WASHINGTON (December 3, 2015) - "Kirk Kinsell, President and CEO of Loews Hotels, contributed $5,000 to the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Foundation (AH&LEF) 2015 Annual Giving Campaign. The Annual Giving Campaign is the Foundations 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 third personal gift 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 35 years' experience in the hospitality industry.

"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 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 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. In 2015, AH&LEF anticipates 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 the industry. Since the Foundation's inception, $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.