The Hotel & Lodging Association of Greater Houston (HLAGH) is a non-profit organization that represents 300 members comprised of general managers and owners of hotels and motels as well as suppliers, service companies and consultants who sell and service the hospitality industry.
HLAGH is a unified voice representing the hotel and motel industry in governmental affairs on a local, state, and national level as well as provides updates on issues facing our industry. In addition, the Association works closely with the Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau to promote Houston as a convention and tourism destination.
The Association’s objectives include providing a forum for education and networking opportunities through monthly membership meetings, educational seminars, and special events. HLAGH strongly believes in supporting our community through outreach events. The Association works to educate future hospitality employees through its mentoring activities and scholarship programs.
MISSION STATEMENT
HLAGH is devoted to representing the interest of the hospitality industry through education, political action, and member benefits that improve the financial position and public awareness of the industry.
ASSOCIATION HISTORY
The Houston Hotel & Motel Association was founded by a handful of hoteliers in the late 60’s as a peer group. Some of the original hoteliers included Max Peck – GM of the Rice Hotel, Ed Davis – GM of the Lamar Hotel and Ron Hughes – GM of the Shamrock Hotel.
The Association did not have a paid staff and was run by the current President. In 1971, the Association was granted its tax-free non-profit status. In the late 70’s, Ed Davis, became the permanent Secretary-Treasurer and ran the Association from his office at the Lamar Hotel . By then, Associate Members were accepted into the Association.
In the fall of 1981, it was announced that Dr. James Taylor was retiring as founding Dean of the Conrad Hilton College of Hotel & Restaurant Management. Dr. Taylor was asked to become the first paid staff member. At the time Dr. Taylor took over the Association, membership consisted of 60 Hotels and 30 Associates Members.
In 1999, Joan Johnson was hired as Interim President and was appointed permanently on January 1, 2000. The Greater Houston Hotel & Motel Association was renamed in 2001 to the Hotel & Motel Association of Greater Houston. In July 2005, the Association was renamed the Hotel & Lodging Association of Greater Houston. With the retirement of Joan Johnson in December 2009, Stephanie Haynes was named President of the Association.
Membership currently consists of over 250 hotels representing approximately 33,000 hotel rooms and 90 allied members.
ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDY
HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY IMPACT
The Texas Office of Economic Development noted that in 2014 visitors to the Greater Houston area spent $17.1 billion, up from $16.2 billion in 2013. Travelers spent more than $2.6 billion in local area accommodations as well as $2.75 billion in food and restaurant services.
EMPLOYMENT IMPACT
Over 135,000 individuals are employed in a variety of positions, including full & part-time jobs, in the hospitality industry in the Greater Houston Area.
TAX IMPACT
Traveler spending in the greater Houston area generated over $336 million in local taxes for municipalities and counties and $668 million in taxes for the State of Texas.
INDUSTRY REVENUE IMPACT
With over 80,000 guest rooms available, the average occupancy in 2015 was 68.5% with an ADR of $108.65 and RevPar of $74.46.
Source: Texas Office of Economic Development, CBRE Hotels
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The 2016 HLAGH Board of Directors is comprised of over 50 members, representing various cross sections of the hospitality industry in Houston.
- Executive Committee
- Area Board of Directors
- Directors at Large
- Allied Directors
- Permanent Positions
- Past Chairs

Tom Jamison
Hotel Consultant

TOM HARWELL
The Lancaster

JACQUES D'ROVENCOURT
Hilton Americas Houston

Loris Menfi
JW Marriott Galleria

KERRY RINGHAM
Westin Houston Memorial City

CHARLES WATTS
Marriott Hobby Area

MAGGIE ROSA
C. Baldwin Hotel

STEPHANIE HAYNES
HLAGH
BAY AREA HOUSTON

BILL DALLESKE
Hilton NASA/Clear Lake
GREENSPOINT/IAH/NORTH

Sumit Dalwadi
Dalwadi Hospitality
SOUTHWEST/STAFFORD/SUGAR LAND

ALBERTO RAMOS
Hilton Near the Galleria
CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT

TOM SEGESTA
Four Seasons Houston
HOBBY AIRPORT

HELEN PERRONE-BONSALL
DoubleTree by Hilton Hobby Airport
WESTCHASE/WEST/PARK 10/KATY AREA

OPEN
--
EAST/BAYTOWN AREA

OPEN
--
MEDICAL CENTER/RELIANT

OPEN
--
WILLOWBROOK/CYPRESS

SAL BHAKTA
PSB Hospitality Solutions
GALLERIA/GREENWAY AREA

William Venegas
DoubleTree Guest Suites Galleria
NORTHWEST/BROOKHOLLOW

Nicholas Albers
SpringHill Suites by Marriott Northwest
THE WOODLANDS AREA

FRED DOMENICK
The Woodlands Waterway Marriott & Conference Center

SCOTT COTTON
Marriott Marquis

GRACE JACOBSON
Jacobson Hotels

MICHAEL DECANIO
The St. Regis Houston

AJAY PATEL
Pika Hotels

DONALD HARRIS
Sheraton Houston West

HASU PATEL
Venture Hotel Group

FAISAL KAMAL
Aimbridge Hospitality

STEVE SMITH
Hyatt Regency Houston

BRECK HAMROCK
HD Supply Facilities Maintenance

JO HART
Consultant

SCOTT MARTIN
Scott Equipment

LISA ROTH
Montgomery Roth Architecture

TOM SEGESTA
Visit Houston

ROSE HARSHFIELD
SMG - NRG Park

BRENDA BAZAN
Houston First

DR. DENNIS REYNOLDS
University of Houston - Conrad N. Hilton College

OPEN
Visit Houston

MELISSA STEWART
Greater Houston Restaurant Association

JOHN ABODEELY
Houston Arts Alliance

SCOTT JOSLOVE
Texas Hotel & Lodging Association

KYLE ARIZA
International Rotary House

NELSON GUMM
AJR Media Group

NICK MASSAD JR.
American Liberty Hospitality

FERNANDO CUELLAR
--

DONALD J. HENDERSON
DJH Consulting, LLC

TOM NETTING
--

PETE ELLS
Royal Sonesta Houston

DOUG HORN
The Houstonian Estates

HELEN PERRONE-BONSALL
DoubleTree By Hilton Hobby Airport

HARRY GREENBLATT
Pyramid Hotel Group

JOHN KEELING
Valencia Group

LOUISE UPSHAW-MCCLENNY
Global Marketing Services, Inc.