) 2015 Annual Giving Campaign. This is their first gift to AH&LEF Annual Giving Campaign at the six diamond level.

DHG is a privately held, integrated hotel ownership and management company, founded in 2010 and backed by a group of seasoned hospitality professionals. DHGs focus is to build long-term asset value in the hospitality sector to ownership, while at the same time providing hotel guests and restaurant diners with the utmost in experience, service, style and atmosphere.

Lou Carrier, president of DHG, offers years of experience in the hospitality industry and has overseen a number of the most successful hotel establishments in the country, including the Hard Rock and the Wit Hotel. Mark Carrier, President of B.F. Saul Company Hospitality Group, is a 35 year veteran to the industry and is currently Vice Chairman of the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA).

Lou Carrier said; "Both Mark and I started at the entry level of our industry and recognize those that helped us through scholarships to attend significant hospitality schools. We are pleased to contribute and carry on the tradition of support to others."

"We are grateful to Mark and Lou for their support in funding programs that promote the industry future growth," said AH&LEF President/COO Joori Jeon. "We need more industry leaders like them to find value in investing in the future of the industry."

The Annual Giving Campaign is AH&LEFs key yearly fundraising initiative supported solely by the hospitality sector. Initiated in 1997, the program generates funds for AH&LEFs core programs that provide hospitality management students with academic scholarships, offer grants for pertinent industry research such as diversity and technology advancement, and promote hospitality as a career of choice.

AH&LEF is the not-for-profit affiliate of AH&LA and is funded solely by charitable donations from progressive hospitality leaders and companies within the industry. In 2015, AH&LEF is disbursing more than $1.2 million to prepare promising college students for a career in hospitality, to attract and retain talented industry professionals, and to fund valuable research for lodging properties. Since the Foundations inception, more than $19 million has been distributed through its scholarship, education, outreach, and research programs.

Support the Foundation by helping to fund the future of the lodging industry.