Washington, D.C. – August 30, 2016 - The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) today announced the appointment of Jason Brewer as vice president government affairs and strategic initiatives. Brewer is a veteran communications and political affairs professional, having spent the last decade assisting elected officials, candidates and organizations with strategic planning and message development. He officially joins AH&LA on August 31. 

“The hotel industry, which supports some eight million American jobs, is increasingly vital to the strength of communities around the country,” said Vanessa Sinders, senior vice president and department head of Government Affairs at AH&LA. “Jason’s campaign experience and political savvy will complement the team’s experience and efforts to advance our policy agenda, as well as amplify this industry’s great story: driving the economy, creating jobs and partnering with communities in every Congressional district. With national issues increasingly playing out at the state and local level, Jason will help us drive these broader advocacy strategies on behalf of the industry.”

Reporting to Sinders and working closely with the government affairs and communications teams, AH&LA’s member companies and stakeholders, Brewer will lead and develop campaign strategies on key policy priorities, including the industry’s work to rein in illegal hotels and ensure a level playing field with short-term rental companies as well as issues affecting labor and workforce at all levels of government. 

  
Brewer joins AH&LA from the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) where he developed communications and grassroots strategies to advance key policy initiatives for the retail industry. In addition to helping guide state and federal efforts to end special tax treatment for online retailers, Jason provided strategic guidance on a wide range of issues impacting some of the country's largest employers. 

Before joining RILA, Brewer was senior media manager for the National Federation of Independent Business and also spent three years as the Deputy Director of Communications for the Michigan Speaker of the House. Brewer received his undergraduate degree in finance from Michigan State University, and is a die-hard Spartan football fan.
 

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Serving the hospitality industry for more than a century, the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) is the sole national association representing all segments of the 2 million-employee U.S. lodging industry, including hotel owners, REITs, chains, franchisees, management companies, independent properties, bed and breakfasts, state hotel associations, and industry suppliers. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., AH&LA provides focused advocacy, communications support, and educational resources for an industry of more than 54,000 properties generating $176 billion in annual sales from 5 million guestrooms.