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June 30, 2009 - The Hotel & Lodging
Association of Greater Houston (HLAGH), a non-profit organization representing
one of the largest industries in Southeast Texas, has elected Jim Mills,
General Manager of The Houstonian Hotel, Club & Spa, to continue as
its 2009-2010 Board of Directors Chair. Mr. Mills has been serving as interim
chair since early this year when he was named to replace hotelier Beth
Thomas.
Ms. Thomas, former general manager of the Westin Galleria and Westin
Oaks Hotels in The Galleria, was promoted within her company to a
job in Atlanta.
The new board, elected at the June HLAGH Membership meeting, will take
office effective July 1, 2009.
Other members elected include Tom Rosepink, General Manager
of the Marriott Houston Intercontinental as Chair Elect; Tom Mathews,
General Manager of the Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites � Med Center as First
Vice Chair; Michael Giangrosso, General Manager of the Comfort Suites
- Seabrook as Secretary; Steve Trent, General Manager of the downtown
Hyatt Regency as treasurer; Nelson Gumm, President of AJR &
Associates as Sergeant-at-Arms; John Binick, General Manager of
the Hilton Houston Post Oak, was re-elected as Immediate Past Chair. M.
Joan Johnson will continue as the organization�s President. |
Jim Mills
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Before becoming General Manager of The Houstonian Hotel, Club &
Spa, Mr. Mills was The Houstonian�s Executive Chef for more than seven
years. He has more than 20 years experience in the hotel industry, with
a culinary background spanning 25-plus years. Mr. Mills has also served
as board chair and current board member of End Hunger Network, an organization
geared to feeding as many as 6,000 of Houston�s hungry every day. He also
has served as coordinator of Houston�s Share Our Strength Taste of the
Nation event, held annually at The Houstonian.
While the position may be a voluntary one, the HLAGH Chair oversees
an organization representing an industry which were it a single company,
would be the largest in the area in employment, taxable income and economic
impact. The organization was especially valuable in helping government
and emergency operation agencies coordinate lodging needs during Hurricanes
Katrina and Rita and has extended its efforts in educating the general
public on finding available rooms in the region during emergency evacuations.
With 300 members, the organization is made up of general managers and
owners of hotels and motels, suppliers, service companies and consultants
who sell and service the hospitality industry. This industry, which provides
more than 89,000 jobs and $327 million in payroll, is one of the top contributors
to the Houston economy.
Serving as the voice representing the hotel and lodging industry in
the Houston area, HLAGH is active in governmental affairs, education, tourism
and charitable efforts. Among Mr. Mills� responsibilities will be coordinating
advocacy efforts and educational programs as well as its charitable efforts
- the organization provides scholarships to the Conrad N. Hilton College
of Hotel & Restaurant Management at the University of Houston.
The organization works closely with the Greater Houston Conventions
and Visitors Bureau to promote Houston as a convention and tourism location.
Travel spending in the greater Houston area last year generated more than
$147 million in local taxes. Hotels and lodging facilities also infused
more than $500 million in construction and renovation spending into the
local economy.
For more information, call the HLAGH at 713-437-5250 or visit its web
site, www.houstonhotels.org. |
