Kirk Kinsell, president of The Americas, InterContinental Hotels Group, contributed $5,000 to the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Foundation (AH&LEF) 2014 Annual Giving Campaign. The Annual Giving Campaign is the Foundation's yearly key 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, and promoting hospitality as a career of choice and workforce development initiatives.

This is Kinsell's second personal gift at to AH&LEF at the six-diamond level. A member of AH&LEF's board of trustees and a long-time, active member of the American Hotel & Lodging Association, Kinsell has 30 years' experience in the hospitality industry. As part of InterContinental Hotels Group, he is responsible for the business development and performance of all hotel brands and properties in the Americas region.

"The talent agenda has to be a number one priority for all of us in the hotel industry, and supporting research and exceptional students as future leaders is all of our responsibility," said Kinsell.

"We are thrilled that Kirk, who is at the helm of one of the biggest and most influential brands in our industry, is supporting the Annual Giving Fund at such a high level," said Joori Jeon, AH&LEF president. "He has been extremely active in supporting the activities of the board of trustees, as well as participating as a regular guest and speaker at many of our student-oriented events."

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. This year, AH&LEF will disburse approximately $1 million 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 $18.5 million has been distributed through its scholarship, education, outreach, and research programs.

All AH&LEF contributions are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law. For more information about donating, contact Michelle Poinelli, senior vice president of foundation programs, at (202) 289-3181 or mpoinelli@ahlef.org, or visit www.ahlef.org.