Washington, D.C. (September 17, 2014) - The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) today announced the appointment of Troy Flanagan as vice president of state and local government affairs. Flanagan brings over 15 years of experience to the new role as a policy advocate who will work closely with AH&LA's state and local partners on issues critical to the hotel industry. He officially joins AH&LA on September 29.

"As state and local governments are increasingly becoming the battleground for national issues impacting the lodging sector, Troy will lead our local efforts and help provide a powerful voice at this critical time," said Katherine Lugar, president and CEO of AH&LA. "Troy brings extensive experience working in state and local affairs on a wide variety of issues, and will no doubt be able to draw on that experience as he fights to protect our industry's job creators in cities and states across the country."

Working closely with AH&LA's partner state associations and other stakeholders, Flanagan will build out strategies to proactively address national issues that are now active at the local and state levels, including extreme wage initiatives, ongoing technology and distribution concerns, and emerging issues such as ensuring a level playing field with short-term online rental companies.

Flanagan comes to AH&LA from Parquet Public Affairs, where as a partner he represented numerous service industry brands and trade associations that dealt with many of the same issues facing the hospitality industry. Through Parquet-managed coalitions, he also helped develop comprehensive, industry-wide solutions to the various public affairs threats posed to employers. Previously, he was director of government relations at International Franchise Association (IFA), where he focused on state and local policy threats to franchised industries, including lodging. Flanagan's experience as an issue advocate also includes government relations roles at ConAgra Foods, Inc. and the Grocery Manufacturers Association. He began his career serving in various staff positions of the Florida Legislature, both in the Senate and the House of Representatives.